The role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity conservation will be a key topic at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

Indigenous leaders will advocate for action on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes targets to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. A major demand is the recognition of Indigenous territories’ contributions to conservation, along with the right to manage these areas.

This discussion is especially significant for the Asia-Pacific, a vital biodiversity hotspot and home to diverse Indigenous peoples who safeguard resources.

The region is also plagued by violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights, as many governments have not yet fully integrated global commitments into national laws. This has caused Indigenous and local communities to face land rights violations, resource exploitation, and exclusion from political and legal decision-making processes—undermining their roles in conservation.

COP16 will be a critical negotiation ground to bring leaders’ commitments to reality, where the power dynamics between leaders and communities will determine the future of biodiversity, which supports all forms of human livelihoods.

If you’re looking for story ideas ahead of COP16, join us for this one-on-one conversation with the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact to learn about the key discussions expected at COP16 related to Indigenous rights and conservation, and gather new angles for your biodiversity stories.

Speakers:
Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn, Environment Programme Officer, AIPP

Moderator:
Stella Paul, Indigenous mentor and independent journalist, Internews’ Earth Journalism Network