UNU-IAS OUIK Research Fellow Juan Pastor-Ivars was invited by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Kaohsiung Net-Zero Institute to participate in the international workshop “Cities with Nature: From Global Commitments to Local Biodiversity Action,” held in Kaohsiung on 26 September 2025. The event, organized by ICLEI in collaboration with local governments and academia, gathered over 50 participants, including municipal and prefectural environmental officers, researchers, and civil society representatives.
The morning session featured keynote addresses by international experts, including Mr. Atsushi Okada, Executive Director for Biodiversity Conservation of Kobe City, who presented on the satoyama biodiversity model in Kobe, followed by Dr. Pastor-Ivars. Dr. Juan’s presentation, entitled “Global Tools and Local Action for Urban Biodiversity: Scientific and Nature-Based Solutions from Kanazawa and Beyond,” focused on how to develop science-based Local Biodiversity Action Plans. He showcased data-driven approaches to biodiversity planning, drawing from Kanazawa’s Sustainable Urban Nature (SUN) Project, citizen science initiatives, and the study of Japanese gardens as model systems for socio-ecological restoration, linking global biodiversity frameworks with local action.
In the afternoon, participants joined an interactive workshop session, working in small groups to design Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs), identify baselines for biodiversity monitoring, and discuss strategies to connect scientific data with policy.
Following the workshop, participants joined a field excursion to Kaohsiung’s National Nature Park and the Zhouzai Wetland, a restored ecosystem co-managed by citizens and the local government. These visits showcased successful examples of nature restoration and vibrant community engagement.
This mission strengthened collaboration between UNU-IAS-OUIK, ICLEI, and Taiwanese cities, reinforcing shared efforts to translate global commitments such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Berlin Urban Nature Pact into local, actionable plans. The exchange also enriched the ongoing SUN Project and disseminated Kanazawa’s role as a model city within UNEP’s Generation Restoration initiative.
Looking ahead, OUIK and ICLEI will continue supporting capacity building for local governments, fostering science-based, inclusive, and nature-positive urban planning across Asia and beyond.
All Pictures credit: © ICLEI KCC.
