Asia and the Pacific is home to almost half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, which support nearly 200 million people through resources that drive economic growth and urbanization. Over the past 60 years, this development has triggered the world’s most extensive land-use transformation, resulting in shrinking natural habitats and overexploitation of resources. This, in turn, has accelerated habitat loss, deforestation, and environmental degradation. Coupled with the region’s vulnerability to climate hazards, these changes exacerbate an ongoing decline in biodiversity. Since urbanization significantly contributes to biodiversity loss, proactive urban biodiversity measures are essential for conserving ecological assets and enhancing urban livelihoods.

ROAP has been consistently implementing urban biodiversity projects through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) initiatives to restore urban ecosystems, enhance green infrastructure for urban and community resilience , and integrate biodiversity into urban planning. With a multi-country focus, the Asia-Pacific Programme on Urban Biodiversity seeks to enhance urban biodiversity through accelerating the development and implementation of Local Biodiversity ​ Strategies and Action Plans (LBSAPs)  ​and promoting the urban content of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).