Photo: © Tony Watts

The Asia Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) is one of Asia’s most important regional conservation events.

This gathering of IUCN Members and partners brings together states, government agencies, NGOs, scientific and academic institutions, development agencies and the private sector to discuss the current situation related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Asia, and the ways forward. The gathering is held every four years.

The aim of the RCF is to provide IUCN Members with a platform to present input on a joint programme of action for addressing Asia’s challenges related to biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and natural resource management in the coming four years.

The RCF seeks to provide an open venue where pressing issues are discussed and debated. Participants – both IUCN Members and non-members – are encouraged to share their insights on conservation challenges in the region and related cross-cutting issues.

The most recent RCF was held last August 2015 in Bangkok and was co-hosted by the Government of Thailand. In 2011, it was co-hosted by the Government of Korea’s Ministry of Environment and the IUCN National Committee of Members in Korea.