UN COP16 nature summit creates permanent body for Indigenous peoples
CALI, Colombia – The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held on Friday, concluded with an approval to create a permanent body for indigenous peoples to consult on United Nations decisions about nature conservation.
The consultative body represents a significant advancement in acknowledging the vital role of indigenous peoples and their traditional knowledge in nature conservation efforts worldwide, particularly in some of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.
Nearly 200 countries convened in the Columbian city of Cali aiming to implement the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement, which is dedicated to halting the rapid decline of nature by 2030.
These countries also adopted a measure acknowledging the role of people of African descent in environmental stewardship. According to COP16 host Colombia, this recognition will facilitate access to resources for funding biodiversity projects and enhance their participation in global environmental discussions.
The measure’s adoption was celebrated with chants and singing from campaigners, alongside expressions of gratitude from Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, who emphasised its significance for Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Our territories, which cover much of the natural wealth of the planet, have also been home to people of African descent and Indigenous peoples whose sustainable practices are needed to face the environmental challenges that we all share today,” Murillo said.
