News | 14 Jul, 2022

IUCN and Esri collaborate to promote Green List and biodiversity conservation through digital innovation

On 22 June 2022, Asia Regional Director, Dr. Dindo Campilan (IUCN), and Manager, International Contracts, Ms. Alejandra Merino (Esri), signed a Memorandum of Understanding through a virtual ceremony to advance strategic collaboration on geospatial technologies as applied to the conservation of biodiversity through place-based, or landscape level conservation initiatives. 

The initial signing ceremony took place at the 2nd Asia Parks Congress in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (24-29 May 2022). Under the MoU between IUCN and Esri, a formal framework for cooperation has been agreed to promote the IUCN Green List in the Asia region, to enable more effective management of protected and conserved areas (PCAs) and mainstreaming of area-based conservation involving Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information systems (GIS), offers the most powerful mapping and spatial analytics technology available. Since 1969, Esri has helped conservation organisations unlock the full potential of data to improve planning, operational and monitoring effectiveness with geospatial technology.

Esri and the IUCN Asia Regional Office have agreed on a strategic collaboration in harnessing the power of geospatial technologies for place-based or landscape-level biodiversity conservation. Esri will facilitate low-cost access to ArcGIS as IUCN seeks to assist Indigenous communities towards more inclusive local governance and protection of biodiversity areas.

This regional collaboration addresses Esri and IUCN’s common agenda of promoting the IUCN Green List’s potential contribution to the upcoming Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (“SDGs”). It seeks to demonstrate outcome-oriented pathways for better livelihood opportunities among local Indigenous communities, along with nature-based climate solutions across wider landscapes.

“Esri is a world leader in geographic information technology, and IUCN can benefit from adding spatial power to our guidance, standards and nature conservation tools. Esri and IUCN can really map new frontiers in the delivery of a nature-positive world!“ – Mr. James Hardcastle – Head Global Protected and Conserved Areas, IUCN

“This is an innovative step towards bringing digital transformation for strengthening governance and effective management of PCAs. Integrating geospatial information through Esi tools in the IUCN Green List approach will assist in quantifying the impact of both biodiversity threats and mitigation." – Dr. Dindo Campilan – Asia Regional Director, IUCN

“Esri is honored to continue its long-standing partnership with the IUCN by formalizing our collaboration with the IUCN Asia Regional Office to engage with Protected and Conserved Areas and IUCN Green List to advance the critically important work of preventing biodiversity loss while strengthening the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.”- Mr. David Gadsden, Director of Conservation Solutions, Esri

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities.

For more information, please contact:

Khalid Pasha, IUCN Asia Green List Coordinator khalid.pasha@iucn.org

Noor Ali, IUCN Asia Communications Officer noor.ali@iucn.org