In a pivotal gathering from November 22nd to 24th, 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) hosted a landmark event aimed at advancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 2 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Restoring mountain ecosystems is the theme of this year's International Mountain Day on 11 December. This theme was selected to fully include mountains in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and the UN Environment Programme. The Decade is an opportunity to draw together political support, scientific research and financial resources to significantly scale-up restoration and prevent further degradation of mountain ecosystems.

On International Mountain Day (11 December), FAO celebrates the Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP) Alatoo, a micro-reserve that was established to conserve local flora and fauna in Kyrgyzstan. Following consultations with local communities, the reserve protects 14 000 hectares of pastures and glaciers, with strict regulations on activities such as hunting and grazing.

The FAO Council, at its 174th Session, adopted Resolution 1/174 – The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as recommended by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture at its 19th Regular Session. 

Time: 19 December 2023, 15:00-16:00 CET / 09:00-10:00 ET. Please register here.
The FAO Biodiversity Knowledge Hub will support users to access and use existing tools, guidance and other resources on biodiversity developed under FAO to mainstream biodiversity in agrifood sectors and assist policymakers and other actors to implement and monitor the GBF.

This workshop seeks to foster information exchange, across regions, on the key factors affecting, and effective approaches for, conserving agrobiodiversity. The objectives are to identify and analyze effective approaches and measures which can assure a balance between agricultural production and agrobiodiversity conservation, highlighting the collaboration among all local stakeholders, and with the support of diverse activities and their synergetic effects; and  to discuss the conditions, challenges and key factors for achieving the successful conservation of agrobiodiversity in GIAHS sites. 

The World Soil Day 2023 and its campaign aim to raise awareness on the importance and relationship between soil and water in achieving sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. World Soil Day is a unique global platform that not only celebrates soils but also empowers and engages citizens around the world to improve soil health.

This side event at the COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai, organized by FAO, put a spotlight on the role of agrifood systems in mitigating climate change, protecting and conserving biodiversity, and building inclusive and resilient livelihoods.

The Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW) has launched a two-year roadmap aimed at sustainable using and conserving wildlife while ensuring benefits for local people and their livelihoods. The CPW Secretariat is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and comprises 13 international organizations working to support the sustainable use and conservation of wildlife.

From November 22nd to 24th, FAO, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Environment Programme will be co-hosting a significant workshop focused on developing a roadmap for supporting ecosystem restoration under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at FAO headquarters in Rome.