COP16 Biodiversity Summit agrees permanent body for indigenous representation

The world’s largest conservation conference took place in Cali. Colombia on Friday to create a permanent body to represent the interests of indigenous peoples under the UN convention on biodiversity.

Representatives Indigenous peoplesMany wearing traditional robes and headdresses, they burst into applause and chants as the 196 countries agreed to create a “subsidiary body” to deal with “issues relevant to indigenous peoples and local communities.”

This was the first major breakthrough in 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biodiversitywhich opened in Cali nearly two weeks ago and went into extra time on Friday as delegates argued over how to raise funding for conservation plans.

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“This is an unprecedented moment in the history of multilateral environmental agreements,” said Camila Romero, an indigenous woman from ChileDelegates reported this after adopting the theme “Peace with Nature” at the summit.

“The parties recognized the ongoing need for our full and effective participation, our knowledge and innovation, technology and traditional practices,” she added.

Delegates also agreed on the specific role of African descent communities in the new subsidiary body, although a number of details remain to be clarified.

(AFP)