China’s Experiences on national biodiversity strategies and action plans

DongmeiDongmei GUO GUO China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation CenterChina-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center

&&Huang Mingxiang, Huang Mingxiang,

Environmental Development Center of Ministry of Environmental Development Center of Ministry of Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection

1 Adequate Leadership and sound organization （ 1 ） Adequate attention paid by ministerial leadership, direct guidance

under leaders of departments and bureaus, promoting the document to the State Council authorized level;

（ 2 ） Strong role played by Project Office in organization and coordination;2 Expert power - with All Areas of Expertise Involved （ 1 ） Experts were recommended by each ministries (some of the officials

working as experts), so as to fully reflect the opinions of all sectors, which is in favor of coordination among sectors later on;

（ 2 ） Employ extra experts to enrich the experts team according to specific subject needs, based on experts recommendation system;

3 Adopted New Technologies （ 1 ） Have the concept of ecosystem approach incorporated into the

whole process of drafting; （ 2 ） Adopted methods such as MARXAN and C-plan in identifying key

priority areas, applied GAP Analysis in determining new protected areas, have the scientific basis enhanced;

（ 3 ） Integrate experiences of experts in terms of priority areas adjustment and supplement at the base of software analysis, without solely relying on the latter;

（ 4 ） Controversies over including or not of the chapter - priority areas of biodiversity conservation, however, ended up as a highlight of NBSAP;

4 Drafting in stages has the data basis enriched （ 1 ） 14 subject reports provide solid data basis;（ 2 ） Complete the tasks in two phases, subject research

groups and core experts group, so as to take fully advantage of materials and data collected.

5 Sufficient Consultation and Sectors Coordination (1) Widely solicited opinions and suggestions from provincial

environmental protection agencies and from other provincial departments.

(2) Solicited suggestions from relevant sectors of central government repeatedly, and also coordinated modifications of related contents.

(3) Widely solicited opinions and suggestions from international organizations, NGOs both domestical and abroad, bilateral government, and experts’ personal opinions;

6 Widely Absorbed Technical Forces from both Scientific Fields and International Organizations

(1) Make fully use of the data and materials from Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), colleges and universities, ministries, related international organizations (TNC,CI,WCS, etc.)

(2) TNC Experts’ Participation

7 Make Fully Use of the Supports from International Projects

(1) Financial support from EU projects; (2) Incorporation of management personnel from

EU project (including foreign experts)

Mainstreaming Tools and Mainstreaming Tools and Mechanisms:Mechanisms:

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)NBSAPNational development plans (mid-term; long-term)Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS)National Biodiversity CommitteeParticipatory approach (multi-sectoral decision-making/advisory bodies)Law enforcement

Challenges in MainstreamingChallenges in Mainstreaming Lack of political will and political barriersCompliance monitoringLow priority accorded to biodiversity conservation Inadequate technical capacity

Turnover of personnel with relevant skills

Weak legal framework/policy conflictsOverlapping areas of responsibilities between or among agenciesLimited science-based inputs to policy-making

National Target Setting National Target Setting

Some guide questions:Some guide questions:What had been done?What still needs to be done?How can it be done?When will it be done?Who will do it?How much money do you have? other potential sources?Where will you use it?

National Target Setting National Target Setting

Follow a target setting Follow a target setting processprocessSTEPS MAY INCLUDE:

 Country study - BC assessment - Situation analysisReview the old NBSAP Review existing targets, strategies, plans of relevant sectors

identify

Persistent issuesGapsEmerging issues/new threatsWhat had been doneWhat remains to be done

National Target Setting National Target Setting Follow a target-setting processFollow a target-setting processSTEPS MAY INCLUDE:

Conduct consultations at various levels (expectations, role/responsibilities)Examine the global targets- Identify relevance of national targets with Aichi Biodiversity Targets- In light of national circumstances (capacity, capability, limitations)

National Target Setting National Target Setting Be guided by certain criteriaBe guided by certain criteria S = specific (addressing a particular issue); M= measurable (hard targets; verifiable);A = achievable [attainable]; R = reliable (result-oriented, resource-oriented); T = time-bound

National Target Setting National Target Setting

Consider soft targets or Consider soft targets or milestones milestones

-a series of minor targets as a series of minor targets as inputs to major targetinputs to major target

National Target Setting National Target Setting

PrioritizePrioritize-do not attempt to cover everythingdo not attempt to cover everything-may have only two targets yet best may have only two targets yet best can be deliveredcan be delivered -But if your country CAN DO MORE, THEN DO IT! Because if all countries will say “We can’t do it”, then who will do it ? = would result to unattained global targets

INDICATORSINDICATORS

Analyze targets carefully = Analyze targets carefully = will help you identify and will help you identify and determine indicatorsdetermine indicatorsSee global indicators as See global indicators as reference or for possible reference or for possible adoptionadoption

Last Piece of Advice: Last Piece of Advice:

THINK POSITIVE!THINK POSITIVE!

Positive thoughts Positive thoughts radiateradiate

positive results!positive results!

THANK THANK YOU!!YOU!!