Press Release
June 06, 2022
- Nature & Parks
Outcome of the 2nd Asia Parks Congress
1. The 2nd Asia Parks Congress was held from May 25 to 29, 2022, through a combination of an in-person event at the Sabah International Convention Center in Sabah, Malaysia, and an online conference.
2. At the Congress, delegates exchanged views toward the sharing of information on initiatives relating to protected and conserved areas, as well as the promotion of the conservation and management of such areas. They also compiled the Kota Kinabalu Declaration to promote the conservation and management of protected and conserved areas.
3. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, hosted a discussion on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and also reported on the initiatives in Japan’s national parks.
2. At the Congress, delegates exchanged views toward the sharing of information on initiatives relating to protected and conserved areas, as well as the promotion of the conservation and management of such areas. They also compiled the Kota Kinabalu Declaration to promote the conservation and management of protected and conserved areas.
3. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, hosted a discussion on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and also reported on the initiatives in Japan’s national parks.
■ Overview of the Congress
・ Title: 2nd Asia Parks Congress
*Aimed at sharing information and engaging in discussions on the conservation and
management of protected and conserved areas.
management of protected and conserved areas.
・ Date: May 25 – 29, 2022
・ Venue: Sabah International Convention Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; included
virtual participation
virtual participation
・ Participants: Approximately 1,250 participants from 49 countries and regions (mainly Asia),
including government officials, representatives from international organizations,
researchers, as well as representatives from NGOs, youth and indigenous groups, and private
corporations.
including government officials, representatives from international organizations,
researchers, as well as representatives from NGOs, youth and indigenous groups, and private
corporations.
・ Theme: Parks for Nature and People
・ Main events: Plenary sessions, youth forums, working groups, poster sessions, side events
■ Discussions by Working Groups, etc.
The following is an overview of the discussions held by the Working Groups (WG), etc.
(1) WG1: Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for health and well-being
This WG was hosted by MOE Japan and chaired by Professor FURUTA Naoya of Taisho
University. The Satoyama Initiative was introduced in the presentations and discussions.
The following views were also presented:
University. The Satoyama Initiative was introduced in the presentations and discussions.
The following views were also presented:
・ Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), apart from protected and
conserved areas, play an effective role for NbS.
conserved areas, play an effective role for NbS.
・ It is important to fuse traditional knowledge and modern science.
・ The NbS concept is not well understood, and appropriate guidance tools are needed. It is
important to expand initiatives going forward, including to the areas outside of protected and
conserved areas.
important to expand initiatives going forward, including to the areas outside of protected and
conserved areas.
・ Through the COVID-19 pandemic, people have come to recognize the importance of the
connection between human health and nature.
connection between human health and nature.
・ NbS are also effective in response to climate change.
In addition, the Chair presented a draft guidebook for promoting NbS in protected and
conserved areas. Based on participants’ opinions, it was decided to revise the guidebook for
publication at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention
on Biological Diversity (COP15).
conserved areas. Based on participants’ opinions, it was decided to revise the guidebook for
publication at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention
on Biological Diversity (COP15).
(2) WG2: Governance of protected and conserved areas
The following points were presented and discussed:
・ The need to respect traditional governance as well as the rights of indigenous peoples and
local residents
local residents
・ The importance of ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making
・ The importance of appropriate evaluation for initiatives and the sharing of good practices
・ The importance of collaborating with various stakeholders
・ The importance of fair sharing and allocation of costs for conservation and protection, and
of the benefits gained
of the benefits gained
(3) WG3: Connectivity and transboundary conservation
The following point was presented and discussed:
The fragmentation of the habitats of living creatures is a serious situation as a result of factors
such as large-scale agricultural development and infrastructural development, and there is a
need to work on restoring and conserving the fragmented habitats through international
cooperation and the establishment of ecological corridors and buffer zones,
while taking reference from IUC guidelines.
The fragmentation of the habitats of living creatures is a serious situation as a result of factors
such as large-scale agricultural development and infrastructural development, and there is a
need to work on restoring and conserving the fragmented habitats through international
cooperation and the establishment of ecological corridors and buffer zones,
while taking reference from IUC guidelines.
(4) WG4: Effective protected and conserved areas
The following points were presented and discussed:
・ The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas is an effective means of evaluating and
enhancing the quality of the management of protected and conserved areas.
enhancing the quality of the management of protected and conserved areas.
・ It is important to expand and develop good practices in individual protected and conserved areas to the national level.
・ Human resource development and the gender balance of the rangers managing protected and conserved areas is also an issue.
(5) WG5: Economic and financial sustainability of protected and conserved areas
Japan’s initiative, the “Project to Fully Enjoy National Parks,” was introduced. The following points were presented and discussed:
・ There is a need to recognize the importance of economical methods of protection and conservation, and to set out sustainable financing strategies.
・ The impact on biodiversity should be visualized, and harmful subsidies should be abolished in stages.
・ There is a need to make biodiversity the mainstream in each stage of various economic activities.
(6) WG6: Urban conservation and a new generation
The following points were presented and discussed:
・ The rapid expansion of cities in Asia has led to the fragmentation between humans and nature.
・ The protection and regeneration of green spaces in cities contributes not only to ensuring human health and preventing disasters, but also helps us to
adapt to climate change.
adapt to climate change.
・ Monitoring using science and technology, environmental education for children, and participation in protection activities, are also important.
(7) Youth forums
The youth participants shared information about their initiatives. Young people are enthusiastic about nature conservation, thus it is important to draw
out that potential. The Asia Youth Network on protected and conserved areas should be established to promote participation and the
sharing of experiences, increase opportunities for capacity building, and nurture leaders.
out that potential. The Asia Youth Network on protected and conserved areas should be established to promote participation and the
sharing of experiences, increase opportunities for capacity building, and nurture leaders.
(8) Indigenous peoples/Local community sessions
The following points were discussed:
・ It is necessary to recognize that indigenous peoples and the local community play a unique role as a long-standing part of protected and conserved
areas, and to respect their rights.
areas, and to respect their rights.
・ The designation of new protected and conserved areas that do not recognize the participation of indigenous peoples, etc., nor their customary
management methods, should be avoided.
management methods, should be avoided.
■ Outcome of the Congress
As an outcome of the congress, the Kota Kinabalu Declaration was compiled at the closing ceremony on the last day of the congress, based on the discussions in each WG. (The full text of the Declaration is attached.)
The Declaration incorporated the reports from each WG, and set out the following points as its “Call to Action for Nature and People:”
・ To send a strong message to COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and to COP27 of the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
・ To convey the key messages from this Congress to the forthcoming First Africa Protected Areas Congress, the 7th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference, the
5th International Marine Protected Area Congress, and the next IUCN World Parks Congress.
5th International Marine Protected Area Congress, and the next IUCN World Parks Congress.
・ To support the further development and growth of the Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP), and to encourage APAP to continue convening the Asia
Parks Congress at regular intervals in the future.
Parks Congress at regular intervals in the future.
・ To call upon IUCN, the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), and other regional and sub-regional organizations to support these efforts.
Attached File
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