INTERACT-Bio Integrated regional action for Biodiversity

The partner countries have signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) have already been drawn up. INTERACT-Bio supported them in establishing the management of biodiversity and ecosystems as a cross-sectional task and as the joint responsibility of national, regional and local authorities. Particularly at the local level, any existing biodiversity potential and its value has been identified in selected urban regions, and the possibilities for nature-based solutions were presented by means of pilot projects, thus facilitating and intensifying the implementation of the NBSAP. The information gained flowed into the development of sub-national BSAP, while cooperation with regional and local stakeholders has been initiated through dialogue processes at the national level. Experiences were published globally and made available to the CBD contracting parties for their NBSAP revisions.

Project data

Countries: Brazil, China, Colombia, India, South Africa, Tanzania
IKI funding: 7,974,297.14 €
Duration: 12/2016 till 12/2024
Status: completed
Implementing organisation: ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability e.V.
Political Partner: Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) - South Africa*

Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (FECO) - China

Ministry of Ecology and Environment - China

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) - India

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) - Brazil

Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) - Colombia

The Vice-President's Office - Tanzania
Implementing Partner: ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability e.V.

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability e.V.

ICLEI Africa Secretariat

ICLEI East Asia Secretariat

ICLEI South America Secretariat - Brazil

ICLEI South Asia Secretariat

ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat
Online: https://cbc.iclei.org/project/interact-bio/

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State of implementation/results

The project has ended.
Global:
- The biodiversity platforms "CitiesWithNature" (citieswithnature.org) and RegionsWithNature (regionswithnature.org) are one of the most important results of the project. 346 cities in 77 countries have registered there (as of September 2024). CwN and RwN are recognised in the extended decision and action plan for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal CBF.
- Guidance documents have been published on the CwN website in co-operation with the Bonn Convention, including on ecosystem services, watershed management and light pollution (forthcoming). There are also 406 tools and resources available. The project also provides regular updates on activities and progress in its newsletter "CitiesWithNature" (CwN) and RegionsWithNature (RwN) (citieswithnature.org/…).
- In collaboration with Singapore National Parks a webinar on the Cities Biodiversity Index (CBI) tool was hosted in Juy 2024 to showcase the CBI tool and its application by Durban, Curitiba, Cebu and India. A digital version of the CBI is embedded on the CwN platform (citieswithnature.org/…).
- The project was showcased during the sessions “Nurturing community and planetary well-being” (19.06.2024) and “Greening Our Urban Tapestry: Collaboration and Solutions for Nature and Biodiversity” (20.06.2024) of the ICLEI World Congress 2024, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Tanzania:
- A stakeholder validation workshop was held for the finalisation of the revision of the Dar es Salaam LBSAP in April 2024. Mainstreaming biodiversity into urban planning, finance mobilisation and project prioritisation are novel aspects of the Dar es Salaam revised LBSAP.
- One South-South peer learning exchange webinar session was held in March 2024. The session highlighted the value of diversifying financial flows and opportunities to local and subnational governments, specifically focusing on experiences from the global South.
South Africa:
- The project hosted two dialogues on gender and lessons learned from the project discussion, in Waterberg, Limpopo on 10.04.24 with 32 participants from the District Municipality, provincial and national government representatives, and private stakeholders.
- The compilation of the CBI for the Waterberg District Municipality is ongoing.
Brazil:
- Representatives of Campinas, Belo Horizonte and Contagem participated at the ICLEI World Congress 2024, which focuses on advancing sustainable urban development.
China:
- The City Biodiversity Index (in Chinese) was launched at the Urban Biodiversity International Forum.
- Biodiversity Financing Toolkit in Chinese version has been translated and will be published and introduced to a broader Chinese audience.
Colombia:
- Multilevel collaboration guidelines for local governments, specifically for the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga have been developed.
- Guidelines for the implementation of at least two actions stipulated in the LBSAP of Bucaramanga.
- TAP application form by Metropolitan area of Bucaramanga (Bucaramanga, Girón, Floridablanca y Piedecuesta) Santander-Colombia.
India:
- Pilot project on canal restoration through green-grey solutions is completed with the organic waste composter inaugurated and floating wetlands installed in the Thevera Canal.
- Biodiversity game to engage youth in biodiversity conservation is under development.