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Int’l Cooperation News

UNEP and China Launch Landmark Ecosystem Management Programme for Developing Countries

Nov 21, 2011

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) launched the International Ecosystem Management Partnership (IEMP) , a joint programme for promoting ecosystem management in developing countries, particularly in Africa on November 18th, 2011 in Beijing,.

IEMP, which is China-based, has a core mandate to synthesize the science of ecosystem management for government decision-makers. This is supported by three inter-related initiatives: monitoring and capacity Building, integrated knowledge management, and science for policy.

IEMP is UNEP’s first South-South cooperation programme and is a means of promoting effective development by sharing best practices and technology among developing countries. The partnership also steps up the efforts of UNEP and China for mainstreaming ecosystem management among global policy makers.

The scope of IEMP’s work covers both terrestrial and marine ecosystems and its clients include national governments, intergovernmental bodies and programmes, as well as development agencies and the science community.

Mr. SHA Zukang, UN Under Secretary General in charge of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, emphasized in his speech the critical role of ecosystems and the challenges of ecosystem degradation, in the context of population growth and increasing inequity. “Ecosystems are the foundation of human lives and livelihoods. The future of human civilization and sustainable development depends on sound, healthy and resilient ecosystems. For too long, humanity has ignored this fundamental truth at its own peril,” he said.

Mr. DING Zhongli, Vice President of CAS, emphasized that IEMP should function as a bridge for South-South co-operation in the area of ecosystem management and develop capacity in developing countries.

Based in the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, IEMP is also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

IEMP is currently undertaking a comprehensive assessment of global ecosystem monitoring and research capacity. It will also start an assessment of Ecosystem Management in Africa and of the best ways to increase the capacity for ecosystem research and management in Africa.

In addition, the IEMP is designing a database to share methods, tools and knowledge of ecosystem management in developing countries for decision making. The database will support key regional assessments of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). IEMP has begun synthesizing cutting-edge science to support policy setting by drafting a number of policy papers and organizing high-level policy fora.

IEMP also served as the Secretariat for the High Level International Forum on Ecosystem Management and the Green Economy held on 18 November in Beijing. The goal of the Forum was to contribute to the success of Rio+20, by promoting the central role of ecosystem management in a green economy.

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