On July 13th, 2025, during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, the “Marine and Coastal Ecosystem of the Bijagós Archipelago” was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List. This historic milestone marks Guinea-Bissau’s first site to achieve this prestigious international recognition. The decision acknowledges the Archipelago’s exceptional universal value, its ecological integrity, and the long-standing role of the Bijagó people in the sustainable stewardship of their territory. SETIN is proud to have supported this journey by contributing
On 10 July 2025, the National Validation Workshop for Samoa’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2025-2030 was held at the TATTE Building in Apia, Samoa. SETIN was represented by team leader Gianluca Serra. The workshop brought together the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, SETIN and national stakeholders. Over the course of the full-day programme, participants: Reviewed the presentation of vision, mission, principles, goals and 22 national biodiversity targets; Prioritised key targets and actions with corresponding timelines; Clarified roles and responsibilities
Adaptation to climate change was one of the key issues during the June 2025 UNFCCC intersessional negotiations in Bonn. The Brazilian COP30 Presidency had identified the meeting as a decisive step for advancing the adaptation agenda. However, despite intense and politically significant discussions, no substantial progress was achieved. The main issue on the table was the Global Goal on Adaptation, the Paris Agreement objective aimed at enhancing global resilience and adaptive capacity. At COP28 in Dubai, Parties adopted the United Arab
SETIN is pleased to announce the successful kick-off meeting of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase for the GEF-funded initiative “Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions to Enhance the Climate Resilience of Communities and Ecosystems in the Himalayan Region of Nepal.” This initiative aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in the Mustang District through the implementation of appropriate Nature-based Solutions (NbS). A key outcome is the empowerment of local and traditional institutions to design, finance, and implement NbS tailored to mountainous
SETIN is pleased to share that the nomination of the “Bijagós Marine and Coastal Ecosystem – OMATÍ MINHÕ” has taken an important step forward towards its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has issued a favorable assessment and officially recommended the site for direct inscription as a World Natural Heritage site. In its final statement, the IUCN commended the collective efforts of the State Party, national institutions and both national
The project is part of the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities, a joint initiative of the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This program brings together 20 beneficiary countries around the world, including 46 cities, among which Bamako in Mali. It is based on a global platform designed to connect participating cities, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide a collaborative space for sustainable urban planning. This programmatic approach aims to foster large-scale integrated urban transformation by promoting a strengthened
SETIN is currently on mission in Guinea-Bissau to carry out the Final Evaluation of the project implemented by LVIA, under the Ianda Guiné! programme, with focus on the Ianda Guiné! Arrus Action and its Rural Engineering Component. The evaluation is being conducted by the SETIN team composed of Giorgio Brandolini, Giacomo Cozzolino and Viola Fonnesu, in close collaboration with local stakeholders. Ianda Guiné! is a broad and ambitious cooperation initiative between the European Union and Guinea-Bissau. It aims to strengthen the resilience
On 11 March, the Regional Council of Molise approved the Park Plan, thus concluding the process that had resumed in 2021 together with the Abruzzo Region – lead partner – and the Lazio Region. Now, the only step remaining is for Lazio to complete the process by signing the agreement with the municipalities of Picinisco and Settefrati, after San Donato Val di Comino had already signed. This approval marks the end of a long process which began with the proposal submitted
As part of our ongoing commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management in Guinea-Bissau, we are pleased to announce the successful completion of the Validation Workshop for the GEF project “Promoting and Strengthening Effective Conservation of the Cantanhez Primary Forests.” Held in Bissau on the 21st of March 2025, coinciding with the International Day of Forests, this workshop marked a critical milestone in the project development process. It aimed to validate the project’s Theory of Change, Logical Framework, and
Context Cabo Verde’s potential for sustainable development is threatened by structural environmental, economic, and energy vulnerabilities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the State of Cabo Verde has committed to implementing sustainable, low-carbon, and climate-resilient policies, aligning with global efforts to reduce emissions while identifying key sectors for improvement. Key challenges include: Climate change impacts on fragile ecosystems, biodiversity, and land degradation. Socio-economic consequences, particularly for vulnerable communities, with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion. The sustainability of the tourism sector—representing 25%