News, Events, and Opportunities

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation (BRIN), and funded by the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund through the project Enhancing Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands and Peatlands in ASEAN as Effective Sinks and Reservoirs of Greenhouse Gases (EnCORE Wetlands), will conduct the 2025 Biodiversity Science Forum from 10 to 11 June 2025 in Jakarta, focusing on climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

The forum serves as a collaborative platform to foster dialogues among experts, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders on evidence-based discussions and regional cooperation on climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

In addition, this activity aligns with some Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets including Target 2 (Ecosystem Restoration), 8 (Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation), 10 (Sustainable Management of Ecosystems), 14 (Mainstreaming Biodiversity), 19 (Increasing Biodiversity Finance), 20 (Strengthening knowledge, awareness, and capacity-building related to biodiversity, particularly for policymakers, scientists, and local communities), and 21 (ensuring that biodiversity-related policies and actions are inclusive and participatory, engaging indigenous peoples, local communities, and stakeholders)  and the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan.

This forum will also serve as a venue to promote and disseminate knowledge products that would support science-based decision support systems consistent with Output 2.2 of the EnCORE Wetlands Project and are integrated in the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard.

Photo by Kyaw Kyaw WInn

Keynote Speeches:

1. Prof. Yongyut Trisurat – Professor, Kasetsart University Thailand and IPBES Bureau Member for Asia-Pacific Region 
2. Dr. Rodel Lasco – Executive Director,  The Oscar M. Lopez Center, Philippines 
3. Prof. Damayanti Buchori – Director of Center for Transdisciplinary and Sustainability Science, IPB University, Indonesia    

Speakers:

Panel 1: Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration in ASEAN – Exploring the role of forests, peatlands, and wetlands in carbon storage and climate regulation.

Chair: Prof Gono Semiadi – Secretariat of Scientific Authority, The National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia, and NFP for IPBES 

1. Dr. Kyaw Sein Win Tun – Assistant Director, Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division, Forest Department and SAC Member, Myanmar
2. Global Environmental Centre (GEC)  
3. Dr. Thamasak Yeemin – Associate Professor,  Ramkhamhaeng University and SAC Member, Thailand  
4. Dr. Inthavy Akkharath – Wildlife Conservation Association,  Lao PDR 

Panel 2: Innovative Climate Solutions – Community-Based Approaches – Case studies on nature-based solutions, indigenous knowledge, and sustainable adaptation strategies.

Chair:  Dr. Arvin Diesmos, Biodiversity Knowledge Management Department Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

1. Apri Susanto Astra – Programme Coordinator Coasts and Deltas, Wetlands International Indonesia 
2. Dr. Gopalasamy Reuben Clements – Sustainable Finance Specialist, Zoological Society of London  
3. Dr. Dyah Puspitaloka – Lead Research Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
4. Sumarni Laman – Borneo’s indigenous community

Panel 3: Advancing Scientific Research for Climate mitigation – Cutting-edge scientific advancements in climate modeling, landscape monitoring, and biodiversity resilience.

Chair: Satrio Adiwicaksono – Senior Programme Officer, Forests and Grasslands, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 

1. Prof Jatna Supriatna – Chairman, Research Center for Climate Change, University of Indonesia  
2. Ms. Hidayah Hamzah – Senior Manager – Peat and Forest Monitoring, WRI Indonesia
3. Prof. Eric Chan Wei Chiang – Professor, International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Sustainability (IISDS), UCSI University, Malaysia

Panel 4: Scientific Innovations in Climate and Biodiversity Conservation and success stories – Exploring new technologies and methodologies to monitor, conserve, and restore ecosystems in ASEAN.

Chair: Dr. Atik Retnowati – Senior Researcher, The National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN), and SAC Member, Indonesia 

1. Prof. Ocky Karna Radjasa – Head, Center for Earth and Maritime Research, The National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN)
2. Dr. Rebecca Loh – Research Associate, National University of Singapore
3. Mr. Christian B.  Elloran – Biodiversity Informatics and Geospatial Analysis Division Director,  ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)
4. Rodiansyah – Manager Technical Division, Planet Indonesia Foundation
   

Registration will run until 9 June 2025. 

Click here to register https://bit.ly/BiodiversityScienceForum2025 

For more information, please contact: 

ACB: Ms. Erica T. Villavelez at etvillavelez@aseanbiodiversity.org    

WRI Indonesia: Ms. Novaeny Wulandari at novaeny.wulandari@wri.org   

WORKSHOP CONVENORS 

Dr. Nur Hasanah Gauch | Biodiversity Science Division, Biodiversity Knowledge Management Department, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Philippines

Erica T. Villavelez | Biodiversity Science Division, Biodiversity Knowledge Management Department, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Philippines

Dr. Atik Retnowati | Senior Scientist, The National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) and ACB Scientific Advisory Committee Indonesia

Hidayah Hamzah | World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia 

Dede Sulaeman | World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia