Viet Nam, 4 October 2023 - The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net)  is convening a Trialogue for the countries supported by the BES Solution Fund – catalytic support provided by BES-Net to translate knowledge about nature into actionable and sustainable policies and practices. Taking place in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 4 to 6 October 2023, the trialogue aims to bring policy, science and practice communities together to assess national efforts, share insights on challenges and opportunities, and jointly develop strategies for cooperation and the scaling up of initiatives. Notably, this gathering represents the first meeting of all countries under the umbrella of the BES Solutions Fund.

Policymakers, scientists and practitioners from Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago and Viet Nam join the Trialogue to exchange insights on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework based on new evidence emerging at national, regional and global levels, including those which are generated by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and strategies for optimal stakeholder engagement.

The participants also share with each other successes, challenges, opportunities and valuable lessons learned through the BES Solution Fund initiatives. These practical examples will shed light on effective policies, research endeavours and practical solutions that have facilitated cooperation and reinforced global commitments to biodiversity conservation.

The Trialogue will stimulate discussions regarding innovative solutions to enhance the effectiveness and future sustainability of the activities supported by the BES Solution Fund, focusing on the intertwining contributions of science, policy and practice communities to help protect biodiversity and improve ecosystems’ resilience.

The choice of holding the Trialogue in Viet Nam acknowledges the country’s remarkable efforts to preserve its unique ecological importance. Viet Nam, known globally as a biodiversity hotspot, is home to unique ecosystems, including mountains, tropical forests, limestone karst formations, marine and coastal ecosystems. Over 100 bird species and 10 per cent of the world’s plant species are endemic to Viet Nam.

Between 2017 and 2022, with the support of BES-Net, Viet Nam undertook an ambitious journey to craft its first national ecosystem assessment report. Co-implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, and the Center for Biodiversity Conservation, this phase included a series of consultation workshops for policymakers, scientists and practitioners. The result was a comprehensive summary for policymakers accompanied by a detailed technical report that serves as a foundational guide for national action on nature.

“Today, we convene here at this International Trialogue with 8 BES Solution Fund countries to celebrate our successes, share our reflections, and discuss our future together. UNDP takes great pride in facilitating not only practical implementation of biodiversity-related solutions but also dialogues among key stakeholders that will likely make a difference.” said Mr. Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam.

The BES-Net Trialogue promises to be a transformative event, generating meaningful insights, fostering collaboration and moving the participating countries one step forward towards actionable strategies to address the pressing issues of biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability.

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), an initiative led by UNDP, UNEP-WCMC and UNESCO, with financial support from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (through IKI) and Swedbio, focuses on building capacity for stakeholders through Trialogues that bring together the three BES-Net communities of science, policy and practice in a participatory and constructive dialogues. At the same time, the BES-Net’s interventions are extended through the BES Solution Fund that provides catalytic support to implement biodiversity conservation initiatives at the grassroots and local levels in the participating countries.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Phan Huong Giang
UNDP Media and Communication Analyst, Climate Change and Environment
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org

About BES-Net:
With the overarching aim to support dialogue and collaborative action between science, policy and practice communities, promotes the co-creation and translation of the latest evidence base into concrete solutions for biodiversity conservation worldwide.

Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a consortium, BES-Net leverages multiple workstreams to contribute to delivering healthier and more resilient ecosystems and support in building science-policy-practice capacity at regional, national and local levels. The initiative is supported financially by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, through the International Climate Initiative, and SwedBio at the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

Through the BES Solution Fund, BES-Net offers technical support and a strategic seed fund designed to enhance and implement findings and recommendations derived from IPBES assessments and national ecosystem assessments. Spanning across 18 countries from 2021 to 2028, and in alignment with national biodiversity strategies and action plans, this support aims to fortify institutions, deepen engagement across the science, policy and practice communities, enhance data availability and application, and champion grounded initiatives that aim to conserve, shield and rejuvenate threatened ecosystems.