Bangkok, on 25 November 2024 – GIZ Thailand, through the Climate, Coastal, and Marine Biodiversity (CCMB) project, in collaboration with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), organised the ‘CBD COP16 Debriefing: Driving the Goals, Thriving the Changing World’, at Amari Watergate Bangkok. The event aims to disseminate key outcomes from the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) and strengthen cooperation with relevant agencies in implementing Thailand’s biodiversity initiatives in alignment with the National Targets and the 5th National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (5th NBSAP).

The conference is honored by the presence of Prasert Sirinapaporn, Secretary-General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) who delivered opening remarks and a keynote speech “We are the Part of the Global Plan”. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Deputy Chief of Mission of the German Embassy Bangkok, who gave welcoming remark, and Katunchalee Thammakul, Director of Biodiversity Management Division, ONEP, presented a summary of key outcomes from CBD COP16, which took place from 21 October to 1 November 2024, in Satiago de Cali, Colombia. Thailand expressed the commitment to collaborating with parties on key issues, including 1) Expanding conservation areas outside protected areas through Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), 2) Advancing the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) model for sustainable development, 3) Promoting equitable and fair benefit-sharing mechanisms for genetic resources, and 4) Initiating innovative financing support mechanisms for biodiversity. These efforts aim to foster global cooperation to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and ensure harmony between humanity and nature by 2050.

Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Deputy Chief of Mission at the German Embassy in Bangkok, mentioned that Thailand and Germany share a commitment to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, with Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) supporting Thailand’s efforts, including the recognition of Thailand’s key steps in fostering the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at the national level this year. This also includes the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and bilateral projects since 2022 to advance the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets. Additionally, COP 16 highlighted the role of marine ecosystems in climate action, with projects like GIZ Thailand’s CCMB Project showcasing IKI’s support for integrated efforts in marine conservation, sustainable tourism, and climate adaptation in Thailand. These are the priority fields of action where IKI-funded projects comprehensively address climate action and conserve biological diversity.

Dr Timo Menniken, GIZ Thailand Country Director, also gave an interview to the media, stating that since 2022, GIZ has supported Thailand in biodiversity protection and identified key areas for future cooperation, including implementing biodiversity goals under the KMGBF, achieving the High Ambition Coalition’s 30×30 target, and strengthening the Biodiversity Act through capacity building and enhanced legal and policy frameworks.

In the CBD COP16 Debriefing, a forum titled “Spotlight CBD COP16” was organised. Participants from relevant agencies and sectors gained a deeper understanding of the importance and approaches to biodiversity conservation in Thailand. Participants are committed to align their organisational activities with national biodiversity targets and action plans, contributing to the global biodiversity agenda.

Following the afternoon session, the panel discussion titled “Post COP16: Driving Collaboration to Achieve National Biodiversity Targets and NBSAP Implementation” was held to analyse gaps and find out solutions together, how the cooperation among relevant organisations will work. The panel is joined by biodiversity-related stakeholders including Suwee Ngandee from Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (Public Organisation) (BEDO), Supisit Jitwijak from World Widelife Fund (WWF), Kanrawee Srisangsub from Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), Supachok Chittapisan, CCMB project, GIZ Thailand, and Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth from Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) joined on online.

Wrapping up the successful COP16 Debrief event, ONEP, as Thailand’s National Focal Point for biodiversity, will focus on translating the strategy and the National Biodiversity Action Plan into local implementation through measurable indicators for monitoring and evaluation. Efforts will include enhancing the management of conservation areas outside protected zones by strengthening OECMs criteria and piloting initiatives in key areas. Biodiversity Financial plan will also be prioritised in collaboration with the private sector and financial institutions, alongside integrating biodiversity actions with cross-sectoral stakeholders.

The CCMB project, GIZ Thailand, will support the driving of Thailand’s biodiversity conservation efforts. This will involve integrating biodiversity conservation with climate change mitigation, tourism, and coastal and marine management.  The CCMB project will support pilot projects in developing OECMs guidelines for marine and coastal areas with local stakeholder engagement, particularly promoting Citizen Science in conservation and ecosystem monitoring. The project will also assist in capacity-building for Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), ensuring alignment with international biodiversity goals under the KM-GBF. These efforts will mark Thailand’s progress in advancing its biodiversity targets, and prompt Thailand’s delegates in joining the CBD COP17 in Armenia.