Good Evening,

In this opinion piece, M.K.S. Pasha, Regional Coordinator for IUCN Asia, underscores the urgent need to link biodiversity protection with climate action through area-based conservation strategies. Drawing from the latest global reports and regional realities, he advocates for the integration of protected and conserved areas (PAs and OECMs) into national climate and development plans. Emphasizing inclusive governance, youth engagement, and Indigenous leadership, Dr. Pasha presents a roadmap for a more resilient, equitable, and nature-positive future in Asia.

🌍Opinion Piece

Biodiversity & Climate at Risk

According to the Living Planet Report 2024, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970, with freshwater species experiencing the steepest drops. The Asia-Pacific region faces a 60% decline over the same period. The IPBES Nexus Report further underscores the inextricable links between biodiversity loss, climate change, food security, and health, emphasizing that piecemeal policies will lead to systemic collapse. For Asia, which is home to more than 4.5 billion people, critical biodiversity hotspots (e.g., Coral Triangle, Himalayas, Indo-Burma); integrated conservation efforts are essential. These must also support the implementation of SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land), as well as the UNFCCC’s Global Stocktake and enhanced ambition for nature-based climate action.

Why Area-Based Conservation Matters

Area-based measures, Protected Areas (PAs), Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and heritage sites are vital Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate mitigation and biodiversity protection.

• The Asia-Pacific region holds nearly 2.5 million km² in PA coverage, about 8.9% of its land area, exceeding the global average of ~6%.

• Forested PAs sequester carbon, reduce soil erosion, and support biodiversity.

• Mangroves, often managed as OECMs, store up to 4.19 petagrams of carbon globally, with Asia accounting for over 40% of that stock.

• Wetlands, including community managed estuaries and Ramsar sites, regulate floods, purify water, sustain fisheries, and support livelihoods. Nevertheless, 22% of wetlands have been lost since 1970, threatening ecosystem services valued in the trillions.

These figures highlight the urgent need for Targets 1, 2, 3, and 22 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), calling for spatial planning, ecosystem restoration, effective protection, and inclusive governance. Simultaneously, area-based conservation contributes directly to nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the UNFCCC, promoting climate adaptation and mitigation through ecosystem based approaches.

Importantly, the mainstreaming of PAs and OECMs into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) is essential to ensure area-based measures are fully integrated into national development, SDG implementation, and climate agendas. The inclusion of such frameworks in NBSAPs can provide the policy traction needed to scale these tools effectively.

People-Centric Conservation, Youth and Equity

Effective conservation hinges on equitable governance. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) manage approximately 22% of Earth's land, often achieving stronger biodiversity outcomes than formal PAs. Around 21% of terrestrial biodiversity overlaps with IPLC territories.

In South and Southeast Asia, women are primary resource managers in rural areas, yet are disproportionately underrepresented in conservation decision-making. KM-GBF Target 22 mandates inclusive and rights-based approaches, which requires integrating women’s leadership (SDG 5) and community knowledge at the heart of PAs and OECMs.

Equally vital is the engagement of youth and early-career professionals, who are emerging as agents of change in the region’s conservation landscape. From youth-led citizen science projects to regional youth networks under the Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) umbrella, the younger generation is bringing energy, digital fluency, and innovative ideas to biodiversity monitoring, awareness, and advocacy. Intergenerational equity, as reflected in SDG 4.7 and 16.7, is not just about inclusion, it is about future-proofing conservation systems.

What Next?

Asia is at a pivotal crossroads. Biodiversity decline and climate disruption are converging crises, but area-based conservation provides not only a buffer, but also an opportunity for regenerative social and ecological systems. PAs, OECMs, World Heritage sites, geoparks, and MIDAs represent a mosaic of solutions, when designed and managed inclusively, they deliver climate regulation, ecosystem services, and dignity to communities.

As we look ahead, the urgency for coordinated conservation action has never been clearer. PAs and OECMs collectively cover more than 17% of terrestrial and 8% of marine environments globally, but their effectiveness often hinges on governance quality, long-term financing, and inclusive management. With over 1 billion people across Asia depending on ecosystem services for their livelihoods, from forest products to fisheries to freshwater, this work is not just ecological, it's economic and social. These are also cornerstones for achieving SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Youth engagement, gender equity, and participatory governance must be seen not as add-ons, but as central to conservation’s success. By ensuring the next generation is empowered, and by embedding these practices in national strategies such as NBSAPs and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), we stand to deliver durable conservation impacts.

📊 🌍 Climate Myth vs. Fact

Myth: “The Earth’s climate is always changing naturally, so current warming isn’t a concern.”​Center for Rural Health

Fact: While the Earth's climate has indeed changed over geological time scales, the current rate of warming is unprecedented and primarily driven by human activities. Since the Industrial Revolution, the burning of fossil fuels has significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to rapid global temperature rise. This accelerated warming poses serious risks to ecosystems, weather patterns, and human societies.

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