UNEP-IEMP participated in the “Regional Experts’ Symposium on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in the Hindu Kush Himalaya” on December 17-19, 2019 in Chengdu city, Sichuan province of China. The symposium was organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIB, CAS). The symposium brought together EbA experts and professionals to discuss the effectiveness of EbA in the context of climate change and also to explore key EbA interventions in the mountain regions of the Hindu Kush Himalaya around the four following themes: “EbA theories, principles, and practices”; “EbA solutions and technologies”; “Governance, gender, and social inclusion in the EbA process”; and “Policies and institutions for EbA”. There were nearly 60 participants from the ICIMOD member countries (i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan), as well as international agencies such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and UNEP-IEMP.
At the event, Prof. Zhang Linxiu, Director of UNEP-IEMP, delivered an opening speech and chaired one session. Ms Tatirose Vijitpan, Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, gave presentation titled “Ecosystem-based Adaptation through South-South Cooperation: EbA South”, highlighting the EbA South project activities in Nepal, as part of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, and the South-South Cooperation dimension of the project. The presentation was well-received. Prof. Zhang Linxiu also had a consultation meeting with management team of CIB, CAS, to exchange information and explore possibility on collaboration.
