IUCN in Asia 2010 Our vision is a just world that values and conserves nature Our mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable Cover: Chakor, produced by Balochistan Partnership for Sustainable Development, IUCN Pakistan Programme © IUCN Contents Message from the Regional Member’s Committee Chair .............................................................................................4 Message from the Regional Director ..........................................................................................................................5 From local to global - The IUCN Asia Programme ......................................................................................................6 The IUCN Programme ................................................................................................................................................8 Biodiversity .........................................................................................................................................................8 Climate change ................................................................................................................................................10 Energy ..............................................................................................................................................................12 Human well-being ............................................................................................................................................14 Greening the economy .....................................................................................................................................16 IUCN Partners in Asia ...............................................................................................................................................18 IUCN Asia Regional Committee ................................................................................................................................19 IUCN Members in Asia .............................................................................................................................................20 IUCN Commissions in Asia .......................................................................................................................................25 IUCN Secretariat in Asia ...........................................................................................................................................26 Message from the Regional Member’s Committee Chair Youngbae Suh IUCN Asia Regional Member’s Committee Chair As the Chair of the Asia Regional However, this year was characterised the prosperity of its people while en- Member’s Committee it gives me by extreme weather events and other suring biodiversity values contribute great pleasure to note that IUCN has natural disasters, notably the devas- positively to economic growth. IUCN consolidated its presence in Asia tating floods in Pakistan and China. stands ready with its vast network of during a year marked by significant Rapid urbanisation and development Members, Commissions and Secre- achievements for biodiversity con- driven by economic growth is having tariat to support the nations and peo- servation. IUCN Asia saw significant a detrimental effect on ecosystems ple of the Asia region in meeting this growth in membership with 18 new which in turn increases our exposure important challenge. members, creating more opportuni- to natural disasters. This emphasizes ties to expand IUCN’s influence. In the need to enhance the resilience of 2010 growth was region wide with countries by effective management the highest incremental growth being of the ecosystems that provide vital in Northeast Asia and specifically in natural infrastructure for sustainable Youngbae Suh China and the Republic of Korea. development. IUCN Asia Regional Member’s Committee Chair IUCN Asia welcomed two new Gov- Despite these challenges, ‘The In- ernment Agency members from Pa- ternational Year of Biodiversity’ wit- kistan and Republic of Korea, six new nessed a major breakthrough in NGO members from China, three the adoption of the Convention on new NGO members from India, two Biological Diversity Strategic Plan new NGO members from Republic of for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Korea and one NGO member each Aichi Targets at the CBD COP 10 in from Pakistan, Philippines, Nepal, Nagoya, Japan. This led to the dec- Bangladesh and Viet Nam. laration by the UN General Assembly of the United Nations Decade on Bio- The year 2010 saw a return to high diversity, 2011-2020. The Asia region economic growth for most Asian is strategically placed to address the countries as opposed to sluggish challenges posed by economic de- growth in other parts of the world. velopment and the aspirations for 4 Message from the Regional Director Aban Marker Kabraji Regional Director, Asia In 2010, IUCN has been able to in terms of addressing the conserva- years are significant from biodiversity contribute towards conservation tion priorities in Asia, and is efficient conservation and sustainable devel- outcomes by working in a synergis- and effective in delivering policy and opment perspectives as countries tic manner with its Members, Com- research results. Recommendations of the world meet to reflect on their missions and the Secretariat. It has to streamline programme manage- progress towards sustainable devel- leveraged its value proposition by ment and delivery of results were opment in the Rio+20 Conference providing scientific credible knowl- made. This included furthering the in 2012 and then take stock of the edge, convening and building part- development of sub-regional struc- progress on the Aichi Targets at the nerships for action and through its tures in South Asia, Southeast Asia CBD COP 11 in New Delhi in 2012. ability to work at the local level as well and Northeast Asia, strengthening as at the national, regional and glo- regional management functions and bal policy levels. IUCN is increasingly refining regional thematic expertise. addressing large transboundary eco- These recommendations are be- system management issues through ing taken forward and are seen to the development and implementation be contributing positively to IUCN’s Aban Marker Kabraji of targeted initiatives. IUCN is pilot- reach and influence in Asia. Regional Director, Asia ing innovative approaches in the ma- jor ecosystems of Asia including the Looking ahead, in 2011 IUCN will Himalayas, the Ganges-Brahmapu- continue to leverage its value propo- tra-Meghna river basin, Mekong river sition and synergistic structure to ad- basin and coastal zones across south dress calls for support from across and southeast Asia. the region. Importantly, in this year we embark on the process of developing In 2010, the IUCN Asia Region went a new Intersessional Programme for through an external review of its op- 2013-16 which will be consulted upon erations, management structures, at the Regional Conservation Forum thematic focus and geographic to be held in 2011 and then adopted range. The review concluded that the at the World Conservation Congress IUCN Asia programme was relevant in Jeju in 2012. The next couple of 5 IUCN, International Union for Con- is in Bangkok, Thailand. The IUCN From local to servation of Nature, helps the world Asia Regional Secretariat has over find pragmatic solutions to our most 300 staff located in country and liai- global - The pressing environment and develop- son offices in Bangladesh, Cambo- ment challenges. It supports scien- dia, China, India, Lao PDR, Nepal, IUCN Asia tific research, manages field projects Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and all over the world and brings gov- Viet Nam. Programme ernments, non-government organi- zations, United Nations agencies, At the end of 2010, IUCN had 177 companies and local communities Members from 19 of the 23 countries together to develop and implement in the Asia region, including 12 IUCN policy, laws and best practice. State members, 23 government agency members, three affiliates, IUCN is the world’s oldest and larg- four international non-governmental est global environmental network - a organizations (NGOs) and 118 nation- democratic membership union with al NGO members. Out of the 11,000 more than 1,000 government and members of IUCN’s six specialized NGO member organizations, and commissions, about 1,700 are based almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in Asia. in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than At the regional level, IUCN spearheads 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices innovative multicounty initiatives such and hundreds of partners in public, as Mangroves for the Future, the Me- NGO and private sectors around the kong Water Dialogues, Ecosystems world. IUCN’s headquarters are lo- for Life – a Bangladesh India Initia- cated in Gland, near Geneva, Swit- tive, as well as working with IUCN zerland. IUCN’s Asia Regional Office global actions such as the Water and 6 Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, bordering China and Nepal © IUCN Nature Initiative and the Livelihoods and Landscape Strategy, among others. These initiatives are unique IUCN at a glance as they leverage IUCN’s national constituency base to address larger Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization transboundary ecosystem