IPSI at CBD COP 13

IPSI Secretariat staff members recently traveled to Cancun, Mexico to attend the UN Biodiversity Conference, which included the Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 13) and a number of other related events. We were very happy to see a large number of IPSI members and other familiar faces among the participants, and encouraged to find that IPSI continues to increase its stature in the world of international policy-making processes. Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi of the United Nations University contributed to public awareness of the Satoyama Initiative by taking part in the High-Level Segment and making a statement in the COP 13 opening plenary session, and once again the Satoyama Initiative and IPSI are recognized in the outcome decisions of the COP. The drafted text of the statement can be found on the CBD webpage here.

In addition to the negotiations at COP 13, a large number of side events and others were held. The IPSI Secretariat co-organized two side events on the Satoyama Initiative: “Strategic Action for Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Contributions of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) to Biodiversity and Human Well-Being” on 6 December; and “Contributions of funding mechanisms under the Satoyama Initiative to mainstreaming biodiversity for well-being”on 8 December. Both were well-attended and featured many interesting presentations from members of the IPSI family. Staff members also contributed to the 3rd Science for Biodiversity Forum, the Muuchtanbal Summit on Indigenous Experience, the CEPA Fair and other side events including “Improving the evidence base on the effectiveness of forest conservation and rural livelihood initiatives in delivering social and ecological benefits” organized by our friends at Conservation International.

Satoyama Initiative Regional Workshop in Peru Summary Report now available

The official report for the recent Satoyama Initiative Regional Workshop in Peru, held from in June 2016 in Cusco and Pisac, Peru, has been completed and is now available for download here.

The report contains a great deal of information about the workshop, including summaries of speakers’ presentations and outcomes from the lively discussions. More information about the event is available on the event announcement page on the IPSI website here.

New member profile: TZR Technology

TZR Technology Sdn. Bhd. is a private sector organization whose strategy focus is to lead Malaysia in the development of “green economy” initiatives. TZR is working toward capturing, validating and managing a national “digital earth index” of biodiversity assets in Malaysia. They envision the opportunity to develop sustainable environmental finance plans that will allow the country to be more directly involved in earth preservation while at the same time reaping the economic benefits from the outcome of environmental finance.

Their plans start with TZR consolidating biodiversity assets of Setiu Wetland in Terengganu. Setiu Wetland is an ecosystem with 125 kilometers of lazily winding rivers with 79,000 hectares of river bank and estuary, and a natural lagoon with mangrove and nipah trees spawning over an area of 800 hectares. Setiu is also blessed with a turquoise blue sea front where coral and seagrass grow and protect the shoreline.

A 5-year plan has been developed to enhance the ecosystem with rehabilitation and replanting in target areas of Setiu Wetland habitats. The objective is to make Setiu Wetland into a regional reference center for prudent habitat and ecosystem management. The conservation program will be strengthened with the implementation of a comprehensive earth observation system that will include commissioning of a low-orbit satellite system.

As a new member of IPSI, TZR cordially invites other IPSI members to collaborate and share resources, and together make earth a better place for future generations.