WCS at CBD CoP16
Cali, Colombia
October 21–November 1, 2024
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"An opportunity to evaluate progress"
The Global Conservation Community Prepares for Action on Biodiversity Protection in Colombia
Listen as we speak with CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper to learn more about what brings the conservation community to Latin America and what it hopes to achieve there.
In Colombia, Making “Peace with Nature”
Members of WCS’s COP16 delegation (Dr. Susan Lieberman, Catalina Gutierrez, and Jose Luis Gomez) share thoughts on the meeting and what the organization's priorities will be.
The United States is one of only 2 UN Member States that is actually not a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity. But over the years, says Kelly Aylward, WCS’s Executive Director of Federal Affairs and Policy, it has been successful at driving ambition in policy, action, and nature finance pledges.
Here’s how to reform multilateral funding to get more money directly to communities
To meet biodiversity and climate goals, write WCS’s Sushil Raj, Minnie Degawan, and Rony Brodsky of The Nature Conservancy at Mongabay, a deeper transformation in partnerships between multilateral funders and Indigenous Peoples and local communities is urgently needed.
Time for Urgent Action on Biodiversity in Colombia
Although it seems bleak, writes WCS's Dr. Susan Lieberman for PBS Nature, vast areas on our planet remain that evince high ecological integrity—functioning as they should and helping to mitigate climate change; they must be conserved.
Act NowIn this season of global environmental negotiations, the EU must not waver
There has never been a better time for governments and stakeholders to work together and find integrated solutions to the span of environmental crises we face, writes WCS's Janice Weatherley-Singh at Euractiv.
Act NowColombia's Call for Peace With Nature
As a Colombian and the director of a conservation organization in one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, writes WCS's Catalina Gutiérrez, and simultaneously one of the most affected by a prolonged armed conflict, this theme deeply resonates with our work.
Act NowPressure Grows for Countries to Deliver on Targets
We see progress on reaching the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework, WCS's Dr. Susan Lieberman tells the Associated Press. Finance remains an obstacle for some.
Act NowGlobal coral bleaching event expands
COP 16 will bring together the global funding community, WCS's Dr. Emily Darling tells Reuters, "to say we’re still in the fourth bleaching event, these are happening back to back. …. What are we going to do about it?”
Act NowCOP16 highlights urgent need for action
“Many countries have not yet submitted their targets,” WCS’s Michel Masozera tells Citizen Digital, “indicating a lack of prioritization in their actions to reverse biodiversity loss.”
Act NowCanada
Target One of the Global Biodiversity Framework calls on countries to plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss. WCS Canada’s scientific research in some of Canada’s most remote landscapes supports proactive conservation policy development, land-use planning and education across the country. In the Arctic, for instance, our team is working on the impact of marine shipping/ocean noise on marine mammals and making recommendations on the Northwest Passage shipping corridor. In addition, our Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) program enables biodiversity conservation to be more easily integrated into planning and management decisions. KBAs are already being used in the country's most foundational policy strategies, including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Environment & Climate Change Canada Protected Areas Strategy.
This program supports the 30x30 goal, as well. KBAs can guide where 30x30 can be implemented for greatest impact—namely in areas that are important for biodiversity and ecosystem function. On 30x30, and safeguarding ecological integrity, WCS Canada is also supporting the identification and development of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and regional planning processes in the Ontario Northern Boreal (e.g. North French River Watershed), Yukon, and the Western Arctic.
Video from WCS Canada
"Playing our part to achieve this vision"
Philippines
In June, the Philippines, supported by WCS and others, held a two-day event on the National Coral Reef Program, which aims to create policies on Philippine coral reef conservation and management. This is in line with the GBF’s mandate to identify and protect high-integrity ecosystems.
“How do we balance conservation with food security and sustained income, especially for the most vulnerable populations?” asked WCS Philippines Country Director Kate Lim at the event. “How do we plan for future climate change scenarios and support our kapwa Pilipino (neighbors) when many of us live paycheck to paycheck? These are practical questions that we must remember as we continue our discussions on strengthening efforts to protect coral reefs.”
WCS Philippines Country Director Kate Lim speaks at event for National Coral Reef Program.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
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