Sept 20, Rome-New York – Kaveh Zahedi, leading FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment is attending high-level events at the UN General Assembly and events in partnership with businesses, climate philanthropists and other stakeholders, as part of Climate Week NYC. He bears a clear message for countries and leaders that FAO will carry to COP28 in Dubai and beyond: Agrifood system solutions are critical climate and biodiversity solutions that are often overlooked. “Agriculture and food systems hold a range of solutions, from agroforestry to tackling food loss and waste, and from sustainable livestock management to decarbonizing aquatic food value chains,” said Zahedi. “These solutions are the essential thread that binds together action on biodiversity, climate, resilience and food security.”

On day two of the UN SDG Summit and just ahead of the General Debate, the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, held a Ministerial dialogue at UN Headquarters on the opportunities of scaling up action and investment for agrifood systems transformation as a solution to the biodiversity and climate crises. Speaking at the event, which was co-hosted with Canada, Qu reminded Ministers of the importance of investing in the environment as biodiversity provides the genetic resources that underpin agrifood systems; a wide range of species; and healthy ecosystems to provide water, regulate climate and strengthen resilience against variability and disasters.

On the 12th September, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held a knowledge exchange session for parties to the CBD titled “Workshop on ecosystem restoration-related planning and capacity-building needs for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)”. At the event, attended by 114 participants from 41 countries, a special attention was given to GBF Target 2 and the role of monitoring and their implications on ecosystem restoration actions were thoroughly examined. The discussions shed light on the importance of understanding the present state of ecosystems, setting clear baselines, the scope of restoration, and ensuring synergy with other targets and global commitments like the SDGs.

Launched at the SDG Summit, the High Impact Initiative on Nature Driving Economic Transformation aims to bring together countries undertaking significant economic shifts, and catalyzing a global movement in evidence-based policies and investments for an inclusive green transition that accelerates progress on the SDGs, recognizes and supports nature contributions and dependencies, and reduces related risks to support a Biodiversity Economy. Overview of SDG Action Weekend; Overview of all High Impact Initiatives; High Impact Initiative: Nature Driving Economic Transformation. Live Webcast on Sunday at 11:45 AM Eastern Time (6:45 PM Eastern Africa Time).

Approved on Saturday in Bonn, Germany, by representatives of the 143 member States of IPBES, the Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control finds that alongside dramatic changes to biodiversity and ecosystems, the global economic cost of invasive alien species exceeded USD 423 billion annually in 2019, with costs having at least quadrupled every decade since 1970. Read the full IPBES media release here.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomed the launch of a Global Biodiversity Framework Fund at the 7th GEF Assembly held in Vancouver from 22-26 August.   The new fund will facilitate financing for developing countries — often the most biodiverse — to enhance their ability to conserve, restore and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources as established through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). 

Vancouver - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund during the Seventh Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Assembly in Vancouver, Canada. The newly established fund will facilitate financing for developing countries — which are often the most biodiverse — to enhance their ability to protect, restore and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, as established through The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP15 in December 2022.

Antananarivo, August 24, 2023 - A decisive step toward biodiversity protection and sustainable agricultural development was taken today at the conclusion of the national workshop on biodiversity mainstreaming across agricultural sectors, held in Antananarivo.  Organized under the FMM project (Flexible Voluntary Contribution), this milestone is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE), the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (MPEB), with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), funded by Sweden. 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS: From climate change to biodiversity loss, food waste to conflict, these colliding disasters must be tackled together, and sustainable agrifood systems are key with the capacity to put the brakes on or even reverse damage already done. We look to this week’s Seventh Assembly of the GEF, the largest gathering of a family of funds dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. Looking forward – to the SDG Summit, to UNFCCC COP 28, and to 2030 – we have to continue investing in and scaling up these approaches.

Read the full article by KAVEH ZAHEDI

Indigenous Peoples have long held a deep connection with nature and have a profound understanding of their surrounding ecosystems. In their rich tapestry of traditional knowledge, Indigenous Peoples have recognized the crucial role played by bees, especially wild and stingless species. These creatures, often overlooked in mainstream discussions, are integral to the delicate balance of ecosystems and hold immense cultural and ecological significance for Indigenous Peoples. This article explores the unique relationship between Indigenous Peoples and wild, stingless bees, highlighting their importance.