UNDP joins PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet

November 29, 2018

New York, Nov 29 - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joins the PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet Initiatives as the co-coordinator of the ‘Protected Areas’ (PA), one of the thematic communities set up by the IUCN.

In its new role, UNDP will identify and promote successful approaches to protected area management and governance. Working in around 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, and as one of the key providers of technical assistance to the protected areas around the world, UNDP brings added value to PANORAMA through its vast network, outstanding institutional reputation and diverse expertise.

Going forward and in close collaboration with IUCN, the key tasks will be to systematically document good practices as solutions from the ongoing PA projects, prepare joint advocacy and knowledge products and organise contests and awards for outstanding achievements to celebrate innovations. UNDP will act as a champion for PANORAMA’s other thematic areas, by expanding the linkages to its ongoing initiatives.

IUCN and UNDP have previously partnered to build capacity of protected areas management, worked on knowledge sharing and innovation through GEF funded project in 2014. As a result of which a prototype PANORAMA online platform was developed to build a portfolio of ‘solution’ case studies. These formed the nucleus of the current PANORAMA ‘Protected areas’ theme.

The collaboration has now been rekindled through the inaugural Pathfinder Award for innovation in nature conservation, which celebrates solutions for protected and conserved area financing and resourcing, of which UNDP is the co-organizer. The award has attracted around 200 nominations, and all eligible nominated solutions are published on the PANORAMA web platform.

The 14th UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP14), held in Egypt this month, not only provided the venue for celebrating the Pathfinder Award winners and launching PANORAMA’s new ‘Business engagement’ theme, but also served as the occasion to officially welcome UNDP to PANORAMA.

Notes to editors:

PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet is a partnership initiative to document and promote examples of inspiring, replicable solutions across a range of conservation and sustainable development topics, enabling cross-sectoral learning and inspiration.

Its web platform with currently around 470 solutions from over 70 countries is open to a wide range of “solution providers”, representing NGOs, government institutions, academia and other contributors. Solutions are organized in thematic communities (reflected through “portals” on the web platform), including Marine and coastal, Protected areas, Ecosystem-based adaptation, Agriculture, and the newly launched Biodiversity and business engagement. Each theme is coordinated by one or several institutions.

The platform is currently led by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), IUCN, UN Environment, GRID-Arendal, Rare, IFOAM – Organics International and most recently United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). GIZ and IUCN share the secretariat function.

Useful links:

Protected areas thematic portal on PANORAMA web platform

UNDP’s work on biodiversity and ecosystems management

IUCN’s work on protected areas

The Pathfinder Award for innovation in nature conservation