This October, Colombia will be hosting the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a crucial summit for proposing solutions to the biodiversity crisis. As a mega-diverse country, Colombia boasts unparalleled natural wealth but also faces serious challenges, such as deforestation, especially in regions like the Amazon and the Colombian Pacific, where Wildlife Works is developing REDD+ projects with its main allies: Indigenous Groups and Afro-descendant Community Councils.
With COP16 fast approaching, it is essential to analyze how REDD+ contributes to meeting the goals set out in the Kunming-Montreal Framework, also known as the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a historic agreement aimed at halting and reversing global biodiversity loss. Below, we highlight the synergies between REDD+ and the Framework through the lens of our new projects in Colombia, which replicate our global conservation model.
In our experience, conservation of nature only succeeds when we take specific targets out of their silos and into an interconnected, systemic approach. We demonstrate that when implemented holistically, REDD+ forest conservation projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting biodiversity conservation and building on the symbiotic relationship between human communities and nature.
Contributions of REDD+ to the Goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework
Target 3: Forest Conservation
REDD+ projects incentivize the protection of existing forests, a crucial step to achieve target 3 of the Framework, which aims to conserve and manage at least 30% of the planet's land and inland waters by 2030. Wildlife Works collaborates with local communities to establish conservation agreements that protect thousands of hectares of forest in the Colombian Pacific and the Amazon Region.
Target 4: Biodiversity Improvement
By protecting forests, REDD+ safeguards the habitats of countless species, contributing to target 4 of the Framework, which focuses on biodiversity conservation by 2030. Wildlife Works' projects have supported this effort through the implementation of Community Biodiversity Monitoring in Vaupés, where more than 120 bird species have been found within the protected area.
Target 8: Carbon Emission Reduction
Deforestation is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. REDD+ projects help mitigate climate change, in line with target 8 of the Framework, which seeks to minimize the impact of climate change on biodiversity, and promote positive impacts on biodiversity from climate actions. This includes through nature-based solutions.
Target 19: Bridging the finance gap
Goal D of the Framework aims to close the annual $700 billion biodiversity finance gap, and target 19 seeks at least $200 billion of financing from all sources by 2030. REDD+ projects can help to bridge financing gaps and mobilize funds for activities that help countries meet national biodiversity and climate plans.
Target 22: Empowerment of Local Communities
REDD+ recognizes the fundamental role of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and Afro-descendants (IPLC and ADs) in managing and protecting biodiversity. Wildlife Works' projects are based on partnerships with communities, working closely with them to develop conservation strategies that benefit both nature and human well-being. This aligns with several of the goals and targets of the GBF. This includes target 22 of the Agreement, which focuses on ensuring their full participation in decision-making and respecting IPLC and AD’s culture and land rights.
Outlook
REDD+ projects, when implemented responsibly and in compliance with safeguards, contribute to biodiversity protection with local actions that have a global impact. As we approach COP16, it is crucial to recognize the potential of REDD+ to contribute to the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Framework and build a greener and more resilient future for Colombia and the planet.
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