The AC SNG report launched at SBSTTA23

The 23rd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-23) will gather leaders and scientist of the world around very important topics, all focused on the challenges life on earth is facing, including the threat of losing one million species of plants and animals in the near future.

At the sidelines of the SBSTTA-23 meeting, Regions4 and its collaborating partners, launched the report titled Mainstreaming biodiversity: The Subnational Government Experience, a testimony of the potential regional governments have in addressing global biodiversity challenges. The overall objective of the report is to facilitate a better understanding of the efforts subnational governments undertake to integrate biodiversity considerations into different sectors, and that its recommendations help shape a more inclusive and supportive post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

The 21-page report is an example of what on-the-ground action and collaboration look like, demonstrated through both its success stories and its challenges. The report was launched at the SBSTTA-23 side-event “Local and subnational governments taking action – using nature-based solutions to address biodiversity and climate challenges” that took place on Tuesday 26^th November. It explores the potential of subnational governments and advances solutions and ideas to overcome the impediments to embedding biodiversity considerations into all sectors and to enthusiastically advance into new paradigms, goals and societal values.

Its main conclusions identify and analyse four main themes: capacity-building and training needs for mainstreaming biodiversity; opportunities to develop and strengthen partnerships; mechanisms to monitor the implementation of actions to advance the mainstreaming of biodiversity; and obstacles that block mainstreaming of biodiversity in regulations, processes, policies and programmes at the subnational level.

One of the reports’ main findings is a list of key determinants of effective biodiversity mainstreaming at the subnational level of government, as a form of recommendation for a successful mainstreaming practice. It is concluded that with greater support, the subnational experience can positively influence the accomplishment of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

To learn more about the opportunities and challenges for successful mainstreaming practice at the subnational level of government, download the report at: https://regions4.org/publications/mainstreaming-biodiversity-the-subnational-government-experience/