Pursuing economic development and diversification needs to be balanced with preserving the integrity of ecosystems, said Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin. He made these remarks as the guest of honour at the launch of the Brunei Darussalam Conference on Biodiversity at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.
The three-day conference, themed ‘Nature’s Blueprint for Sustainability’, was co-organised by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) through the Forestry Department and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in conjunction with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (Brunei MYCE) 2024.
The minister emphasised the critical role of innovative revenue streams such as carbon trading in driving sustainable economic growth. He underscored the dual benefits of environmental protection and economic development. “Protecting these ecosystems ensure a sustainable environment and create opportunities for revenue generation that benefits local communities and national economies.”
Brunei Darussalam, he added “recognises global initiatives towards biodiversity conservation. Our national strategies emphasise balancing economic growth with environmental conservation, aligning with international commitments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)”.
“Biodiversity conservation is not solely the responsibility of the government; it requires everyone’s collective effort,” said the minister, urging further collaborations at all levels, from the local communities to international partners.
The conference saw a keynote presentation from President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Professor Tetsuya Watanabe.
Meanwhile, honorary president of the Climate Change and Sustainability Work Group Leader at the ASEAN Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics (ASEAN FLAG) Gerry Ong and Head of Carbon and Biodiversity at Arkadiah Technology Pte Ltd Dr Deepthi Chimalakonda shared their findings from a collaboration project conducted with Brunei National Forest Resources Inventory’s consultant, Lunima Sdn Bhd.
Based on the findings, the Sultanate’s peat swamp forests have a significantly higher aboveground biomass (AGB) range of 470 to 560 tonnes per hectare, in contrast to other tropical rainforest countries in insular Asia which have an average AGB range of 350 tonnes per hectare. This disparity highlights that Brunei’s peat swamp forests are old growth forests and hold high biomass stocks.
Some 52 papers are to be presented at the conference, divided into two plenary sessions: session one on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and session two on Research Opportunities in Brunei’s Peatland.
The conference also features seven thematic sessions: ‘Ecosystem Services. They are ‘The Lifeline of Biodiversity’; ‘Conservation Innovations: Restoring and Safeguarding Biodiversity’; ‘Youth Engagement in Biodiversity: Empowering the Next Generation’; ‘Blue Biodiversity: Conserving Marine Life for a Resilient Ocean’; ‘Biodiversity’s Role in Building Resilience to Climate Change; Biodiversity’s Contribution to Sustainable Economies’; and ‘Scientific Expedition: Exploring Brunei Darussalam’s Biodiversity’. The conference aims to connect policymakers, academics and non-governmental sectors with a regional network of biodiversity leaders and provide a platform to share knowledge, research findings and best practices globally, and to explore opportunities for green economic growth.
Prior to the conference, the MPRT, through the Forestry Department in collaboration with UBD, also organised a scientific expedition themed ‘Exploring Brunei Darussalam’s Biodiversity’, which took place over 10 days in the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve, Temburong District. – James Kon
