The recent UN Biodiversity Conference was held under the theme “Peace with Nature.” This 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/CoP-16) attracted an unprecedented 23,000+ delegates attending official negotiations and side events inside the security perimeter of the “Blue Zone,” while the public “Green Zone” drew approximately 40,000 visitors each day. The Center for Large Landscape Conservation was honored to send four team members to participate at the conference in Cali, Colombia to further strengthen efforts for connectivity conservation around the world.
It is important to point out that negotiations did not deliver all the results that were hoped for, and governments were unable to adopt all decisions before many delegates had to depart for home, as reported by The Guardian in ‘Cop16 ends in disarray and indecision despite biodiversity breakthroughs’. Nonetheless, the negotiations and related events still demonstrated a strong sense of urgency, dedication, and growing actions across society and among the 196 country Parties to the Convention to implement its objectives and halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030.
Of great significance, CoP-16 focused on how countries can meet their commitments to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted in 2022. Ecological connectivity is explicitly included in Goal A and Targets 2, 3, and 12 of the KMGBF as a key element for achieving the aims of the Convention. Following our Action Plan for 2030, CLLC is helping drive actions around the world to accelerate progress across the Framework.
In the latest development since departing Cali, the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat has announced that resumed sessions of CoP-16 will be held on 25-27 February 2025 in Rome, Italy, with the anticipation of adopting all pending decisions.
Our Participation
The Center, represented by Gary Tabor, Deb Davidson, Aaron Laur, and Fernanda Teixeira, contributed leadership throughout the conference to advance the science, policy, and practice of connectivity, landscape, and seascape conservation with numerous presentations, matchmaking to pursue new projects with countries, and collaborative efforts. Over the course of more than two weeks, CoP-16 attendees became well acquainted with the generosity of the Colombian hosts, the interest and kindness of Cali residents, the natural beauty of the country, and the energy and endurance required to make it to and through such a large and lively conference.
With partners, such as the new Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity, the Center helped further advance understanding and inspiring activities that were prominent in 10+ official side events and numerous presentations covering diverse topics and geographies such as mammal migration in Central Asia, marine corridors in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and flyways for birds around the world. Together, the growing connectivity conservation community was well-represented in Cali and emphasized the importance of “well-connected” protected and conserved areas as part of 30×30 efforts, as well as promoting diverse solutions across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems.
This international gathering represented the third consecutive CBD/CoP that the Center attended as an accredited NGO Observer since 2018. By utilizing this official status to participate in the Convention, our focus continues to be on elevating understanding of individual and collaborative actions for connectivity conservation to stimulate collaboration across sectors for conserving biological diversity.
Progress Made in Cali
With the loss of biodiversity continuing unabated, Parties to the Convention worked through an ambitious agenda in Cali to meet the urgency of the issue at hand. This included reviewing progress toward achieving the KMGBF, demonstrating alignment in National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs), further developing the KMGBF monitoring framework—with multiple indicators for connectivity—and advancing mobilization of resources.
Some of the highlights include:
- At least 20 countries and the European Union having submitted revised or updated NBSAPs that address connectivity;
- Release of the Protected Planet Report 2024, assessing the global status of protected and conserved areas, with Chapter 6 addressing the “well-connected” element of KMGBF Target 3 focused on achieving 30×30; and
- Adoption of a decision on plant conservation efforts to align with the KMGBF monitoring framework, with an Annex of voluntary complementary actions with indications of how connectivity conservation can be applied.
In parallel, hundreds of side events drove home how countries can meet their commitments under the KMGBF. Notably, the official event on ecological connectivity led by the Center featured presenters from five countries and five collaborative efforts, and our contributions to events about avoiding and mitigating the impacts of linear infrastructure emphasized the great diversity of related initiatives, projects, and activities already underway that are driving implementation of the KMGBF around the world.
Why Does This Matter?
The take-home message from CBD/CoP-16 is that governments, institutions, and communities around the world are ramping up activities to match commitments under the KMGBF. Although robust financial resources and technical capacities need to urgently improve, cooperation is growing and enabling whole-of-society approaches that are mainstreaming biodiversity within and across sectors at national and subnational levels. This includes the numerous examples of innovative coordination happening among conventions, ministries, agencies, and organizations taking more comprehensive approaches to halt environmental degradation, save biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change.
With landscape, seascape, and ecological connectivity conservation increasingly recognized and applied as a key cross-cutting solution, its incorporation into relevant policies, strategies, and plans is supporting alignment of programs, initiatives, projects, and activities around the world.
What’s Next?
Looking toward CBD/CoP-17 now scheduled for the last quarter of 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, the Center will continue its leadership engaging in discussions and planning across its networks of experts and institutions to inspire and take actions that support lasting connectivity conservation gains on the ground.
To learn more, the IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group has published a detailed news post with more information about CBD/CoP-16 developments, official outcomes, and side events.
Grupo MaViChi playing the public “Green Zone” during the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia:
Top photo: A view of the Cali River from the public “Green Zone” and the Iglesia La Ermita Church constructed from 1930-1948 in the background – CLLC/Aaron Laur
