On 29–30 May, representatives from more than 13 countries, including from the GMS, met in Ha Noi, Viet Nam to exchange experiences and innovative ideas on how to integrate natural capital into development decisions.

The "Policy Dialogue on Mainstreaming Natural Capital into Development Decisions: Bringing Environment into Center Stage" consisted of six sessions with presentations and panel discussions:

1. Mainstreaming Natural Capital into Development Decision: Lessons from ProEcoServ Countries
2. The Economics of Natural Capital
3. The Natural Capital Challenge at Regional Scale in the Greater Mekong Subregion
4. Mainstreaming Through Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation: Case Studies from Small Island Developing States and Viet Nam
5. Supporting Natural Capital Mainstreaming: Lessons Learned from Global Initiatives
6. Enabling Environment for Mainstreaming Natural Capital
7. Synergies Across Networks and Projects

More than 100 participants attended, including government officials from island nations such as Trinidad and Tobago, the Maldives, as well as from South Africa and Chile.

The dialogue was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility. Funding support was provided by the Project for Ecosystem Services, Hanss Seidel Foundation, and the GMS Core Environment Program (CEP). CEP also organized the GMS Session where country representatives, including Working Group on Environment members, presented on national achievements, challenges and lessons from natural capital mainstreaming initiatives.

See below for links to conference background information, speeches, and presentations.