IUCN WCPA at COP16
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will gather in Cali, Colombia, almost two years following the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in Montreal in December 2022.
In the lead-up to CBD COP16, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) is committed to advancing the implementation of the GBF, with a specific focus on area-based conservation.
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IUCN WCPA Information Note for CBD COP16
WCPA Side events at CBD COP16
Featured Publications
Area-based Conservation is a Natural Solution to Biodiversity, Health and Climate Crises
Area-based conservation through the establishment and management of “protected and conserved” areas—protected areas and other effective area-based conservation mechanisms (OECMs), and “recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable”— is a critical part of the GBF. Achieving Target 3, known as “30x30” (and related GBF targets 1, 2 and 8)—in less than 6 years will require an unprecedented effort to establish, restore and effectively manage such a global network. Protected areas and OECMs also have an increasingly recognized role in climate mitigation and adaptation options as nature-based solutions to meet targets of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Commission’s technical guidance and publications will be key in shaping discussions at COP16, providing Parties with the essential tools needed for effective and equitable conservation. WCPA will engage a broad range of stakeholders to promote nature-based solutions, advocate for Indigenous and local community leadership, and offer guidance on sustainable financing mechanisms. WCPA will be working before, during, and after COP16 to ensure that protected areas remain central to global biodiversity action. An IUCN WCPA Information Note for COP16 describes new and existing technical guidance that contributes to six important COP16 agenda items.