Pursuing pollinator-friendly pathways during COVID-19: experiences from BES-Net’s Regional Trialogues

After a successful webinar on World Bee Day (May 20th) this year, Promote Pollinators is looking forward to hosting an online event in collaboration the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) on December 1st, 2020 at 15:00 CET.

Conservation and sustainable use of pollinators requires commitment and support from all the stakeholders across sectors and organizations. Since the release of the landmark IPBES thematic assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production in 2016, BES-Net has been promoting the uptake of the assessment, using the science-policy-practice dialogue approach (i.e. “Trialogues”). The webinar will provide an opportunity to learn how the countries that have participated in the Regional Trialogues integrated the IPBES assessment findings and messages into policymaking processes, scientific research and on-the-ground programmes and projects, and how these efforts are implemented in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are very proud to have Hien Ngo from the IPBES secretariat speaking on the recent IPBES workshop report on Biodiversity and Pandemics. After this presentation, an interactive panel discussion will take place between experts to highlight the links between pandemic risk, its drivers and its potential relevance for pollinators and pollination. There will also be a brief presentation on the IPBES assessment outcomes and BES-Net’s Regional Trialogues which will lead into the second part of the webinar, where representatives from a selection of countries that participated in the Regional Trialogues will share their unique experiences promoting pollinators, building on the increased awareness and strengthened network through the Trialogues.

The webinar is open to the public, and both members and non-members are invited to attend. The webinar will take two hours.

Programme
- Biodiversity and Pandemics (https://ipbes.net/pandemics), Hien Ngo, Head of Technical Support Unit, Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at IPBES

- Panel discussion with experts on pollinators, policy and food systems

The following speakers will focus on BES-Net’s Regional Trialogues:

- Anne Juepner, Director of the UNDP Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification

- Lena Dempewolf, Biodiversity Specialist at the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago: “Pollination in Trinidad and Tobago - activities and lessons learned post-BES-Net Caribbean Regional Trialogue on Pollinators, Food Security and Climate Resilience”

- Sikeade Egbuwalo, ministry of the Environment of Nigeria and CBD National Focal Point for Nigeria

- Ustemirov Kayrat Zhangabylovich, Advisor to the Chairman of the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife, Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan: “Innovative ideas and actions to promote pollinator-friendly practice as a post-trialogue learning point from Kazakhstan”

- Ruth V Spencer, Antigua & Barbuda

- Ena Hatibovic, Bosnia & Herzegovina