COP16 – Cali, Colombia
On October 24, 2024, the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCFTF), together with the European Union Amazonia+ program and Action for Forest, co-organized a side event during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia titled “The Amazon managed from within: Actions of Amazonian governors for the conservation and sustainable use of the Amazon biome.”
This event, which followed the recent release of the GCFTF Blueprint for the New Forest Economy highlighted the crucial role that subnational governments and Indigenous and local communities have in protecting biodiversity, forests, and the climate. In fact, any scenario of meeting global biodiversity and climate goals must involve implementation of bottom-up solutions from states, provinces, and communities.
We’re thrilled that Dilian Francisca Toro, Governor of Valle del Cauca – the host of COP16 and a recently-approved GCFTF Observer jurisdiction – served as our expert moderator for a completely packed room.
Panelists included Governors and leaders from within the GCFTF, as well as from the more local level.
- Luis Francisco Ruiz Aguilar. Governor of Caquetá, Colombia
- Manuel Gambini Rupay. Governor of Ucayali, Peru
- Marco Antonio Ribeiro de Menezes. Secretary of Environmental Development, Rondônia, Brazil
- Carina Patricia Castro Trujillo. Director of Conservation of Natural Resources, Santa Cruz, Bolivia (in the name of Governor Mario Aguilar Cirbián)
- Darwin Flórez. Mayor of Cartagena del Chaira, Caquetá, Colombia
Nicolas Chenet, Director of the Sustainable Development Department of Expertise France (a member of Amazonia+) and GCFTF Project Director Colleen Scanlan Lyons opened the session, which then delved into questions to the panelists to highlight (1) what is already being done by subnational governments to restore, conserve and sustainably use the biodiversity of the Amazon and (2) point out the challenges to implement the Global Framework for Biodiversity at the local level.
Each of our distinguished panelists demonstrated the level of commitment, action, challenges (including need for funding partners), and opportunities to help them implement existing strategies to protect biodiversity, reduce deforestation, and create more sustainable economic opportunities for their people. A key take away is that more partnerships are needed and the GCFTF is ready to help connect partners with our member jurisdictions to move forward on implementing their plans for a new forest economy. See here for the full video!
The GCFTF, together with Action for Forest and the Government of Valle del Cauca, also hosted a networking reception on the evening of October 25, featuring Governor Toro, Colleen Scanlan Lyons, Francisco Ruiz (Action for Forest), Gustavo Sanchez (GCFTF Global IPLC Committee Leader), and partners from the EU, Norway, UK, donor partners, communities, academia, and civil society organizations. This reception continued the discussions and connections that will be so crucial to moving forward together!
