SDPI, UNEP ink MoU for environmental conservation
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI and United Nations Environment Program - Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (UNEP ROAP) have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in environmental conservation.
Regional Director, UNEP ROAP, Bangkok, Surendra Shrestha andDr. Abid Suleri, Acting Executive Director, SDPI signed the MoU for their respective organizations. Dr. Subrato Sinha and Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja from UNEP ROAP and SDPI would, respectively, be focal persons for the program and activities. The agreement aims at strengthening UNEP ROAP and SDPI relationship of mutual cooperation, through close collaborative activities for strengthening the environment communities, assisting and identifying emerging environment issues and promoting regionalcooperation and leadership.
Both the sides would proceed further for implementation of theMoU through demonstration projects in the region, especially South Asia and the activities in Pakistan will be conducted in closecoordination with the Ministry of Environment. An envisaged core element of the UNEP-SDPI partnership wouldbe the SDPI role to assist UNEP in the implementation of its Regional Strategy at national and sub-regional levels.
It is agreed that for the period 2008-2010, the parties willcooperate in the areas of environmental education and awareness, chemical management and environment assessment and capacity buildingof partners and stakeholders. Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) owes itsexistence to National Conservation Strategy (NCS). As a non- governmental policy research organization, SDPI was founded in 1992and its role was envisaged to be a catalyst for implementation of NCS and a transition towards sustainable development.