Side event details

This proposed side event falls under the mission of the Ramsar Convention, “conservation and wise use of all wetlands,” as well as the Operational Goal 4 of the Ramsar Strategic Plan (2016-2024).

In recent years, innovative and digital solutions such as Blockchain technology, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), metaverse, and aerial technologies are gaining popularity in the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. The private sector, NGOs, and governments are investing in platforms that support entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to address the major challenges of environment conservation.

Over the last decade, innovation hubs have become game-changers in the business ecosystems of small and medium-sized enterprises. With the increased pressure on planetary resources, the number of startups (digital and non-digital) focusing on providing services for improved conservation of the environment is on the rise.

Some of the notable examples of these hubs include:

• In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Luc Hoffmann Institute started a collaboration on an initiative that connects gamification, Blockchain technology, and Non-Fungible Tokens to environment and biodiversity conservation.
• In Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a water innovation hub called CEWAS has supported over 80 entrepreneurs to establish their startups since 2010.
• Various startups and companies across the globe, such as Arup, Fujitsu, Waterchain, etc., are focused on using Blockchain technology for enhanced water security.
• Google established a startup accelerator to find solutions for Climate Change.
• In Iran, the UNDP/Conservation of Iranian Wetland Project, together with the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Bureau of the Department of Environment, has started piloting an innovation hub for wetland conservation. Despite being fresh, this component has made good progress so far:
• A startup was supported to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) for smart irrigation management in farms in the Lake Urmia Ramsar Site basin. This startup helped increase irrigation efficiency up to 27% at the farm level.
• 3 events for supporting innovative wetland conservation ideas and startups were organized, with over 10 best ideas being selected and supported.
• A plan for the establishment of Iran’s water and wetland innovation hub in collaboration with major hubs and donors is being developed.

With the increasing interest among the Contracting Parties, there is a window of opportunity for the Ramsar Secretariat to support the CPs in establishing national wetland innovation schemes through capacity building and knowledge transfer. As a starting point, Iran suggests a side event to initiate a dialogue among the Contracting Parties on institutionalizing the “Wetland Innovation Hub” as -possibly- a future component of the Secretariat.

This will be a consultative event. The first section will disseminate experiences from around the world. The second session will discuss the feasibility, prerequisites, and roadmap for the institutionalization of a Wetland Innovation Hub. The discussion results will be submitted to the Secretariat for further follow-up.

While Iran is the proposer, we will look for government and NGO partners to join us as co-organizers upon approval of the event.