Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network - BES-Net

Five years of work. Hundreds of scientists, policymakers, community elders and knowledge holders. And today, it all came together. 🌿

Malawi has officially launched three landmark biodiversity documents: the country's first-ever national ecosystem assessment, the Third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

What stands out about this process is who was at the table. More than 500 Indigenous and local community knowledge holders contributed to the assessment, sharing generations of wisdom about ecosystems, seasonal patterns, sacred sites and sustainable use. Traditional leaders were recognized as co-managers of Malawi's natural heritage.

The result is a roadmap that is both scientifically rigorous and community-grounded, with 23 targets, a goal to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2035 and a clear call to translate evidence into action across every sector of society.

BES-Net congratulates Environmental Affairs Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UNDP Malawi and all the authors, reviewers, community contributors and partners whose work made this possible. We look forward to supporting the journey from knowledge to action! 🌍

🌎 Across the Caribbean, the same conversations keep surfacing: food security, storms, biodiversity loss, development, livelihoods.

But at the BES-Net Second Caribbean Regional Trialogue, participants weren’t only discussing the challenges; they were discussing how to work through them together.

This new video captures reflections on regional cooperation, implementation and why creating space for honest dialogue may be just as important as the policies themselves.

🎥 Watch here:

Beyond Silos: Transformative Change for the Caribbean This video from the BES-Net Second Caribbean Regional Trialogue explores how interconnected crises including biodiversity loss, climate change, food insecuri...

👨‍💻 Young people are often called the future of the green transition, but the future needs a way in. A transition cannot depend on youth energy while leaving structural barriers in place. 🍃

For young people to help shape greener economies, learning has to connect to real jobs, stronger protections and systems that support them beyond the entry point.

See what is getting in the way and what could help unlock youth potential. 👇

that protecting our planet is a team sport? 🏅🌻

Governments set the stage by creating national plans (NBSAPs), but it’s the scientists, local farmers, Indigenous leaders and young activists who bring those plans to life. This "two-way street" ensures that everyone has a seat at the table and a role to play.

Take a look at the graphic below to see how your contributes to the global big picture .

We’re all in this together! 🤝

🌊 It’s easy to say gender matters in coastal and marine work. It’s harder to see where it changes outcomes.

Gender roles shape who has a voice in decisions, who can access opportunities and who benefits in the long run. If those patterns aren’t understood, even well-designed projects can reinforce the same gaps.

These 10 principles offer a way to apply a gender lens in ecosystem management.

Take a look and see what stands out. ⤵️

Certaines histoires commencent par une statistique. Celle-ci commence par un appareil photo. 📷

🇨🇮 À Abidjan, 15 jeunes photographes ivoiriens se sont réunis autour d’Autres Regards, une exposition itinérante qui aborde la biodiversité à travers la vie quotidienne, la mémoire, la beauté et l’alerte. Leurs images nous emmènent des forêts et des terres agricoles aux littoraux et aux espaces urbains, montrant à la fois ce qui demeure riche de vie et ce qui est menacé. 🌿

Soutenue par le BES Solution Fund dans le cadre de BES-Net, l’exposition s’inscrit dans les efforts croissants de la Côte d’Ivoire pour rapprocher l’action en faveur de la biodiversité des populations, en particulier des jeunes et des communautés locales.

Lire l’article complet: https://www.besnet.world/autres-regards-reimaginer-la-biodiversite-du-point-de-vue-de-la-jeunesse-ivorienne/

🏝️ In the Solomon Islands, one man’s leadership helped the Kira tribe secure a landmark victory in a biodiversity hotspot.

Their story brings this year’s theme to life: “Acting locally for global impact.”

Global biodiversity goals are not achieved in conference rooms alone. They take shape through local decisions, community stewardship, national action, and the everyday work of people protecting the places they call home.

The Kira tribe’s experience is a powerful reminder that local action is not small action. When rooted in rights, knowledge and shared responsibility, it can help drive progress toward the global vision of living in harmony with nature.

See what this means . 👇

An Ancestral Legacy - UNDP Nature For this Indigenous group in the Solomon Islands, whose ancestors settled the Are`Are region in the south of Malaita province some 6,000 years ago, land is not merely a resource, but a living entity intertwined with their cultural identity, spirituality,

Over three days at the , policymakers, scientists, practitioners and holders of local knowledge explored how biodiversity and climate knowledge can move from global assessments into national decisions, local realities and practical action.

Day 3 brought the conversation home: What does it take for knowledge to travel across generations, institutions and disciplines?

Participants explored Indigenous and local knowledge, trust, consent, education and generational knowledge transfer. They also looked at nature-based solutions in practice, from landscape planning and urban greening to financing, political support and local involvement. A capacity-building session opened pathways for more experts from the region to engage with upcoming and assessments as reviewers.

The Trialogue has ended, but the message carries forward: connected crises require connected action. 🌿

A huge thanks to all our participants, partners, speakers, the RESPIN Project and the ECA Network!