Ashgabat, 24 December: An introductory seminar was held in Turkmenistan under the UNDP Global Project “Global Programme for Supporting the Update of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the Preparation of the 7th National Report on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.

The main goal of the project is to support countries in reviewing and updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans to align them with the recently agreed Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and ensure the effective national implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The seminar brought together representatives from various key national ministries and agencies, including ministries, state committees, research institutes, universities, as well as representatives of the private sector and civil society.

During the seminar, participants were introduced to the main objectives of the project, as well as an overview of the GBF and the process of updating NBSAPs and preparing the 7th National Report on the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Participants were also briefed on work carried out under previous initiative GEF-7 Early Action Support programme and in the framework of the Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans (BIOFIN). Building on the results of the GEF-7 Early Action Support programme, the current programme will operate in coordination with BIOFIN.

“Conserving biodiversity is not only an environmental challenge but also a cornerstone of sustainable development. The UNDP/GEF programme will provide the necessary technical and financial support to integrate the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into national plans. I am confident that our cooperation will enable Turkmenistan to successfully fulfill its international commitments and make a meaningful contribution to protecting the planet’s biodiversity,” said Mr. Farhat Orunov, Programme Analyst of the UNDP Environmental Portfolio in Turkmenistan.

About the Programme

The “UNDP/GEF Global Programme for Supporting the Update of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and the Preparation of 7th National CBD Reports” is an initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that provides financial and technical support to 139 developing and transition economy countries in updating their NBSAPs in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as preparing and submitting their 7th national reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity.