East and Southeast Asia Subregional Workshop on Target 3: Strengthening capacities and cooperation to turn 30×30 ambitions into action in Asia

Bangkok, Thailand — 17–20 June 2025

From 17 to 20 June 2025, over 70 participants from 13 countries across East and Southeast Asia gathered in Bangkok for the Subregional Capacity-Building Workshop on Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The event was convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC N&P), the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centres (TSCs) of IUCN-ARO and ACB, NatureXpairs, and the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), with support from the governments of Denmark, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

A collaborative space to move from ambition to action

The workshop provided a unique space for dialogue between governments, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), youth, and technical experts, alongside regional and international partners. Over four days, participants shared experiences, explored practical approaches, and co-designed solutions to advance Target 3 – protecting 30% of lands and seas by 2030.

NatureXpairs played a key role in shaping the workshop methodology and facilitating collaborative sessions. In support of the CBD Secretariat, the team designed and led interactive workshops aimed at:

• Identifying shared challenges across the region,
• Mapping capacity and expertise needs,
• Outlining opportunities for bilateral and regional cooperation

These participatory processes were instrumental in producing the key outcomes of the workshop.

Five shared regional challenges

Participants collectively identified five major challenges impeding progress toward 30×30:

1. Limited capacity for effective management and inclusive governance of protected areas and OECMs;
2. Gaps in integration and reporting mechanisms;
3. Weaknesses in transboundary cooperation frameworks, despite their importance for ecological connectivity;
4. Policy incoherence between conservation, development, and human rights;
5. Unequal access to technical support and sustainable financing, particularly for IPLCs, women, youth, and small-scale actors.

Capacity and expertise needs expressed by countries

To address these challenges, countries highlighted the need to :

• Develop a regional institutional framework and action plan;
• Create a regional reporting tool tailored to local contexts;
• Strengthen transboundary dialogue, supported by regional actors;
• Define regional indicators for inclusive financing.

In response, several partner organisations presented targeted technical and methodological support offers, from inclusive governance and capacity building to data management, reporting, and youth engagement. These contributions will support the implementation of follow-up actions identified by countries.

The workshop concluded with a visit to the Bang Pu Nature Education Centre, newly designated as ASEAN Heritage Park. This 102-hectare coastal wetland near Bangkok exemplifies urban mangrove restoration, community involvement, biodiversity education, and participatory conservation. Participants observed more than 200 bird species, along with thriving mangrove ecosystems and strong local stewardship.

Beyond technical learning, the workshop was a moment of regional convergence, trust-building, and shared mobilisation around the 30×30 ambition. It laid the groundwork for a regional roadmap, with priorities centred on cooperation mechanisms, coherent policies, inclusive financing, and knowledge sharing.