KK to host Asia Parks Congress

KOTA KINABALU: The second Asia Parks Congress will be held in Kota Kinabalu from May 24 to 29, 2022.

Coming immediately after CBD COP 15 in Kunming, the congress will be a landmark event. It will be the first regional conservation event following the adoption of the new Global Biodiversity Framework, and will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the post2020 biodiversity targets and the ways in which Asia can help to achieve these. It will also help set the agenda for the region’s protected and conserved areas for the next 10 years.

The theme of the congress will be ‘Parks for Nature and People’, highlighting the many connections between nature and society.

Building on the success of the congress held in Sendai, Japan in 2013, the congress will focus on addressing the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change facing the region today, by agreeing actions for:

• Nature-based solutions for health and well-being

• Governance of protected and conserved areas

• Connectivity and transboundary conservation

• Effective protected and conserved areas

• Economic and financial sustainability of protected and conserved areas

• Urban conservation and a new generation

The congress will feature a dedicated Youth Forum, as well as high-level plenary sessions, smaller working group discussions, a diverse array of side events and a poster exhibition.

A wide selection of field excursions will also be on offer to some of Sabah’s premier protected areas, including the iconic World Heritage site, Kinabalu National Park.

Over 1,000 Malaysian and international participants are expected to attend the congress, and to participate either inperson or online, maximising the opportunity to contribute.

It is expected to involve representatives from government protected area agencies, civil society organisations, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, academia, research institutes and the private sector.

The event will be hosted at the Sabah International Convention Centre, with online participants attending through a special virtual platform provided by the organisers.

Datuk Jaffry Arifin, the

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, said: National parks, nature reserves and other types of protected and conserved areas play a vital role in safeguarding Asia’s natural ecosystems and rich biodiversity – and make a critical contribution to society’s well being. However, these special areas are facing increasing pressures and threats from many sources. We urgently need to share experience among countries in Asia, scaleup successful conservation approaches, and find new and innovative solutions. We look forward to welcoming the delegates of the second Asia Parks Congress to Sabah to discuss these issues, and invite them to enjoy our worldclass conference facilities and ecotourism destinations.

The congress is being held in collaboration with IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP). It is hosted by the State Government of Sabah through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and its agency, Sabah Parks.

For the latest updates, please visit the Congress website at https://2nd-asia-parks-congress. sabahparks.org.my/