ACB sets biodiversity workshop

Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), through the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), are working together to share information that will strengthen efforts to conserve the region’s rich biodiversity.

On June 9 to 11, the European Union-funded ACB will hold the second Sub-Regional Workshop on Mechanism for Biodiversity Data Sharing and Harmonization in Lao PDR to establish effective ways to share the region’s wealth of biodiversity information among ASEAN member countries.

The first sub-regioal workshop was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam last March 11 to 14.

Home to over 64,000 of he world’s known species of plants and animals, the ASEAN Region is a treasure trove of biodiversity information waiting to be shared among countries to aid in conservation efforts. However, the region lacks a wall-established mechanism to efficiently share such information among the 10 Southeast Asian countries.

“A biodiversity information sharing mechanism is crucial to ensuring the protection and conservation of the region’s rich biological diversity. The workshop will provide a venue for representatives of ASEAN member-countries to build a mean of exchanging not only data, but experiences, best practices, and other learnings, as well, it is expected to strengthen biodiversity information exchange networks in the region, and build much-needed capacity on database management and utilization,” ACB executive director Rodrigo Fuentes said.