Historic Milestone at COP16: The Establishment of a Subsidiary Body for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendants, and Local Communities Was Approved

Historic Milestone at COP16: The Establishment of a Subsidiary Body for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendants, and Local Communities Was Approved

Written on 24 January 2025. Posted in News

BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES (CNTI) FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

Twenty-six years after the creation of a working group to implement Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, this milestone agreement has been reached through the consensus of parties and their rigorous negotiation efforts. Establishing a permanent body at the COP acknowledges the importance of the traditional knowledge held by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants, and their local communities.

From October 21 to November 1, 2024, the Indigenous Technical Secretariat of the National Commission on Indigenous Territories (CNTI) and the Observatory of Territorial Rights of Indigenous Peoples participated in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) on the Convention on Biological Diversity held in the Colombian city of Cali. Over two weeks, the event brought together representatives from various signatory countries to discuss the implementation of global conservation policies.

One of the main achievements of COP16 was the establishment of a subsidiary body for Indigenous Peoples, aligned with Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This milestone marks a historic moment for Indigenous Peoples worldwide, as it acknowledges their rights and ancestral knowledge in the conservation of biodiversity. This ensures that Indigenous Peoples and local communities will have a permanent role in future COPs.

This new body, the result of 26 years of effort, will allow Indigenous Peoples and local communities to have a voice and vote in negotiations, ensuring their active participation in biodiversity decision-making processes. The decision sets an example for the rest of the world, as it reflects the recognition by states of the need for the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. However, questions remain about how it will function in terms of governance.

An Indicator to Achieve Target 22 of the Global Biodiversity Framework

The National Commission on Indigenous Territories and the Observatory of Territorial Rights of Indigenous Peoples focused their efforts on creating spaces for advocacy, education, and dialogue, spaces that are essential for the negotiation process with all signatory countries to the convention. Additionally, they developed a proposal for resource mobilization with the aim of establishing a fund to support countries in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework.

One of the key objectives was the creation of an inclusive financial mechanism. It is crucial to have instruments that enable countries to participate and ensure that Indigenous Peoples have equitable, direct, adaptable, and culturally sensitive mechanisms that consider sociocultural realities across Latin America.

In terms of planning, monitoring, reporting, and accountability mechanisms, Indigenous Peoples played a clear and significant role in the creation and adoption of indicators for Target 22 of the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Its aim is to ensure the participation of all in decision-making processes as well as facilitating access to justice and information related to biodiversity.

Among these mechanisms, the indicator on land-use change and land tenure stands out, as it acknowledges the essential role of Indigenous territories in achieving the 23 Targets and four goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Outstanding Issues

Despite the progress made, topics such as financial mechanisms and the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework were not addressed in the final part of the plenary. These issues will remain pending for the next COP. This was due to the suspension of COP16 because of a lack of quorum, which forced some delegations to return to their home countries, leaving crucial matters unresolved.

Additionally, the digital sequencing of genetic resources was discussed critically, with the aim of protecting traditional knowledge and ensuring governance over data related to the sequencing of genetic resources and resources from Indigenous Peoples' territories.

Defending territories is defending life!

The National Commission on Indigenous Territories (CNTI) is a platform for dialogue and coordination between Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Colombia, established by Decree 1397 of 1996, with the goal of addressing issues related to the protection and effective exercise of the territorial rights of Indigenous peoples in the country.

Tags: Indigenous Debates

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