FOREWORD To ensure that Asian countries and businesses become key players in the advocacy for the sustainable management of biodiversity resources, the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park Foundation under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and in partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) through the Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Asia-Pacific, RCE Cha-am, and World Wildlife Fund (WWF Thailand) organized the Asia Regional Forum on Biodiversity. Held in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand on 3-4 November 2011, the Forum was attended by over 200 representatives from the business sector, schools and communities. The Forum showcased best practices of biodiversity management involving communities in Southeast and South Asia and explored several themes including: expanded partnership with the business sector in Asia; development of private-public- state partnerships; the provision of incentives for investments on biodiversity conservation; encouragement of sustainable and biodiversity-friendly business activities; and the promotion of business and biodiversity initiatives to various business communities and other stakeholders at the national, regional and global levels. The primary outcome of the Forum was the Cha-am Declaration on Biodiversity which notes the participants’ commitment to, inter alia: • Contribute to the preservation of the Earth’s natural heritage through mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management; • Produce goods and services in a manner that will contribute to the protection and conservation of biodiversity; • Promote sound investments that will pave the way for environmentally sound technologies, products and services; • Support global, regional and national efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity; • Share the benefits of the economic utilization of natural resources fairly with those who grant access to them openly and cooperatively; • Ensure the long-term viability of agriculture and fisheries for food production and income generation; • Promote biodiversity conservation actions at all levels of government, communities, businesses and universities through education; • Engage in transformative education on biodiversity conservation for sustainable development that can change behavior of all stakeholders; and • Meet the basic needs for the present and future generation while maintaining balance between environmental, social and economic sustainability. The Cha-am Declaration has been submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as additional inputs to the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the CBD to be held in October 2012 in Hyderabad, India. A key product of this Forum is this publication featuring best practices of business and community partnership on biodiversity conservation in the Asian region. Sincerest gratitude goes to the Forum’s organizers, partners, sponsors, organizing committee members, resource speakers and participants. Special thanks to the Japan Business Initiatives for Biodiversity for the production of this publication. We dedicate this publication in memory of the late Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Mr. Rodrigo U. Fuentes. vi THE ASIA REGIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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