Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration gains global Momentum at CBD COP16, highlighting Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge as key to biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador

Cali, Colombia – At the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia, groundbreaking initiatives on Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric restoration were unveiled by the FAO in partnership with Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Indigenous Peoples’ representatives.

The new initiatives aim to restore degraded ecosystems by putting Indigenous Peoples’ cosmogony, knowledge systems and traditional practices at the centre, in efforts to halt biodiversity loss and promote sustainable environmental management.

“The importance of incorporating Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge into environmental restoration cannot be overstated. Indigenous Peoples have been stewards of the land for millennia, and their territorial management practices offer valuable insights into how we can restore and protect biodiversity,” said H.E. Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica. “Costa Rica is proud to be at the forefront, developing the world’s first National Plan on Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration, which integrates Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems into national environmental strategies.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration programme, a collaboration between FAO and Indigenous Peoples’ leaders, is designed to restore ecosystems while respecting Indigenous Peoples' collective rights, spiritual beliefs and territorial management practices. The programme, initiated in 2019, emphasizes the critical role that Indigenous Peoples’ communities play in ecosystem restoration, not just as participants but as leaders in the process.

Ramiro Batzin, Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), opened the session alongside Mr Godfrey Magwenzi, Director of the FAO Director General’s Office, to emphasize the importance of Indigenous Peoples’-led restoration initiatives. 

“Science shows that by being holistic, Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems are key to preserving and restoring the biodiversity and allies for the fulfilment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’’, underlined Mr Magwenzi. FAO, together with Indigenous Peoples' organizations, has co-developed the Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration approach, by centering Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and cosmogony, and promotes the restoration of ecosystems through the strengthening of their food and knowledge systems.

“It is a pleasure for IIFB to host this event,” stated Ramiro Batzin, on behalf of the IIFB. “I would like to recognize the role of the Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric restoration approach at COP16. This approach has been presented and recognized at the TRɄA World Summit on Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity [that] we organized last August in Bogota, to prepare the negotiations at COP. At that Summit, we managed to bring together over 150 Indigenous Peoples’ leaders from all 7 socio-cultural regions, UN Agencies, government and key actors. These recommendations and presentations, including on biocentric, have been crucial for the work at the CBD COP16”.

Speakers recognized the relevance of the approach and the importance of the ongoing national plans. “This initiative is not just about restoring ecosystems; it’s about recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and our role as custodians of the genetic diversity and nature. It’s a matter of justice, respect, and equity” said Mr Donald Rojas, President of the Mesa Nacional Indígena de Costa Rica (National Indigenous Platform of Costa Rica). “By integrating Indigenous Peoples’ cosmogony and knowledge, we can ensure that restoration efforts are effective and ensuring long-term sustainability for future generations. Through these kind of processes, we ensure the recognition of Indigenous Peoples as custodiams of biodiversity”.

Ms Nelly Paredes, Executive Director of the National Forest and Wildlife Service of Peru (SERFOR), reaffirmed Peru’s commitment to Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric restoration, highlighting efforts to develop a Regional Plan on Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration in the Southern Andes. This plan will work in close collaboration with local governments and Indigenous Peoples’ self-governance authorities. “We are committed to restoring the Southern Andes together with Indigenous Peoples. A biocentric restoration regional plan is starting to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge is considered for the restoration and conservation with native species,” said Ms Paredes. “By involving Indigenous Peoples as implementers and partners in the conservation strategies, we are creating a powerful, sustainable biocentric plan for effective environmental restoration.”

Other nations, including Ecuador and Colombia, have also made significant strides in integrating Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge into restoration strategies. Ms Glenda Ortega, Undersecretary of Natural Heritage in Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, shared the country’s work with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) in Latin America to promote the use of native bamboo species for restoration in the Amazon basin.

Mr Pacha Kanchay, Spiritual Leader of the Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia (ONIC), reaffirmed Colombia's commitment to initiate Indigenous Peoples-led restoration activities in their territories. “In Colombia, we are learning from the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous Peoples’ communities to address environmental challenges,” said Mr Kanchay. “The integration of our spiritual and cultural values into restoration practices will help us heal our lands and preserve our biodiversity for future generations.”

The Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration Initiative includes the creation of “schools of life” to support intergenerational knowledge transmission; the establishment of community nurseries; and the careful consideration of species with ecological, spiritual, and medicinal value. These efforts emphasize the importance of respecting Indigenous Peoples' collective rights, including the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Yon Fernandez de Larrinoa, Head of FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit, explained the approach, welcoming the attendees to the high-level side event and reiterating the significance of these efforts in the global context. “Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric restoration is not just a solution for today, but a long-term strategy for planetary health,” said Mr Fernandez de Larrinoa. “It aligns directly with the goals of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and supports the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The Initiative has already launched restoration efforts in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Peru and Thailand. Future activities are planned for Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As global environmental challenges continue to grow, the integration of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge into biodiversity conservation efforts has become more urgent. The launch of the Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration Initiative at COP16, dubbed “The COP of the People,” marks a crucial step towards ensuring that Indigenous Peoples’ rights and traditional ecological knowledge are prioritized in global biodiversity frameworks.

“Indigenous Peoples’-led restoration is not only an environmental imperative; it is a human rights issue,” concluded Mr Mariano Castro, from the Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative at the Secretariat of the CBD. “This initiative exemplifies how the world can work together to restore our ecosystems while honoring the rights of Indigenous Peoples and support the implementation of the CBD commitments,” he added.

Mr Pablo J. Innecken, FAO Officer for Biodiversity and Climate Change, thanked the speakers and participants at the event with the conclusion that Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric restoration, as an initiative rooted in the work of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, is aiming to support the implementation of targets 2, 3, 10 and 22 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

The event at COP16 marks a significant step forwards in global efforts to prioritize Indigenous Peoples’ rights and knowledge in biodiversity conservation, aligning with the commitment of CBD member states embodied in the adoption of the new Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and the creation of a Subsidiary Body to support the implementation of this Article.