Connecting upper reaches in the GMS
Yunnan, 12 May 2016 – The Xishuangbanna capacity building and consultative workshop under “South-South Cooperation Capacity Building for Ecosystem Management in the Greater Mekong Subregion” project was held at the premises of Nabanhe Watershed National Nature Reserve Management in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.
Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture is a key corridor located in Mekong river basin, connecting China and the lower Mekong countries. Prior to this Workshop, a series of capacity building and consultative workshops were convened successfully in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam early this year.
The Workshop provided an opportunity for insightful exchange on ecosystem services and management in protected areas of Xishuangbanna. Through this workshop, the awareness of local Dai people on ecosystem management was raised and the training tools were translated into Chinese for effective usage by Chinese stakeholders. They also expressed an interest and eagerness for a national ecosystem assessment.
A high-level consultation of senior policy/decision makers, primary stakeholders and scientific communities is proposed at the regional and national levels. It will be convened on 29-30 September 2016 to wrap up the results and findings of previous workshops, and build consensus on a framework for regional cooperation on capacity building in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Owing to the encouraging response received by stakeholders in the GMS project, the team is now proposing a new project focusing on the demonstration of ecosystem-based adaption in this area, involving China, Thailand and Viet Nam.
