Opening remarks by Ahmed M. Saeed, ADB Vice-President, Operations 2, at Thematic Forum 2: Ecological Civilization and Mainstreaming Biodiversity of the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 14 October 2021, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
Good afternoon to you all.
Almost all of the philosophical and spiritual traditions that comprise our shared global heritage place incalculable value on life – on the variety and variability of life on Earth. You will recognize this phrase of course – “the variety and variability of life on Earth” – as the very definition of the concept of biodiversity. If there is a single thing that makes absolutely clear that narrow monetary measures of growth and progress are far too narrow, it is our incalculably valuable globally shared heritage of biodiversity.
There is no development without biodiversity and, after years of struggle, it is good to see that the international community has started to recognize the importance of this subject, which is after all one of the most important reasons why we worry about things like climate change.
I congratulate the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Yunnan Provincial Government, and all other key agencies, for organizing this incredibly important Ecological Civilization Forum.
ADB is deeply committed to this agenda and looks forward to providing you support and to being your partner on biodiversity. I wish I could have been here in person to demonstrate my commitment, but the ongoing COVID-19 situation does not permit this. And while I happen to be speaking from a long distance away, I feel my thoughts and perspectives converge closely to yours on the importance of ecological development.
As we discuss how to move forward on the Forum’s vital agenda, I want to recall ADB’s historical support and advocacy for biodiversity. The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security in South-East Asia and the Pacific is one example. The Greater Mekong Subregion Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program is another. In 2019, we launched the Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies to scale up $5 billion of commitments in recognition that investments in ocean health are necessary to achieving a resilient and prosperous Asia Pacific.
Looking back, we are particularly proud of our work on the first global partnership on integrated ecosystem management in the degraded land areas in the PRC, from 2009 to 2017. We also helped prepare the first Country Biodiversity Partnership Framework.
Here in Yunnan―a global biodiversity hotspot and the most biodiversity-rich province of the PRC―from 2012 to 2014 we jointly prepared the first Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. This provided a strong science-based platform to develop conservation targets and improve management of protected areas. The trainings and application of strategic environmental assessments in Yunnan and neighboring provinces helped avert biodiversity loss.
Let me now highlight two further areas of ADB support for biodiversity conservation in the PRC.
First, is our support for environmentally sustainable development for the two largest river basins in the PRC, the Yangtze and Yellow River basins. Under the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we supported projects to address the integrated issues of development and water resources protection, and building on this, we have launched the Yellow River Ecological Corridor Initiative. This aims to build strategic partnerships for ecological protection, strengthen biodiversity institutions and introduce innovative approaches and advanced technology for sustainable green development.
Second is our support for wetland conservation and management. Asia’s wetlands support global biodiversity and critical ecosystems but many of these systems are under severe stress. Our support for wetlands conservation in the PRC and the region is growing – here in the PRC alone, over the past 15 years ADB has implemented around 15 wetland projects in over 11 provinces – providing improved livelihoods for thousands of people and restoring vital habitats that provide our water and protect us from flooding.
In this connection, I am especially pleased to share the development of an exciting new program, the Regional Flyway Initiative. This Initiative will restore critical wetland habitats along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. It will conserve the ecosystem services that support people and critical habitats for over 50 million migratory waterbirds.
For this initiative to succeed, we must build strong partnerships among governments, NGOs, communities, regional organizations, development agencies, and the private sector. We are seeking to mobilize $3 billion in vital investments for wetland protection and their sustainable management. We hope that the initiative marks a new beginning in our joint efforts to support wetlands, livelihoods, and biodiversity in East, Southeast and South Asia.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with the PRC Government and our other regional and global partners to support national and global efforts toward a green future.
Let me thank the organizers of COP15 and this thematic forum, who brought us together from across the world. I wish everyone a very successful and productive event today.
Thank you.