COP16 Concludes with Historic Recognition of Indigenous and Afro-descendant Communities

The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) concluded in Cali, Colombia, on Saturday, November 2, with a significant acknowledgment of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities’ vital role in biodiversity conservation, Xinhua reported yesterday.

After two weeks of discussions, delegates approved a work plan to permanently integrate these communities into the Convention. COP16 President Susana Muhamad and Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo praised the decision, emphasizing its importance for Latin American and Caribbean rights.

Indigenous leader Camila Paz Romero called the decision “unprecedented,” stating it compels nations to respect and preserve traditional knowledge. The conference, themed “Peace with Nature,” also achieved major outcomes, including a global agreement to protect ecologically important marine areas and the establishment of a global fund for resources from digital genetic sequences. This landmark event reflects a growing recognition of the contributions of local communities to global environmental sustainability.