Cali, November 2, 2024 – In a historic event, the closing plenary of COP16 approved lthe creation of a new subsidiary body and the recognition of the role of Afro-descendants in the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlighting their important role as custodians of the world's biodiversity.
This achievement comes after 26 years of having a working group for the implementation of the provisions of Article 8J of the CBD, which urges countries to respect, preserve, and maintain the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities; promotes the broad use of this knowledge with the participation of those who possess it; and fosters shared benefits derived from its use.
This is the first major agreement reached under the leadership of Susana Muhamad as president of COP16 in Colombia, thanks to the consensus of the parties and hard work in the final days of negotiation. This decision reaffirms that this is the People’s COP.
The creation of this subsidiary body will strengthen cooperation among countries, indigenous peoples, and local communities worldwide in defining criteria, actions, and programs related to knowledge, innovations, and practices associated with biodiversity.
This body will join the two existing ones: the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, which assesses the state of biodiversity and addresses other technical issues; and the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, which formulates recommendations to the Conference on technical and scientific aspects of the Convention's application.
Twenty-six years after the establishment of a working group for the implementation of the provisions of Article 8J, a subsidiary body for indigenous peoples and local communities in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is now approved.
“This is an unprecedented occasion in the history of multilateral agreements on biodiversity. Indigenous peoples and local communities worldwide, connected through our systems of knowledge in caring for life and biodiversity, recall the long journey we have traveled in this context. This new subsidiary body is a reference for the rest of the world in which the parties recognize the ongoing need for our serious and effective participation to meet objectives and agreements”, said Camila Paz Romero, spokesperson for indigenous peoples during the plenary.
These two significant achievements complement the approval of the work program for indigenous peoples and local communities until 2030, an agreement reached two days ago in the plenary.
Recognition of Afro-descendant communities
With the recognition of the role of Afro-descendants in the Convention, these communities are acknowledged as fundamental actors in the care and protection of biodiversity. This will also grant them access to resources to finance their initiatives focused on the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, and allow them to participate in global environmental discussions, such as the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP).
The negotiation of this milestone was the result of collaborative work led by Colombia and Brazil, which presented this joint proposal for the inclusion of the communities.
This group of decisions also recognizes the role of Afro-descendants within the CBD as key actors in the conservation of biodiversity.
“We celebrate this historic moment with the implementation and recognition of the knowledge of Afro-descendants for the protection of biodiversity. This is a clear message of inclusion in the People’s COP, integrating culture, nature, and equity. Recognizing indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants is making peace with nature”, emphasized Luis Gilberto Murillo, Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Article 8J has been fundamental for the recognition of traditional knowledge at the international level. This knowledge is the accumulated wisdom of indigenous peoples and local communities over millennia and is applied in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.