In recent years, the urgency to restore and safeguard global biodiversity has grown significantly. Faced with the economic and social impact of species extinction, climate instability, pollution and the degradation of natural resources, communities around the world are recognizing nature conservation as vital for sustainable development. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was established to drive coordinated action on this solution. The GBF’s 23 ambitious targets include protecting 30% of the planet’s land and sea areas by 2030. Yet, as with its predecessor, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, progress depends not just on commitments, but on practical implementation. Increasingly, peer learning and knowledge exchange are becoming powerful catalysts for turning commitments into action.

When countries and communities learn from one another, they gain insight into what works, increasing effectiveness and speed of implementation. Across ecosystems and borders, the question becomes: What solutions have proven effective in similar contexts? How have others succeeded in addressing similar challenges? The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a NBSAP Accelerator Partnership member since 2023 and part of its Steering Committee,  held two key events in Namibia and Indonesia in 2025, providing key spaces for peer-to-peer exchange. The regional knowledge exchange forums brought together government representatives, experts, civil society, and local communities to share lessons learned, identify collaboration opportunities, address common obstacles, and shape informed actions for advancing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

The regional knowledge exchange forums hosted by the IUCN and supported by GIZ, as part of its GBF Implementation Project under the umbrella of  the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, are part of an ongoing series designed to support leaders and decision-makers on connecting opportunities and solutions for advancing NBSAPs. By learning from comparable experiences, participants gain insights that can unlock new strategies and accelerate national action. The 2025 series will conclude with one more exchange planned for Peru.

The events held in Namibia and Indonesia offered participants a space to explore shared challenges in biodiversity management and identify regionally relevant solutions. Both highlighted the power of collaboration and peer learning in advancing conservation outcomes.

The Namibia workshop, “Learning from What Works: A Regional Knowledge Exchange Workshop,” held in partnership with Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), focused on the role of area-based conservation (including OECMs), inclusive and community-led governance, and biodiversity finance. Bringing together experts from countries across Southern Africa, the event emphasized the importance of collaborative conservation efforts and highlighted successful case studies on relevant solutions from the Panorama database.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asia Regional Knowledge Exchange Forum held in Bogor, Indonesia, gathered countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Indonesia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Thailand, to discuss the intersection of biodiversity finance, governance, spatial planning, and data management. Key topics revolved around inclusive governance and the importance of whole-of-society approaches to biodiversity conservation, reinforcing the need for all sectors, from government to local communities, to work together in protecting nature.

Across both regions, experts pointed out common obstacles, such as gaps in regulatory frameworks, weak institutional structures, inadequate financial mechanisms, and insufficient biodiversity data. In Indonesia, discussions highlighted ongoing gaps in biodiversity finance, which persist as a significant barrier to the successful implementation of NBSAPs. Representatives recognized that many countries struggle to mobilize the necessary financial resources, with blended finance and public-private partnerships emerging as key solutions to address these financial challenges.

In Namibia, discussions emphasized the role of area-based conservation, including Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)—approaches that achieve conservation goals outside traditional protected area systems. The forum also emphasized the importance of sustainable land-use planning, highlighting the value of long-term, locally led conservation initiatives. Both dialogues also emphasized the need for coordinated monitoring systems that can measure progress, track biodiversity indicators, and adapt strategies in response to new challenges, while connecting local-level realities with national-level plans.

Inclusive governance: Inclusive governance was a key discussion point during regional knowledge exchanges. Whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches were underscored as critical for biodiversity action. Such approaches aim to involve diverse government ministries, from finance to education, and various sectors of society, including private companies and local communities, in aligning on biodiversity actions.

In Indonesia, the discussion emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between government agencies, especially in cross-sectoral coordination. Ministries for agriculture, tourism, and development need to mainstream biodiversity into their respective policies. Similarly, in Namibia, the participation of local communities in conservation and management practices was a focal point, as the local knowledge and traditional ecological practices of Indigenous communities offer vital insights into effective biodiversity management.

By involving all sectors of society in the conversation and recognizing the rights and roles of local communities, both events reinforced the idea that biodiversity conservation is not just an environmental issue, but a cross-cutting challenge that requires the active involvement of everyone.

Biodiversity finance: One of the most pressing issues highlighted during both dialogues was the need for biodiversity finance. Without adequate financial support, even the most well-designed plans will remain on paper. In Namibia, sustainable financing models were discussed, including mechanisms to engage the private sector, such as blended finance and innovative financing tools. In Indonesia, the focus was on financial solutions for biodiversity, including projects like the Coral Bond, a non-debt financing instrument designed to support marine protected areas. These types of financial innovations served as models for countries striving to secure funding for their biodiversity commitments.

Strengthening monitoring systems: Another shared theme discussed was the need to strengthen biodiversity data, monitoring, and reporting systems. Participants stressed the importance of reliable, science-based data to inform decision-making, monitor the success of NBSAPs, and assess progress towards global biodiversity targets. Both regions acknowledged that data gaps continue to undermine effective biodiversity management and that strengthening the capacity of national institutions to gather, analyze, and report biodiversity data should be a top priority moving forward.

Finding the right support: The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership participated in both dialogues, emphasizing how global initiatives can support regional and national efforts. The country-led partnership facilitates technical assistance, access to financial resources, and knowledge exchange by matching actors with resources and facilitating in-country technical support. By connecting countries, stakeholders, and experts across the globe, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership fosters collective, accelerated progress.

The regional knowledge exchange forums held in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia spotlight the need for shared learning and collaboration in achieving global biodiversity commitments.  Both events highlighted the power of working together in overcoming challenges to implementing NBSAPs. As the world moves towards 2030, it is clear that biodiversity conservation is not a task for any one government or sector alone. It is a shared responsibility, and only through collective action, partnership, and collaboration can we ensure that the future of our planet remains vibrant, healthy, and resilient.