"People's COP" wraps up with strong support for indigenous communities

Cali: The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) has ended with a significant acknowledgment of the vital role Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities play in protecting biodiversity.

After two weeks of discussions, COP16 approved a work plan to permanently include Indigenous and local communities in the Convention on Biological Diversity.

COP16 President Susana Muhamad and Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo praised this decision, calling it a "people's COP" that advances the rights of Latin American and Caribbean communities. Murillo emphasized that the sustainable practices of these communities are essential for tackling global environmental issues.

Indigenous leader Camila Paz Romero described the decision as "unprecedented" for global biodiversity agreements, stating that it will encourage countries to respect and preserve the traditional knowledge of Indigenous and local communities.

With the theme "Peace with Nature," COP16 also achieved major outcomes, including a global agreement to protect ecologically important marine areas in international waters and the establishment of a global fund for resources from digital genetic sequences. Colombia will continue to lead COP16 until Armenia hosts the conference in 2026.


With IANS inputs