8th IUCN Asia Regional Conservation Forum

The 8th IUCN Asia Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) opened on September 3, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. The three-day forum, under the theme “Reimagining Conservation in Asia: A Nature Positive Future”, aimed to assess conservation progress, revisit priority goals, and propose strategic directions to effectively address environmental and biodiversity challenges over the next 20 years. World Coastal Forum Coordination Group (WCFCG) representatives attended the forum and engaged in several activities.

On the 3rd afternoon, WCFCG Representative participated in the IUCN RCF Members Session, speaking on behalf of the WCF Facilitators, Eco Foundation Global and BirdLife International. Expressing gratitude to Thailand for hosting the forum, WCFCG Representative supported the proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China to include the WCF in IUCN’s “Nature 2030 Programme” as a mechanism to bridge gaps in regenerative blue economy and water management. WCFCG Representative emphasized the need to revise IUCN's strategic vision to better conserve coastal ecosystems, which are critical for climate resilience but threatened by unsustainable development, and expressed hope for further integrating the WCF's work into IUCN's future plans.

WCFCG Representative speaking on behalf of the WCF at the IUCN RCF Members Session.

WCFCG Facilitator spoke at the "Species Action" session where he presented the positive impacts of networks and partnerships and introduced the WCF and WCF Partnership under the theme "Network and Partnership: Enhancing Conservation in Synergy". 

WCFCG Facilitator speaks at the "Species Action" parallel session.

A WCF side event titled "Mechanisms to Facilitate Synergistic Delivery of IUCN and MEA Resolutions and Decisions" was held as one of the 16 official side events at the forum. Dr. Trevor Sandwith, Director of IUCN’s Centre for Conservation Action and representative of the IUCN Director General, along with two WCFCG Advisors, Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim (Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity), and Mr. Stanley Johnson (former Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament's Environment Committee), delivered the opening remarks encouraging all to participate in the development of the WCF. Ms. Nicola Crockford, WCFCG Facilitator and co-lead of the International Engagement Task Team (on behalf of BirdLife International and Principal Policy Officer of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), introduced a draft WCF Motion for the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress. Dr. Lu Wenhai, co-lead of the WCFCG Science and Evidence Task Team and Director of the Department of Marine Ecology, National Marine Data & Information Service, China, alongside Prof. William Sutherland, co-lead of the WCFCG Science and Evidence Task Team and Professor at the University of Cambridge, provided updates on the State of the World's Coastal Ecosystems Report and World Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Toolkit. Prof. Anchana Prathep (Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkhla University, Thailand), discussed Nature-based solutions and seagrass restoration. Mr. Spike Millington, WCFCG Facilitator, introduced the WCF Partnership and 2025 WCF Conference plan. Mr. Vinayagan Dharmarajah (Regional Director (Asia) and Head of Governance at BirdLife International), provided a summary of the meeting. Representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources, China and National Parks Board, Singapore also attended the side event.

Trevor Sandwith, of the IUCN delivered opening remarks.

Theresa Mundita Lim, WCFCG Advisor delivered opening remarks.

Stanley Johnson, WCF Advisor delivered opening remarks.

Nicola Crockford, WCFCG Facilitator introduced the Draft WCF Motion to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2025.

Lu Wenhai, co-lead of the WCFCG Science and Evidence Task Team presented plans for the "State of the World's Coastal Ecosystems Report".

William Sutherland, co-lead of the WCFCG Science and Evidence Task Team presented development of the "World Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Toolkit".

Anchana Prathep discussed the Nature-based solutions and highlighted the importance of mudflats as a carbon store.

Spike Millington, WCFCG Facilitator, introduced the WCF Partnership and WCF 2025 Conference.

Vinayagan Dharmarajah of BirdLife International, a WCF Partner summarizing the meeting.