Wildlife Works brought a delegation of over 30 people to the Biodiversity COP16 in Cali, including nine Yawanawá representatives, to present the new Biodiversity Stewardship Unit (BDSU) methodology. This framework aims to create direct access to conservation funding for Indigenous Peoples and forest communities. The conference offered valuable opportunities for learning and exchange.
Here are four key lessons that our team took away from the conference:
Communities Are Finally Getting Their Due Recognition
Indigenous rights took center stage at COP16, with unprecedented levels of Indigenous participation. The conference approved a work program to implement Article 8 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which addresses the role of IPLCs knowledge and practices for implementing the biodiversity conservation. A significant milestone was the establishment of a permanent subsidiary body for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, ensuring their active involvement in global biodiversity negotiations.
The BDSU methodology, co-developed with the Yawanawá people, embodies their values and is designed to honor their culture. This collaborative approach ensures that local knowledge and community needs guide project implementation, acknowledging that biodiversity preservation flourishes through community autonomy.
The Financial Deadlock makes Public-Private Partnerships More Important than Ever
The conference ended on a disappointing note when negotiations were suspended on Saturday after developed nations blocked a proposal for a new fund to help developing countries restore degraded ecosystems. It became evident that public funding alone won't suffice, highlighting the need for financing mechanisms that foster public-private partnerships.
Similar to carbon NDCs, NBSAPs (National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans) should outline how countries will implement GBF (Global Biodiversity Framework) objectives within their territories. However, progress has been slow—by the conference's end, only 44 of the 196 participating countries had published their NBSAPs.
Without clear guidelines on sector accountability and contribution frameworks, scaling new financing mechanisms remains challenging.
The expanding adoption of nature-positive commitments by corporations, alongside their beyond value chain initiatives, signals promising opportunities for more robust public-private partnerships.
Resource Allocation Remains Unclear - We Need Systems like BDSU that Channel Finance Directly to Communities
The conference’s eighth point on Article 8 urges countries to ensure Indigenous Peoples and local communities have direct, simplified access to financial resources for implementing Global Biodiversity Framework solutions. While many COP16 proposals followed conventional top-down approaches, it's crucial that solutions originate from those who live in and protect biodiversity-rich territories.
The BDSU methodology challenges traditional centralized financing by creating direct resource flows that support these communities' ongoing conservation efforts in their territories.
Biodiversity Market Has Gained Recognition as a Financing Tool
New guidelines and solutions for biodiversity credits emerged as a highlight of the conference. Approximately 30 governments are developing their own credit programs, with at least 12 projects launched or in progress.
A panel led by the UK and French governments (IAPB) presented a credit transaction framework. A key recommendation emphasizes that Indigenous Peoples should be project co-owners and participate in design and implementation. The BDSU methodology stands out for its commitment to Indigenous leadership, with the Yawanawá people spearheading project development. Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, integrity mechanisms, and equitable benefit-sharing form the cornerstone principles of this new methodology.
As biodiversity credits gain momentum, concerns have been raised about their potential misuse as compensation mechanisms, which might enable companies and countries to continue environmental degradation without meaningful changes to their operations.
The BDSU methodology addresses these concerns by ensuring units are generated through community-owned projects, with independent audits guaranteeing reliable measurement and monitoring. Furthermore, BDSUs allows buyers to contribute to global biodiversity goals without these credits being used as offsets, ensuring that the methodology actually promotes biodiversity preservation.
The outcomes of COP16 in Cali reflect both progress and persistent challenges in global biodiversity conservation. While the conference marked historic advances in Indigenous representation and new financing mechanisms, the stark reality of biodiversity loss demands more urgent and decisive action. As ecosystems face unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and resource exploitation, innovative approaches like the BDSU methodology demonstrate how we can bridge the gap between global ambitions and local solutions. By combining traditional ecological knowledge with robust financial frameworks, and by empowering those who have successfully maintained biodiversity for generations, we can create more effective pathways to protect and restore the world's vital ecosystems. The lessons from Cali serve as a reminder that protecting biodiversity requires not just new financing tools, but a fundamental shift in how we value, support, and learn from Indigenous and local communities who stand at the frontlines of conservation.
