Global Workshop on Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration in Transboundary Basins

The overall objective of the workshop is to boost cooperation and thus accelerate the restoration and conservation of transboundary freshwater ecosystems with a view to improve biodiversity status and condition, water and climate resilience.

The specific objectives of the workshop are to:
1. Highlight the critical ecosystem services provided by healthy freshwater ecosystems – including groundwater ecosystems – for climate resilience, pollution prevention and response, availability and security of water supplies, and to combat biodiversity loss.
2. Inspire Parties, countries and partners to act at policy, administrative and technical levels to better conserve and restore freshwater ecosystems at national and transboundary levels, and to assess possibilities for it in a more informed way, accounting for synergies and different needs.
3. Discuss the specific benefits and challenges of the transboundary context and the role of the Water Convention in synergy with other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) in this context. Discuss possible next steps under the Convention, including through the Task Force on Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus. The role of other relevant actors (basin organizations, partners, etc.) will also be discussed.
4. Present and promote relevant existing technical and policy tools for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of transboundary freshwater ecosystems. Discuss related good practices, lessons learned and challenges.
5. Discuss how to better mainstream and scale up freshwater ecosystem conservation and restoration in global, regional and national agendas and policy processes.