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Background

Aligned with the EAAFP 2019-2028 Strategic Plan, adopted at the 10th Meeting of Partners, the Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI) team presents the key findings of the Stakeholder and Capacity Needs Assessments for Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The findings highlight important knowledge and capacity gaps that prevent individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, and societies from sustainably increasing their ability to comprehend, achieve, and elevate the sustainable conservation and management of wetland resources. The RFI team also presents the results of the ecosystem services assessment to highlight the importance of building one’s understanding of wetland ecosystem services.

This session includes presentations and a panel discussion with key representatives to review the capacity needs assessment findings, examine their applicability across other Development Member Countries (DMCs) in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, and determine ways forward. Questions from session participants will also be accommodated in the panel discussion.

At the end of this session, the RFI team aims to gather valuable insights about the current capacity needs in the EAAF and identify the next steps based on these findings.

Objectives

1. To present the findings of the capacity needs and ecosystem services assessments completed in four ADB’s DMCs – Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand,
2. To examine the applicability of the assessment findings across other DMCs, and
3. To determine ways forward with the assessment findings.

Expected Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants should:
1. Have a better understanding of the capacity needs and ecosystem services in the EAAF related to wetland management and migratory waterbird conservation.

2. Assess how these findings apply or can be applied in their respective countries.
3. Recommend next steps for the RFI capacity needs assessment.

Tentative Programme