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ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK in partnership with the WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF INDIA presents a Webinar Series to foster a global dialogue in the field of green linear infrastructure for integrating principles of green growth, and concepts of smart design and planning, into linear developments.

ADB-WII Webinar Series

Transportation infrastructure projects invariably involve considerable land diversion and long-term investments. These projects also have the potential to cause severe impacts to the environment and wildlife. To counter these adverse effects of development, it is imperative to have capacity to address the negative impacts of linear infrastructure projects and also to harmonize conservation with development goals for sustainable development.

Objectives

• To broaden and deepen understanding of principles of green growth, and concepts of smart planning into transport infrastructure development.
• Build capacity to promote ecologically friendly and sustainable road and rail development projects in Asia.
• This training programme also aims to build capacity for conserving and managing natural capital during planning and implementation of transportation projects.

Webinar 1: Why Connectivity Matters and How to Develop Models of Connectivity for Different Species? 

25 November 2021, 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Manila time (GMT+8) | 1:30 - 2:30 pm, India time (GMT+5:30)

This webinar explores the concept of landscape connectivity and how fragmentation caused by human activities disrupts animal movements and habitats, and threatens biodiversity and climate change adaptation. 

Webinar 2: Ecological Considerations in Planning and Mitigation Measures, and Capacity Building Needs for Effective Conservation alongside Linear Infrastructure

16 December 2021, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Philippines time (GMT+8) | 8:30 – 9:30 am, India time (GMT+5:30)

It is more important than ever to balance environmental conservation with the rapid development of linear infrastructure. This resultant ‘Green linear infrastructure’ can be understood simply as a 'design and develop with nature' concept. There are good practices and examples from India and other countries.

A wide network of individuals and organizations, from the government to the civil sector, plays a significant role in collaborating, planning, and constructing linear infrastructures. These roads, railways, transmission lines and canals, and such, are a significant cause of fragmentation and biodiversity loss around the world.

It makes the capacity building efforts of these key stakeholders absolutely crucial to develop strategies that can help reverse this trend of biodiversity loss, in a coordinated manner.

Webinar 3: Natural Capital Conservation amidst Development and the Role of Governance in Planning Conservation Friendly and Sustainable Transportation Projects

13 Jan 2022, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Philippines time (GMT+8) | 8:30 – 9:30 am, India time (GMT+5:30)

The aim of this session is to showcase the importance of linking research to end users by bridging the roles of academics, policymakers, and society. To demonstrate that to develop successful, sustainable green infrastructure, it is imperative to have partnerships that protect ecological connectivity, meet the needs of local communities, and conserve vital environmental resources, natural capital, and wildlife populations. All of which can only be achieved by the direct involvement and partnership with stakeholders from the policy and government sector.

Webinar 4: Lessons from the Field: Success Stories of Mitigation Measures in Maintaining and Enhancing Connectivity, and Concluding Session: Summing up of the Webinar Series with Key Takeaways

10 Feb 2022, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, Philippines time (GMT+8) | 8:30 – 10:00 am, India time (GMT+5:30)

The final webinar presents the established best practices, recommendations, and principles with real life successful examples of mitigation measures by wildlife biologists.

Concluding session: Summing up of the Webinar Series - Expert comments with key takeaways at this concluding session by a panel of speakers.