Story | 17 Dec, 2018

Integrated Planning for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Closing Event

Spatial planning frameworks have traditionally focused on developing settlements and related infrastructure. Environmental concerns such as biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation and adaptation generally are not reflected as an integral component in the design and implementation of land-use plans. Even if they are considered, the focus and impact of the planning frameworks is often localized rather than landscape and ecosystem-wide.

Started in 2014 and funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the project “Integrated Planning for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change” aimed to support the implementation of the CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 by applying participatory land-use exercises and integrating biodiversity and climate aspects into legal and institutional land-use frameworks at levels local, national and international.  

On 29-30 November, the ELC hosted the project closing workshop. Representatives of IKI and experts from the four project countries (Colombia, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia) gathered for a two-day workshop to review the project findings, exchange thoughts on using planning tools for ecosystem based conservation and the interaction between nature protection and urbanization. 

On 1 December, under the coordination of the ELC, a discussion panel “Spatial planning for landscapes: country experiences and global strategies” was held at the Global Landscapes Forum. The ELC and experts from the project target countries shared their experiences on how to integrate biodiversity and climate adaptation considerations in various planning processes, and presented a global overview of policy and legal tools to support the integration of planning with conservation and climate commitments.

On 2 December, a Learning Pavilion event on integrated land-use planning law was organised.