Summary: To strategically implement the APN’s policy agenda as stipulated in its Second Strategic Plan which is strengthening appropriate interactions among scientists and policy-makers, and providing scientific input to policy decision-making and scientific knowledge to the public, the APN has been holding international seminars in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (where the APN Secretariat is located) since 1999. The last three seminars focused on biodiversity and related themes:

In raising APN’s visibility and expanding more substantive APN activity to and supportive of policy-making, the APN with Hyogo Prefectural Government of Japan as its main sponsor, will partner with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity in the ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity that will take place on 21-23 October 2009, in Singapore. The Conference theme is Biodiversity in Focus: 2010 and Beyond. By availing the Standard Partner Package and providing a contribution of US$10,000, the APN will be able to showcase and synthesise the three (3) APN biodiversity international seminars mentioned above through a designated exhibit space for the duration of the Conference and a side-event on Day2. The outputs of which will be highlighted at the Convention on Biological Diversity 10th Conference of Parties in Nagoya, Japan in 2010.

Date and time of the side-event: 22 October 2009 (Thursday); 13:00-14:30 p.m.

Venue: Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

Title of the side-event: APN Seminar Series on Biodiversity: Providing Scientific Knowledge to the Civil Society and Preparing for CBD COP10

Overview (DESCRIPTION OF THE SIDE-EVENT FOR THE CONFERENCE POSTER AND BROCHURE): Biodiversity was the central theme of the last three international seminars that the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) organised aimed at raising the awareness of civil society on the importance of biodiversity for the Asia- Pacific region particularly in relation to human intervention and sustainable development. With support from the Hyogo Prefectural Government, Japan and the DIVERSITAS in the Western Pacific and Asia (DIWPA), the series of seminars helped APN achieve one of its goals of providing scientific knowledge to the public. This present side-event will showcase the significant outputs of the seminars which are also expected to be highlighted at the landmark Convention on Biological Diversity 10th Conference of Parties in Nagoya, Japan next year.

Participants: The conference organisers will secure the participants for the side-event. They are expecting around 200-250 participants for the Conference and a conservative estimate of 60-70 people for the side-event. Side-event programme (with details on the speakers and topic): Please click below