Project Diaries: 2000

26 - 27 October

ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) sponsored a Biodiversity Curriculum Review in Quezon City, Philippines. The existing curricula on science and natural resources in the primary, secondary and tertiary levels were presented and reviewed.

11 - 12 October

The National Workshop on Biodiversity Training Needs Assessment for Thailand identified the existing activities and gaps in biodiversity conservation efforts in the country. The Workshop recommended areas for training on biodiversity management and conservation.

5 - 8 October

ARCBC sponsored the National Workshop for Understanding and Managing Biodiversity at the Provincial and Landscape Levels in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. The action plan for biodiversity conservation in the Philippines for 2001 was formulated. In response to ASEAN's letter of 23 October 2000, Mr. Jonathan Scheele of the European Commission informed that the Commission can in principle accept ASEAN's request to the EU to include the participation of Cambodia and Lao PDR in the EC-ASEAN COGEN Programme Phase III and the inclusion of the two ASEAN member countries in all other development cooperation projects and activities with the EU, such as the ARCBC.

29 September - 03 October

The Workshop on the Use and Management of Biodiversity Databases was conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam. The training focused on the definition of biodiversity data and the forms of data; different data formats and conversion from one format to another; need for data sharing; custodian principle and data format standardization; data collection, reporting and designing; remote sensing and GIS; demonstration of BIMS, Fishbase and other databases; and management and networking of internet-based data.

27 - 28 September

A National Workshop on Mechanism for Biodiversity Information Sharing was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The following issues were discussed: need for a biodiversity information exchange network; the role of the focal agency in the network; work plan for the establishment of the network for the government and related agencies; rights and responsibilities of the participants; mechanism for collecting, providing and sharing information on biodiversity; standard formats for sending and receiving information and data; and contents of Biodiversity Web Page.

25 - 26 September

The National Workshop on Biodiversity Training Needs Assessment for Vietnam held in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam identified ongoing efforts as well as training needs on biodiversity management and conservation.

20 - 21 September

ARCBC, in coordination with the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños, conducted the Workshop on Facing the Challenge of Sustaining Biodiversity in Mt. Makiling at UP Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. The Workshop developed mechanisms for partnership and collaboration among stakeholders and an action plan towards conservation of Mt. Makiling.

18 September - 18 December

During this period, Mr. Klaus Burkmuller served the Project as short-term training specialist.

11 September

Mr. Patrick Hanmer joined ARCBC as Program Administrator and Financial Adviser and replaced Mr. Peter C.B. Brown.

31 July

The 3rd Meeting of the Steering Committee of ARCBC was done in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Meeting resulted in the approval of the Year 2001 Work Plan and Budget of ARCBC, as well as the clarification of the roles of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment and the ASEAN Working Group in Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCBC) as the Steering Committee of ARCBC.

01 July

The 2nd Meeting of the Steering Committee of ARCBC was held in Bogor, Indonesia. The revision of the Financing Agreement and the proposed collaboration between ARCBC and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on strengthening the threatened species listing process in the ASEAN region were discussed in the Meeting.

27 - 28 June

The Workshop on Standardization of Biodiversity Reporting and Information Sharing was done in Bogor, Indonesia in collaboration with National Biodiversity Reference Unit (NBRU) in Indonesia. The Workshop agreed the following were agreed in the Workshop sharing of agreed data sets; defining the generators and/or providers of data; each NBRU will hold a national consultation for data sharing; and ARCBC will continue to develop a suitable software system for data sharing.

14 - 16 June

The 2nd Meeting of the Scientific Experts Committee of ARCBC held in Los Baños, Laguna reviewed and selected 21 research proposals (1st Tranch) for funding under the applied research budget.

24 - 26 April

The Workshop on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment Malaysia (NBRU-Malaysia). The Workshop aimed to increase the awareness in biosafety regulatory mechanisms and build capacity related to biosafety issues, particularly risk assessment and risk management.

14 - 18 March

ARCBC sponsored the Workshop on the Role of Gender and Development in Biodiversity Conservation in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The Workshop defined the issues and recommendations to further promote biodiversity conservation by integrating gender and development.

26 - 28 February

Accomplishments of the different National Biodiversity Reference Units (NBRUs) were presented at the 2nd Consultative Meeting of NBRU Coordinators and ARCBC in Singapore. Constraints in the implementation of CY-1999 activities were identified and project guidelines and procedures were discussed.

21 - 25 February

The Workshop on ASEAN Framework Agreement on Access to Biological and Genetic Resources in Singapore reviewed the results of the prior Meeting of the AWGNCBC Technical Experts.