The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) phase II

Project summary:

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) is a collaborative effort among UNDP, UNEP-WCMC, and UNESCO, supported by the Government of Germany’s Climate Initiative (IKI) and SwedBio, aiming to promote the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of diverse ecosystem services which will translate into strengthened resilience for the planet and human welfare. BES-Net builds on the latest assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to offer transformative solutions for biodiversity diversity on the ground. This runs in parallel with the collaborative platform for scientists, policymakers, and practitioners that fosters effective BES management and multi-stakeholder knowledge sharing.

Background:

During the first phase of BES-Net, Vietnam was tasked, alongside Cameron, Ethiopia, and Columbia, to undertake its first National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA). UNEP-WCMC, the Institute of Strategy and Policy for Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), and the Center for Biodiversity Conservation (CBC) multilaterally facilitated Phase I, instrumentalizing the Trialogues for the 3 communities and generating evidence-informed advocacy toward national decision-makers with NEA’s key recommendations.

Building on Phase I’s successes, BES-Net extends its catalytic investments for biodiversity solutions, culminating in the initiation of the second phase starting in 2020. Recognizing NEA’s deliberate focus on enacting policy changes supported by scientific assessments in Phase I, Phase II aims to also prioritize greater inclusion of local voices and channel its funds into more locally led actions.

Major achievements:

Phase I:

  • November 2019: Vietnam National Trialogue and Consultation Workshop on Draft National Ecosystem Assessment Report
  • May 2022: The release of Vietnam’s first National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA)

Phase 2:  

  • October 2022: Presentation of post-NEA's envisaged activities at the UNEP-WCMC Global Conference

Payment for Ecosystems Services (PES):

  • Baseline study to propose options for the implementation of Payment for Marine and Wetland Ecosystem Services (PMES and PWES)
  • Development of provincial PES plan for 01 selected province
  • Implementation of the provincial PES plan: technical guidelines for PES providers’ preparation, economic valuation, communication, and knowledge management strategy

BES Platform:

  • BES Platform Establishment Profile  
  • BES Platform Forward 3-year Strategy

IPBES’ engagement:  

  • Vietnam’s contribution reports to IPBES
  • Vietnamese delegation to IPBES 9 and 10
  • Consultation workshop on the Global IPBES report 

Project outcome:

BES-Net Phase II, cognizant of the NEA’s recommendations as well as its established priorities, works toward the completion of:  

  • Outcome 1: The BES Platform in Vietnam, a knowledge-sharing and collaborative hub for scientists, policymakers, and practitioners, with more participation from local organizations and communities.
  • Outcome 2: Accelerated advocacy for improved implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) institutionally and provincially.  
  • Outcome 3: Heightened IPBES’ engagement and visibility across the three communities

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) component:

BES-Net is committed to upholding gender equality by amplifying women’s voices in the Trialogues, outreach activities and promoting inclusion of women’s participation in Phase II’s various processes.  

In terms of indigenous people and local communities’ engagement, BES-Net Phase II strives to better facilitate their participation in Trialogues and BES-Net's future communication materials. Understanding that indigenous people and local communities are key actors in biodiversity conservation while also being directly impacted by the degradation of ecosystems, creating space for their insights helps build inclusive, locally appropriate policies and conservation actions.

Impact

START DATE

January 2015

END DATE

December 2028

STATUS

Ongoing

PROJECT OFFICE
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

United Nations Development Programme

DONORS

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENC

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT FOR INT'L DEVELOPMENT (DFID)

DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FUR INTERNATIONALE

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

European Comm. Humanit. Aid Off

GOVERNMENT OF BOTSWANA

GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK

GOVERNMENT OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

GOVERNMENT OF FINLAND

GOVERNMENT OF GERMANY

GOVERNMENT OF LUXEMBOURG

GOVERNMENT OF NETHERLANDS

GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY

STOCKHOLM INT'L WATER INSTITUTE

SWEDBIO

UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

UNCCD, BONN

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Unspecified

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

$22,619,141

DELIVERY IN PREVIOUS YEARS

2015$64,815

2016$329,612

2017$1,245,235

2018$1,597,996

2019$1,797,846

2020$1,179,487

2021$1,963,847

2022$2,171,560

2023$2,772,860

2024$3,001,551

Full Project information