Multi-stakeholder engagement for protecting biodiversity

Threats to the environment and the natural resource base have contributed to the decline of 42 per cent of the population of all terrestrial animals and plant species over the last decade. Water is becoming scarcer, affecting agricultural production and ecosystems and the ability to protect the wetlands and forests that are the habitats of different species. Wind farms and other forms of renewable energy also affect natural habitats and migratory bird pathways; consideration of trade-offs is required, based on sound science and environmental impact assessments. More sustainable production and consumption patterns are needed.

Conserving biodiversity in the Arab region requires collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders operating across different sectors and scales. A common regional platform offers diverse stakeholder groups the opportunity to come together to exchange knowledge and lessons learned, build consensus on regional priorities, and identify pathways to address common priorities.

This multi-stakeholder platform for protecting biodiversity in the Arab region was launched by ESCWA with the support of the Government of Sweden at an inception meeting convened in July 2023.  The platform fosters regional engagement for the preparation of projects for mobilizing finance for biodiversity conservation efforts within the context of strengthening climate resilience in the Arab region.

Platform Objectives

• Facilitate collaboration and coordination between stakeholders involved in biodiversity conservation in the Arab region.
• Enhance understanding, exchange and action on regional challenges affecting biodiversity in the Arab region.
• Foster the development of bankable projects to mobilize finance for the implementation of priority actions in biodiversity conservation, for enhancing climate resilience.

To achieve its objectives, the platform established three working groups, each focused on a thematic area of importance for the Arab region:

• Nature-based solutions for climate resilience;
• Land degradation in arid agricultural ecosystems;
• Renewable energy and biodiversity.

Working Group Objectives

The three working groups are tasked with the responsibility of identifying priority interventions in their respective thematic area and formulating projects that can be proposed for funding to international, regional and national financial institutions and potential donors to support biodiversity conservation efforts in the region.

Working Group Membership

Each working group is coordinated by an institutional convenor and consists of designated experts from member institutions.  Members actively contribute to the preparation of projects and are invited to participate in working group meetings and training activities organized by the convenor and ESCWA, respectively.

Further information is provided in the following documents:

Working Group Members: Roles, Responsibilities and Eligibility Criteria

Working Group Convenors: Roles, Responsibilities and Eligibility Criteria

Following a call for expressions of interest for membership and the convening role of the working groups, a total of 59 applications were received from regional and national institutions: 44 for membership and 15 for the convening role. After a comprehensive review process, three institutions were selected to coordinate the working groups, and are as follows:

• The American University of Beirut (AUB) for the Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience Working Group.
• The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) for the Land Degradation in Arid Agricultural Ecosystems Working Group.
• The Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) for the Renewable Energy and Biodiversity Working Group.

Each working group consists now of 12 to 15 member institutions as shown in the below tables. These institutions include government agencies, regional institutions, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, research centers, non-profit private sector organizations, foundations, associations, and financial institutions.

Platform Timeline and Milestones

Working Group Members and Convenors - Expression of Interest

A call for expressions of interest was open through the below provided links until October 2023 for institutions interested in becoming a working group member or convenor:

Working Group on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience - Members

Working Group on Land Degradation in Arid Agricultural Ecosystems - Members

Working Group on Renewable Energy and Biodiversity - Members

Working Group on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience - Convenors

Working Group on Land Degradation in Arid Agricultural Ecosystems - Convenors

Working Group on Renewable Energy and Biodiversity - Convenors