Your comments wanted - Review of draft ecosystem profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot

Between June and October 2011, as series of stakeholder consultations were conducted across the Indo-Burma Hotspot, for the purpose of updating the Ecosystem Profile, as a guide to potential future investment in civil-society-led conservation initiatives by CEPF and other funders with a shared philosophy. The draft document is now ready for review, with a deadline for comments of Friday, January 6, 2012. Please download the attached file, review and make comments, corrections or suggestions. These can be made either as comments in the PDF document or, preferably, in the body of an email, following the format ‘p2 – 2nd para – change “high” to “low”.’ All comments should be sent directly to Jack Tordoff, CEPF Grant Director (j.tordoff@conservation.org). Please take advantage of this final opportunity to contribute to this important guiding document.

Download the draft Ecosystem Profile for Indo-Burma Hotspot (in PDF, 7.9MB) here

Building a shared vision for investment in the Mekong Region: updating the CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot

Background

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Francaise de Developpment, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank. It is a global program that provides grants to nongovernmental organizations and other private sector partners to protect critical ecosystems. A fundamental goal of the Fund is to engage civil society in efforts to conserve biodiversity.

CEPF has been making grants in the Indo-Burma Hotspot since July 2008. The hotspot comprises Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of southern China, and broadly corresponds to the Greater Mekong Sub-region. CEPF grant making follows an investment strategy developed through an extensive stakeholder consultation process conducted in 2003. The results of this process are documented in the ‘Ecosystem Profile’ (full versions in English language and Vietnamese language; and summaries in Khmer language, Lao language, Thai language) which sets out a situational analysis, based upon a review of biodiversity priorities, threats, policy environment, civil society context and patterns of conservation investment by other funders, and presents a consensus-based investment strategy, with broad stakeholder buy-in.

Much has changed in the eight years since the Ecosystem Profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot was prepared. While the biological priorities defined in the document have generally stood the test of time, there have been major changes to the nature and relative importance of threats to biodiversity, and several new challenges have emerged, not least hydropower development, economic land concessions, mining and climate change. In addition, there have been major shifts in patterns of conservation investment, with several traditional supporters of biodiversity conservation reorienting their programs to other priorities or leaving the region altogether. Moreover, the operating environment for civil society has ameliorated in most countries, creating new opportunities to engage civil society organizations in biodiversity conservation. Finally, investments by CEPF and other funders have built a strong platform of conservation results, good practice, information and capacity that can be built upon. There is a need, therefore, to update the Ecosystem Profile, through a participatory process, to create a platform on which funders interested in making investments in the region over the next five years can build shared goals and strategies that address the highest priorities, take advantage of emerging opportunities, and align well with existing investments by governments and other donors.

Consultation workshops

Six national workshops have been organised in Bangkok, Thailand (20-21 July 2011), Kunming, China (25-26 July 2011), Hanoi, Vietnam (22-23 August 2011), Vientiane, Lao P.D.R (25-26 August 2011), Phnom Penh, Cambodia (29-30 August 2011) and Shenzhen, China (12-13 October 2011). And on 10-11 October 2011, a regional consultation workshop took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Representatives from government agencies and civil society organisations especially local conservation organisations are encouraged to participate and contribute ideas to revise the Ecosystem Profile for the region.

Workshop updates

* Map "Conservation outcomes in Indochina, highlighting CEPF priorities" can be downloaded here or here.

1) National consultation workshop in Bangkok, Thailand (20-21 July 2011)

* Participation list in Thailand
* Presentations

- Presentation on workshop introduction and aims
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on the policy, institutional and socio-economic context for biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot
- Presentation on draft findings of thematic study on climate change implications for biodiversity conservation.
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on the civil society context for biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
- Presentation of existing CEPF conservation outcomes for Thailand.
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on patterns of conservation investment in biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.

2) National consultation workshop in Kunming, China (25-26 July 2011)

* Participation list in Kunming, China
* Presentations

- Presentation on workshop introduction and aims
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on the policy, institutional and socio-economic context for biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot
- Presentation on draft findings of thematic study on climate change implications for biodiversity conservation.
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on the civil society context for biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
- Presentation of existing CEPF conservation outcomes for China.
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on patterns of conservation investment in biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.

3) National consultation workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam (22-23 August 2011)

* Participation list in Vietnam

* Presentations

- Presentation on workshop introduction and aims
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on the policy, institutional and socio-economic context for biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot
- Presentation on draft findings of thematic study on climate change implications for biodiversity conservation.
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on the civil society context for biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
- Presentation of existing CEPF conservation outcomes for Vietnam.
- Presentation of draft findings of thematic study on patterns of conservation investment in biodiversity conservation in the Indo-Burma Hotspot.