From 17-19 September, the Regional Forestry Congress in Piura brought together actors working on forests, natural resources and sustainable development across Peru. As part of the programme, Alfredo Gálvez, Peru National Facilitator of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, presented the work of the partnership and the technical support being provided to the Government of Peru and MINAM to advance implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

The presentation provided an opportunity to introduce the Accelerator to an audience closely connected to Peru’s forest sector and to highlight the importance of linking biodiversity commitments with ongoing efforts for sustainable forest management, conservation and territorial development.

Beyond presenting the Accelerator, the event provided an opportunity to connect with a diverse range of actors working across different regions of Peru. Discussions with representatives from government, subnational governments, academia, civil society and the private sector highlighted the range of initiatives and expertise already contributing to sustainable development and natural resource management.

For the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, these connections are an important part of its facilitation role: identifying ongoing efforts that can contribute to national biodiversity priorities, creating bridges between different actors and sectors, and exploring opportunities for collaboration and technical cooperation in support of NBSAP implementation.

Peru’s broad network of institutions and organizations working across its territories provides important opportunities to build stronger connections between biodiversity, forests and sustainable development. Continued engagement with these actors can help identify practical synergies and partnerships that contribute to the implementation of Peru’s NBSAP and the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.