January 22, 2024 - The East and Southeast Asia Community Conservation Network (EASACCN) held an online meeting to discuss recent updates, new member introductions, and ongoing projects.
Key Updates:Ms. Yunzhu Chen shared significant developments since the last Peer Learning Workshop in Medan:
UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai: EASACCN's achievements were showcased to an international audience. Side events highlighted the China-Southeast Asia Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation Cooperation.
Chinese Investment Impact: A new focus area will address the impact of Chinese investments in Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on capacity building for local communities. Workshops have already been conducted in Lao PDR, with plans for Cambodia and Vietnam.
Blue Carbon Training: Scheduled for late February in Medan, this training will focus on blue carbon ecosystems.
2024 Offline Gathering: Plans for an offline meeting later in the year are underway, with details to be announced soon.
New Member Introduction:Conservation Vietnam joined EASACCN, introducing their primate conservation program, key achievements, and strategic directions for 2023-2025. Their focus includes species and ecosystem conservation in Vietnam and the organizational development of Vietnamese civil society conservation organizations. Potential collaborations with Feed Thailand on educational initiatives were discussed.
Member Updates:
International Land Conservation Network (ILCN): ILCN is fostering global connections and partnerships across six continents. They offer webinars and peer learning workshops for civic and private land conservation. Key upcoming events include the Global Congress in Canada, with a February 15th registration deadline. They also introduced the "Country Profile" tool for updating the 2018 edition country profiles.
Myanmar Forest Association: Highlighted the urgent need for mangrove conservation in Myanmar, addressing illegal cutting and trading. They aim to establish a project to combat these issues.
Myanmar Environment Institute: Announced a new project focused on freshwater ecosystem conservation, particularly floodplain and wetland areas. The project aims to improve water quality, wildlife habitats, recreational industries, and flood risk reduction.
The meeting underscored EASACCN's commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among conservation organizations in East and Southeast Asia.