WWF Mekong in BALANCE; Building ambition for nature conservation 2024-2027

he program started with an inception phase from January to June 2024, and then implementation started in July 2024. Thus, the first report, on which the results below are gathered, only covered the period July- December 2024. Outcome 1 (National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans NBSAP): • Cambodia submitted revised national biodiversity targets to the CBD Secretariat, integrating OECMs under Target 3. • Thailands NBSAP (20232027) was approved and presented at COP16, with WWF contributing technical inputs. • In Laos and Viet Nam, stakeholder consultations and technical assessments were conducted to align national targets with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). • In Myanmar, the project adapted to the political context by supporting community-led Local Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (LBSAPs). Outcome 2 (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures, OECMs): • Awareness-raising and introductory sessions were conducted in all four countries (Cambodia, Myanmar, Viet Nam, and Thailand). • Cambodia included OECM under target 3 in their draft NBSAP. Thailand selected three OECM demonstration sites across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Myanmar identified 56 potential OECM sites covering approximately 0.5 million hectares. Vietnam identified 10 potential OECM sites internally. Outcome 3 (Systematic Conservation Planning, SCP): • Internal training and expert identification for SCP were completed. • Engagements were initiated with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and national Mekong Committees. • The regional SCP workshop was postponed to January 2025 due to scheduling overlap with the MRC Council Meeting, with expert working groups to be formed thereafter.

The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to the inclusive and equitable delivery of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in the Mekong Region and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss and increasing resilience to climate change. The programme has the following objectives: - By 2027, responsible actors in four focal ministries for the convention of biodiversity have enhanced ambition, skills and partnerships to ensure revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) deliver inclusive and measurable nationwide conservation benefits/targets. Mekong in BALANCE will contribute through providing technical support to NBSAPs revisions to align them with the KM-GBF and provide platforms for non-state actors to ensure inclusive consultation processes. - By 2027, advanced progress on KM-GBF target 3 on land and inland waters and recognition of indigenous and local communities rights through equitable and inclusive processes is made. Mekong in BALANCE will contribute by strengthening Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) institutional and management capacity to identify, assess and register OECMs, and actively involving and building capacity of local communities, indigenous peoples and faith-based groups in the process. - By 2027, a comprehensive and rights based framework is established integrating biodiversity and climate priorities into transnational river governance in the Mekong River, supporting resilience of the river system, its ecosystems and the people who depend on it. Mekong in BALANCE will contribute by co-creating an inclusive conservation plan with the aim of enhancing collaboration between member countries to deliver against the GBF inland water targets, conducting basin-wide conservation assessments, and identifying innovative OECM opportunities.