FPP plans and priorities for CBD COP13 in Cancun, Mexico

The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP13) will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from 4 to 17 December 2016. For indigenous peoples and local communities this will be a platform to highlight their contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and celebrate the importance and vibrancy of traditional knowledge and cultural diversity.

For FPP and key partners the COP13 meeting will in particular represent the culmination of the first edition of the comprehensive ‘local biodiversity outlooks’ publication, a complement to the CBD’s 4th Global Biodiversity Outlook, which offers a snapshot of the many on-the-ground biodiversity initiatives being led by indigenous peoples and local communities, linking these to the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

The publication will be launched at the closing night of the ‘Muuchtanbal’ Summit on  Indigenous Experiences, Traditional Knowledge, biological and cultural diversity (9- 11 December), at the Moon Palace Arena Hotel during the Reception and Cultural Night of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB). The IIFB and FPP will also organise a press conference to present and disseminate the publication.

Another key theme for FPP in the CBD process is the implementation of the action plan to support indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ customary sustainable use of biodiversity, and specifically to engage more actors for the implementation of the plan.  COP13 is planned to pass decisions to strengthen national-level implementation and mainstreaming of customary use.

Following the succesful knowledge café hosted by FPP on 4th September at the International Union for  the Conservation of Nature’s World Conservation Congress (WCC) on best practice examples and key messages around customary sustainable use in relation to the establishment, expansion, governance and management of protected areas, another event is planned at COP13 to report on the outcome of the WCC event and agree on next steps.

The new network “Indigenous and Local Knowledge Centres of Distinction” will also organise an event about their cultural renewal and innovations around the world. This network is a new initiative of indigenous peoples and local community organisations engaging in knowledge processes about biodiversity and diverse ecosystem values. FPP is one of these centers and is supporting the network in its developmental phase.

Dates, times and venues of side and press events are still to be confirmed and will appear on www.cbd.int/doc/, where all meeting documents can also be found. The programme of the Muuchtanbal summit will also be posted on the CBD website (https://www.cbd.int ). We will post latest news and updates on our website as preparations, dates and content for COP13 events are firming up in final form.