The Institute of Peoples, Territories and Pedagogies for Peace (IPTP) celebrated groundbreaking achievements with Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples at COP 16, the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Cali, Colombia, earlier this month. 

Dr. Sheila Gruner, Director of IPTP, a faculty member within Algoma University’s Faculty of Cross-Cultural Studies (FCCS) and Associate Researcher at NORDIK Institute worked with a team to support the inclusion of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in biodiversity discussions and policy processes. IPTP team members and civil society allies participated in key events and negotiations, advocating for critical advancements in Article 8J of the CBD. The conference resulted in two historic decisions specific to Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples:

1. Recognition of Afro-descendant Peoples in Article 8J: Afro-descendant communities are now officially acknowledged for their invaluable contributions to biodiversity conservation. This builds upon the previous categories of recognition for “Indigenous peoples and local peoples,” now including Afro-descendants in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for their role in biodiversity protection. These communities have long safeguarded forest ecosystems in regions globally significant for cultural and biological diversity, such as the Pacific Chocó-Darién Bioregion and the Amazon.
2. Creation of a Subsidiary Body of Article 8J related to Indigenous Knowledge: This new mechanism, proposed by the Indigenous Caucus, ensures systematic implementation of Article 8J objectives, strengthening the role of traditional knowledge taking up goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

These milestones highlight the critical role of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in protecting lands, waters, and biodiversity within their ancestral/traditional territories. The outcomes also pave the way for closer collaboration between these groups in future global negotiations, including COP 29, currently underway in Azerbaijan, COP 30 in Brazil in 2025,  and the follow-up Biological Diversity COP in Armenia in 2026.

Dr. Gruner remarked, “Decolonizing education is essential to honouring and recognizing the importance of Indigenous and Afro-descendant knowledge and governance systems in protecting biodiversity and addressing climate change. While COP 16 represents significant progress, there is much work to be done to ensure meaningful recognition and the self-determination of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. As educators we must facilitate meaningful learning to better engage with ways of being respectful of diverse life forms on the planet.”

The IPTP hosted a hybrid side event at COP 16 (“Black and Indigenous Women, Self-Determination and the Necessary Conditions for the Protection of Biodiversity”), featuring scholars, activists, and land defenders, including Afro-Colombian leaders Danelly Estupiñan, IPTP regional representative Marlin Mancilla and Anishinaabe scholar and knowledge holder Dr. Susan Chiblow. This event highlighted the interconnectedness of cultural and biological diversity and the urgent need for inclusive governance in biodiversity conservation.

While celebrating these victories, IPTP and its allies remain committed to continuing to address historical inequities and advocating for the rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. Looking ahead to COP 17 and COP 30, they will continue pushing for environmental justice and for recognizing communities’ essential roles in global environmental governance and biodiversity protection.

To learn more about the IPTP, visit https://iptppaz.wixsite.com/institutoptp

Quotes

“Both the 8J and the inclusion of the term Afro-descendants, as well as the creation of the Subsidiary Body, are an example of what happens when peoples’ diplomacy finds bridges to walk together with traditional diplomacy. Recognizing these kinds of triumphs to our peoples and organizations, helps our people to really believe and use the great POWER they have and that our President and our Foreign Ministry recognize. This is the new diplomacy and it is exercised by walking and decoding the struggles of our peoples to translate them into these international instruments.” 

Elizabeth García, Chair of the Council of Elders and Experts of the IPTP, Ambassador to Colombia in Bolivia, Arhuaca Nation

“It’s been very good to see the acknowledgement and efforts of those around the world who are incorporating and fulfilling the promises made to Creation and our Mother the Earth. All people around the world, at some point, were acknowledged as nations with laws and ways of being that considered our relationships with the Earth. Despite colonial powers trying to extinguish us, this work continues and needs to continue.” 

Dean Sayers – Member of the IPTP Council of Elders and Experts/ Former Chief of Batchewana First Nation, Former Robinson Huron Treaty Chief and Current Periodic Spokesperson, Member of the Crane Clan (hereditary Chieftainship clan)

“The advances of COP16 are essential for environmental harmony and justice. We must continue working on pedagogy for peace with Nature; on legal pluralism; and on ethnic, cultural, biological and linguistic diversity; to protect ecosystems, the multiple systems of life and sacred sites at a global level, from the systems of original knowledge and self-determination of Peoples.”

Magistrate Aty Seikuinduwa / Belkis Izquierdo Torres – Member of the IPTP Council of Elders and Experts

“The inclusion of Afro-descendant knowledge in biodiversity protection is essential, as their culturally rooted practices offer solutions to pressing environmental challenges; Canada’s recognition of these voices at COP16 must be upheld and expanded in global policy discussions.

Sahada Alolo, Member of the IPTP Council of Elders and Experts/ African-Canadian Association of Ottawa, Canada

“The COP16 of the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) changed the history of the Conference of the Parties in two major ways. First, the promotion of the participation of civil society, thus materializing the mandate of the global framework: all governments and all of society. At the same time, it was able to make progress on two major debts of the Convention: the creation of the subsidiary body for the implementation of Article 8J and the recognition of the contributions of Afro-descendant communities to conservation. With the latter, a path has been opened to achieve the effective participation of Afro-descendant peoples in the implementation of the global KM framework (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) and, therefore, of the objectives of the CBD.”

Harrison Cuero Compaz, Afro-descendant Social Leader, Advisor to the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez, member of the Colombian negotiating team in the COP16

“At NORDIK Institute, we are guided by the principle that resilience and renewal come from the strength of diverse knowledge systems working together. We aim to develop sustainable approaches to environmental challenges with equity and respect by fostering collaboration with the Institute of Peoples, Territories, and Pedagogies for Peace (IPTP). It is our pleasure to honour the contributions of NORDIK Institute Research Associates Dr. Sheila Gruner and Dr. Sue Chiblow to the inclusion of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities around the world, especially in significant events like COP16.”

Dr. Tamanna Rimi, Director of Research, NORDIK Institute

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