Session 5: STI for sustainable terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15)
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Conference Room 4, UNHQ
Official meeting
Statements
Statements
The session will discuss the status of existing knowledge and technology, and explore the potential for how science, technology and innovation can support the achievement of SDG 15 on sustainable terrestrial ecosystems. The session will help identify good practices and policy recommendations, as well as challenges and needs, especially as they relate to international cooperation, innovation and capacity-building, with a view to facilitate the development, scaling up adoption and dissemination of relevant technologies for SDG 15.
Chair: H.E. Dr. Toshiya Hoshino, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
Moderator: Mr. Huadong Guo, Chairman of Academic Committee, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Panelists
● Mr. Didier Babin, Chair of the International Coordinating Council (ICC) of the UNESCO Man and the Biospehere (MAB) Programme and the President of the French National Program Committee for the UNESCO MAB
● Ms. Inger Elisabeth Måren, University of Bergen, Norway
● Ms. Skumsa Kathleen Audrey Mancotywa, Chief Director, Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa
● Mr. Suresh Nair, Group Leader, Plant-Insect Interaction Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), India
Mr. Suresh Nair
Group Leader, Plant-Insect Interaction Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), India
Dr. Suresh Nair is Group Leader of the Plant-Insect Interaction Group at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India. His research focuses on understanding the rice-gall midge and rice-brown planthopper interactions. Using molecular tools he is gaining useful insights into these interactions to help develop novel strategies to manage these devastating pests of rice and also to increase the durability of naturally occurring resistance genes (against these pests) in the rice germ plasm. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and also of the Royal Entomological Society.
Ms. Inger Elisabeth Måren
University of Bergen, Norway
Dr. Inger Elisabeth Måren is an Associate Professor in applied ecology at the University of Bergen, Norway. Her research focuses on the dynamics in coupled human and natural systems, including agroecology, sustainable land use, food security, social-ecological resilience, agro-biodiversity and our management of natural capital. She also holds a UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management – Nature and Culture, working closely wit h UNESCO over issues dealing with the Agenda 2030 and “the Man and the Biosphere Programme”. She is also a member of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment.
Ms. Skumsa Kathleen Audrey Mancotywa
Chief Director, Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa
Ms Skumsa Mancotywa is the Chief Director: Protected Areas Systems Management at the National Department of Environmental affairs (South Africa), she is responsible for promoting conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources in World Heritage Sites, Transfrontier Conservation and other Protected Areas. She holds BSC (HONS) and Post-Graduate Diploma in Resource Management with interest on ecology and evolutionary Biology. She serves as Board of Director for the South African Biodiversity Institute, she is the Chairperson of the National People and Parks Steering Committee. She is UNESCO MAB Focal Point.
