*Bogor, 21 March 2025* — SEAMEO BIOTROP hosted a significant meeting under the SEAMEO Centre Policy Research Network (CPRN), focusing on the inclusion of biodiversity in environmental education across ASEAN senior high schools. The meeting brought together SEAMEO Centres, regional experts, and partner institutions in a joint effort to advance research-based policy recommendations aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation education at the secondary school level. The purpose of today's meeting is to identify which institutions are interested in participating in the CPRN activities.. SEAMEO BIOTROP invites all centers across various countries to participate in this CPRN initiative.

Dr. Doni Yusri,  Deputy Director for Program SEAMEO BIOTROP, opened the meeting by emphasizing the critical role of education in fostering awareness and commitment to biodiversity conservation from an early age. He highlighted the need for innovative strategies to address biodiversity challenges in Southeast Asia, starting with the integration of environmental education in school curricula.

The CPRN meeting spotlighted SEAMEO BIOTROP’s recently completed baseline study on students’ awareness of tropical biodiversity in Bogor, Indonesia. The study revealed that only 37% of students demonstrated practical understanding and application of biodiversity conservation principles. These findings underline the urgency of developing policies that promote the inclusion of biodiversity topics in both curricular and extracurricular activities in senior high schools and vocational institutions across ASEAN countries.

Ms. Risa Rosita, SEAMEO BIOTROP’s Coordinator of the Biodiversity Inclusion Study, shared the Centre’s vision for scaling up the project regionally. The goal is to expand the baseline study beyond Indonesia to other ASEAN countries and Japan, in collaboration with the Senior High School at Sakado University of Tsukuba. The study aims to produce comprehensive policy recommendations for biodiversity education that can be adopted across different national contexts.

During the meeting, SEAMEO Centres and partners expressed their interest in participating in the regional survey. Representatives from SEAMEO VOCTECH in Brunei, SEAMEO CED in Laos, and the Senior High School at Sakado University of Tsukuba in Japan committed to supporting the implementation of the study in their respective countries. The discussion emphasized the importance of translating the research instruments into local languages to ensure comprehensive student participation and understanding.

Participants also highlighted the need to harmonize data collection methods across countries, ensuring that the survey results are reliable and comparable. The survey will utilize probability sampling methods with a focus on both public and private schools, as well as urban and rural settings. SEAMEO BIOTROP will manage data analysis using SPSS software, with results expected to inform policy briefs and regional advocacy efforts through the CPRN platform.

Dr. Supriyanto, Moderator of the meeting and Affiliate Scientist at SEAMEO BIOTROP, underlined the potential of biodiversity studies to contribute to broader goals such as climate change mitigation, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship. He encouraged cross-centre collaboration and knowledge sharing, citing successful initiatives like biodiversity-themed sensory gardens and carbon sequestration projects in Indonesian vocational schools.

In closing, the meeting participants agreed to continue their collaboration under the CPRN framework. They also discussed plans to engage ASEAN Ministries of Education in future policy dialogues to promote the institutionalization of biodiversity education in national curricula.

SEAMEO BIOTROP remains committed to its leadership role in regional biodiversity conservation education through collaborative research and policy development under the SEAMEO CPRN.