Reflections on SBSTTA-27 and the road ahead for COP17

The world's biodiversity goals will only be achieved if science, policy, and implementation move together and fast. With less than five years remaining to 2030, when the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) is expected to deliver measurable outcomes, the coming period will be decisive. Hopefully, this time the world has learned from the shortcomings of past targets, such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2011-2020), which fell short largely due to low levels of implementation and persistent difficulties in tracking progress.

This was one of the resounding message from delegates during the twenty-seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-27) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held from 20-24 October 2025 in Panama City, Panama, followed by the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, held from 27-30 October 2025.

Preparations for the first global review of biodiversity progress

One of the most significant outcomes of SBSTTA-27 was the agreement on the scope and structure of the Global Report on Collective Progress (CBD/SBSTTA/27/L.4 ) which will be the basis for the first global review of KMGBF at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia in October 2026.

The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and national targets will form the foundation for reporting and global analysis. Countries agreed that the report should be facilitative, non-intrusive, and non-punitive, while identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities to accelerate implementation. It was also highlighted the importance of timely submission of national reports by February 2026; and the text mentions a mechanism to collect information through the online reporting tool on commitments from non-state actors such as Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, youth, and others.

Delegations differed on the use of additional data sources: some supported including multiple evidence-based inputs, while others preferred relying solely on national reports. At the end, Parties agreed that any complementary information must be clearly identified to ensure transparency and trust.

Concerns were raised that less than one-third of countries have updated their NBSAPs and that many may face challenges completing their seventh national reports by 2026. In this context, using complementary information sources will be vital to provide a full picture of collective progress.

"It's not just about measuring progress; it's about building momentum, accountability, and trust among all actors working to secure a thriving planet," noted Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, CBD in her closing statement at SBSTTA-27

While differences remain, this consensus provides a foundation for a science-based and forward-looking assessment of global biodiversity action, an important step toward accelerating KMGBF implementation and accountability on the road to 2030.

Biodiversity and climate: Connecting the Rio Conventions

Another key result in SBSTTA-27 was the adoption of recommendation CBD/SBSTTA/27/L.5 on biodiversity and climate change, advancing coordination between the CBD, the UNFCCC, and the UNCCD.

Countries agreed to request the Executive Secretaries and COP Presidencies of the three Rio Conventions - CBD, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - to collaborate on the development of a multilevel roadmap to enhance policy coherence, identify synergies, and reduce duplication across monitoring and reporting frameworks. This roadmap will outline short-, medium-, and long-term actions and include a mapping study to identify concrete opportunities for cooperation at national and international levels.

The recommendation also calls for closer coordination between the scientific and technical bodies of the three Conventions to exchange information and bring relevant decisions and recommendations to each other's attention during their upcoming sessions in late 2025. It further recognizes the relevance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-Belém Work Programme on indicators under the Paris Agreement as a contribution to the CBD's monitoring framework for KMGBF, helping reduce reporting burdens and improve coherence.

This outcome comes just weeks before COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where synergies between climate and biodiversity action will be at the heart of negotiations. It signals growing recognition that climate, land, and biodiversity objectives must advance together to deliver on the 2030 goals.

For CGIAR, the decision reinforces the value of landscape-based, cross-sectoral approaches that connect biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems-turning global policy coherence into practical action on the ground.

Agriculture and soil biodiversity

For the first time since the adoption of the KMGBF, SBSTTA discussed biodiversity and agriculture, focusing on the implementation of the Plan of Action (2020-2030) for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity.

Some delegations reaffirmed that healthy soils are the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems, supporting food production, carbon storage, and water regulation, yet remain underrepresented in national biodiversity and climate strategies. Other countries called for harmonized soil-biodiversity indicators, community-based monitoring, and increased investment in data, capacity, and research.

While some text remains bracketed, the decision reflects a growing recognition that soil biodiversity is central to climate-resilient agriculture and ecosystem restoration.

Advancing IPLCs in biodiversity policy

After the conclusion of SBSTTA-27, the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) was held in Panama City (27-30 October 2025), representing an important advancement in CBD efforts to strengthen the role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in global biodiversity governance.

Delegates agreed on the body's governance and participation modalities, ensuring that IPLCs can engage fully and effectively in biodiversity decision-making. Discussions explored how traditional knowledge and community-based monitoring can contribute to the first global report on collective progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and examined ways to mobilize resources and technical support for Indigenous-led conservation, innovation, and capacity-building.

From negotiation to implementation

SBSTTA-27 underscored both the challenges and opportunities of translating global biodiversity frameworks into measurable action. Progress on the global report, climate-biodiversity coherence, and soil biodiversity provides a roadmap for the months ahead but urgency remains.

For CGIAR's Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Program, these developments signal where science can make the greatest impact:

• Supporting countries to align biodiversity, climate, and land goals through integrated landscape approaches.
• Generating data, evidence, and decision-support tools for assessing and restoring soil biodiversity.
• Strengthening knowledge exchange to connect science, policy, and practice across landscapes.