The East and Southeast Asia Community Conservation Network (EASACCN) held its 2021 annual meeting virtually via Zoom on January 17, 2022. The meeting, attended by representatives from various countries in the region, highlighted the progress in community-based conservation efforts and the integration of nature-based solutions to combat climate change.

Dr. Jiqiang Zhang, Steering Board Chair of the Global Environmental Institute, opened the meeting. He emphasized the expansion of the community conservation program beyond ecotourism, incorporating broader development opportunities in China and other countries. Dr. Zhang stressed the importance of nature-based solutions in climate change adaptation and called for strengthened collaboration across the region.

Jack Tordoff, Managing Director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, delivered a keynote speech via video, sharing insights from 686 projects supported in East and Southeast Asia, one-third of which focused on community-based conservation. Tordoff highlighted the critical role of local and indigenous communities in biodiversity conservation and climate action, urging the network to tailor conservation models to the unique challenges faced by different communities.

Ms. Yunzhu Chen, Program Officer of the Global Environment Institute, presented a summary of EASACCN’s achievements in 2021, including capacity building, information sharing, and collaborative projects. She emphasized the importance of community participation in conservation efforts and outlined plans for future projects and initiatives.

The meeting also featured a virtual field trip showcasing conservation programs from the Yagasu Foundation, CFGP, MFA, and CDAction. Discussions covered topics such as combating illegal wildlife trade, mangrove forest conservation, rural electrification, and the role of indigenous communities in conservation.

The event concluded with a summary by Ms. Chen, who called for increased cooperation between NGOs and companies, larger-scale collaborative projects, and greater promotion of the network’s work and the importance of local community involvement in conservation efforts.

The EASACCN’s annual meeting marked a significant step forward in fostering regional collaboration and leveraging community-based approaches to address environmental challenges and climate change.