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deforesation — COP16 — Colombia

Colombia’s COP16 to promote ‘Peace with Nature’

‘No cocoa without trees’ is often heard at chocolate industry conferences. Healthy forests are vital for climate action, and the local communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods are their strongest protectors - the 16th Convention on Biological Diversity will hear

,   and  Anthony Myers
3 min read
Image shows a tropical rainforest.
The role of forest communities and indigenous peoples will be on the agenda at COP 16. Image: mohammed ahmed / Unsplash

Ahead of the COP16 climate conference in Cali next week, the Rainforest Alliance has called for funding to support locally-led, nature-based solutions for Indigenous communities, particularly in tropical regions.

Environmentalists, NGOs, and politicians will gather to hear of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and negotiations will centre on critical questions such as how the plans should be monitored, which accountability mechanisms should be in place, how countries can collaborate on technologies, and … who will pick up the bill.

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Jonathan Green leads SEI’s international policy engagement related to biodiversity at York University, which is co-hosted by the Trase initiative and Global Canopy.

He said COP 16 is crucial “because we are in an unprecedented biodiversity crisis. IPBES, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, warns that it could threaten the lives and livelihoods of billions of people.”

Colombia's natural beauty

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet and has adopted the theme ‘Peace with Nature’, and the goverment has declared this gathering as a “people’s COP,” emphasizing the role of local communities and indigenous peoples. 

COP15, held in Montreal, Canada, was seen as a step forward in recognising indigenous knowledge as a cornerstone of biodiversity protection, “but the reality on the ground is often very different,” said Green.

“Environmental defenders, especially in Latin America, face growing threats and violence, and COP16 offers an opportunity to shine a light on this.”

The Rainforest Alliance will participate in talks in Cali and said this year’s theme, ‘Peace with Nature,’ couldn't align better with its mission to create a future where people and nature thrive together in harmony. 

Deforestation

“As species loss and ecosystem collapse accelerate due to climate change - largely driven by deforestation - it's more crucial than ever that we prioritize the protection of forests and the communities that depend on them.”

The Rainforest Alliance said it leverages the combined efforts of local communities and ecosystems. “This approach safeguards biodiversity while advancing climate adaptation and mitigation across agricultural and forest supply chains.”

Colombia is encouraging grassroots involvement, and the conference’s Green Zone, which is open to the public, is expected to host 150,000 participants. 

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