The 1st Southeast Asian Biodiversity and Climate Change Policy Forum will examine the role of policy and cooperative action, particularly at the regional level, at this critical juncture for the planet. Discussions will focus on vulnerable terrestrial and marine ecosystems which provide valuable ecosystems services but usually receive less attention, investments and resources, such as wetlands, mangrove forests and seagrass areas.

This is especially timely, as 2020 has been recognized as a “super year for nature,” with several multilateral environmental agreements and targets undergoing review or coming into effect. It will bring together practitioners, stakeholders and students from the fields of physical and natural science, law and international relations to re-examine current areas of work, and chart trajectories for the future.