SULi at the Africa and Asia IUCN Regional Conservation Forums 2024

IUCN SULi's Programme Officer, Nik Long, attended and contributed to both the Africa and Asia IUCN Regional Conservation Forums (RCFs) held in June and September 2024. In Nairobi, Nik presented at a wildlife economy pre-forum event, sharing insights on the importance of sustainable use within a wildlife economy model. He emphasized the importance of data-driven decisions using SULi's Species Use Database, a tool designed to track and assess sustainable use trends globally, and the 5D Sustainability Assessment. This presentation aligned closely with regional goals to support sustainable and community-based economic models that safeguard biodiversity while benefiting local livelihoods.

At the forums in both Nairobi and Bangkok, Nik also led IUCN Learning Zone workshops focused on using the Species Use Database for analysis, contributing case studies as an external user, and outlining the upcoming integration with the IUCN Red List. The workshops also provided guidance to participants on the innovative 5-Dimensional Sustainability Assessment Framework. This framework provides a holistic approach to evaluating the social, economic, environmental, cultural, and governance dimensions of species use. Through these sessions, attendees gained hands-on experience in using and contributing to these vitally important SULi outputs.