Suriname has successfully hosted the Sub-Regional Dialogue on the Monitoring and Reporting Framework under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, bringing together government officials, technical experts, UN partners, and regional stakeholders from across the Caribbean. The dialogue focused on strengthening National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), developing realistic indicators for better biodiversity monitoring, and preparing coordinated national reporting.

In her closing remarks on behalf of the Minister, Ms. Jiechel Kasandiredjo, Acting Deputy Director of the Directorate for Environment and Ecosystems of the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment, reflected on the progress achieved during the meeting. “At the start of this meeting, you were invited to close your eyes and visualize the beauty and strength of our Caribbean ecosystem. Today, I ask you to keep your eyes open to the realities we discussed, the data gaps, resource constraints, and systemic challenges we share, but also to the opportunities, solutions, and renewed determination that emerged during this dialogue,” she said.

She emphasized the region’s collective effort to craft monitoring systems grounded in Caribbean realities rather than imported models. “Suriname is honored to have hosted this dialogue. As a carbon-negative and heavily forested country, we recognize both our responsibility and our role as a committed partner,” she noted. The insights generated will support Suriname’s preparation of its Seventh National Report to the CBD, and the continued implementation of its NBSAP with transparency, accountability, and national ownership.

Complementing these national perspectives, stakeholders from across the region echoed similar optimism. Mrs. Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, Representative of the CBD’s Women’s Caucus (Jamaica), praised the dialogue for its meaningful outcomes and strong spirit of collaboration. Entering the sessions with an open mandate to support gender-responsive biodiversity planning, she emphasized the inclusive and empowering nature of the discussions. “I came with an open mind to engage and to carry out the mandate of the Women’s Caucus. Our aim is to see how best our mandate can support all parties involved,” she said.

She highlighted the productive exchanges on national reporting, local and regional challenges, and shared solutions. “All attending parties were able to participate in vibrant and meaningful discussions. We explored challenges at both the local and regional levels, while sharing best practices that we hope to adopt within our countries. We also had the opportunity to make recommendations to the UN bodies present and that was especially meaningful.”

Mrs. Whitelocke-Ballingsingh also underscored two important insights: the need to ensure gender integration within NBSAPs and the value of accessing technical support from international and regional networks, including CARICOM and other stakeholder groups. “There is a wealth of knowledge and expertise here that we can tap into. Some of this information was not accessible to us before, and these takeaways will strengthen our work as we move toward COP 17.”

The Sub-Regional Dialogue continues to serve as a vital platform for coordinated regional action, with a strong emphasis on gender, policy alignment, and peer learning.

The dialogue is co-organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Suriname, in close collaboration with other partners, and with the support of the UNEP China Trust Fund and the Global Environment Facility.