Agriculture, as one of the largest land uses globally, has a massive influence on biodiversity. It holds the potential to either harm or heal ecosystems based on the farming practices we adopt. In an interview with Global Landscapes Forum held in Cali, Colombia during the CBD COP16, Genna Tesdall (Director, YPARD) and Sebastian Pedraza (Steering Committee Chair and LAC Regional Coordinator, YPARD) discussed the interconnectedness of agriculture and biodiversity conservation and restoration.
Agriculture can either rely on monocultures—fields dominated by a single crop, which are vulnerable to pests and diseases—or it can embrace diverse systems that support insect life, soil health, and a balanced diet. This conscious shift towards diversity, and to preserve agrobiodiverse farming systems can significantly bolster biodiversity on agricultural lands. Despite its potential, there are challenges. The dominant agricultural model in many regions promotes industrialized monoculture farming, which sidelines biodiversity. For instance, Genna pointed out that in places like her hometown in Iowa, monoculture farming is deeply entrenched, making it hard to break free from the status quo in favor of restoration. Similarly, Sebastian noted that in regions like Cali, Colombia, market pressures push farmers to focus on single crops like sugarcane, limiting the preservation of diverse, biodiversity-friendly farming practices.
However, there’s hope in the growing movement for agroecology. Both Genna and Sebastian emphasized the rise of this approach, which integrates traditional practices like composting and seed saving with modern ecological insights. Agroecology not only promotes biodiversity but also strengthens the role of communities in managing food systems. Sebastian highlighted how young professionals, particularly in Latin America, are driving this change, co-creating knowledge and awareness about sustainable farming and inspiring consumers to make choices that benefit people and the planet.
And this momentum was evident at COP16. Whether it was the voices of rural youth advocating for agroecology and biodiversity conservation, or various indigenous peoples raising awareness on how their communities are already championing these sustainable practices to promote biodiversity conservation and restoration. Their efforts underline the critical role of agriculture in reversing biodiversity loss and highlight how local and traditional knowledge can lead the way in building sustainable food systems.
YPARD at COP16: Empowering Youth for Biodiversity Action
YPARD Colombia Country Representative Rosmery Baez Lizarazo, YPARD Peru member Ysabel Calderón, Sebastian Pedraza, and Global Coordination Unit members Genna Tesdall and Trisha Mandal were present on ground at the CBD COP16 in Cali. YPARD made considerable news at the COP16 in promoting youth voices in promoting biodiversity and advocating for change.
Rosmery, who was recently appointed as the YPARD Country Representative of Colombia, took the opportunity in Cali to network and connect with several stakeholders present in the conference. Notably, she had interactions with representatives from the Colombian Pavilion in the Blue Zone, several indigenous groups, and other youth organizations. Along with Trisha and Genna, Rosemary took part in a workshop titled ‘From impact to action: Funding youth’ organized by Synchronicity Earth, where she contributed to discussions about how both funders and youth can ease the way resources are allocated to young people working on the ground.
On 29th October, in a high-level press conference in the Blue Zone, Ysabel was formally awarded the distinguished MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity, a recognition for her transformative work with her enterprise, Sumak Kawsay.
Ysabel's "Honey Bee Route" initiative, which uses sustainable honey production from native stingless bees to fund reforestation and ecosystem restoration, is making significant strides in both environmental conservation and community empowerment. This award, which includes a $100,000 prize, will help expand her efforts with the 'Women Guardians of the Native Bees' project, fostering further community-driven biodiversity conservation.
You can watch the Midori Prize Press Conference here.
YPARD also played a pivotal role at COP16 by presenting the Rural Youth Manifesto for Biodiversity, a document created by over 170 young people from Latin America.
The manifesto was an outcome of the recent ‘Rural Youth in Peace with Nature’ summit held in Nuquí, Chocó, Colombia, in August as a collaborative effort between YPARD LAC, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Delegation of the European Union in Colombia, the Government of Chocó, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the National Planning Department (DNP), the Rural Youth Entrepreneurship and Employability Roundtable (MEEJR) and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN).
The manifesto outlines key actions needed to address the challenges faced by rural youth, emphasizing sustainable agriculture, human rights, and the integration of youth into decision-making processes. At the event 'Messages and conclusions from the summits prior to COP16: Voices towards the COP' held in the Blue Zone, the Minister of Environment and President of COP16, Susana Muhamad, formalized her support by listening to and symbolically signing the Rural Youth Summit Manifesto. The manifesto was also presented to other high-level COP16 officials, and promoted at several side events in the Blue and Green zones at the conference.
Several workshops and side events were attended by YPARD members to amplify youth engagement in biodiversity discussions. One key workshop, organized by the Youth in Landscapes (YIL) Initiative, focused on how civil society can bridge the three Rio Conventions. The workshop brought together youth, women, and Indigenous communities to discuss strategies for advancing biodiversity conservation, climate action, and the role of local knowledge in these efforts. At the COP16 Green Zone, Ysabel Calderón spoke at an event held in the Chamber of Commerce in Cali, which aimed to feature the work of environmental experts and young leaders. Ysabel shared her entrepreneurial journey and how Sumak Kawsay was conceived to tackle the environmental effects she saw firsthand in her mountainous home in Peru. Sebastian Pedraza , YPARD Steering Committee Chair and LAC Regional Coordinator participated in a panel discussion in the Blue Zone titled ‘Mainstreaming youth and agrifood systems in biodiversity conservation and restoration’. He highlighted the need for collaboration across sectors and emphasized that young people already possess the solutions to today's biodiversity challenges.
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The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), held in Cali, Colombia, brought promising developments for global biodiversity. Although suspended before its conclusion, the conference achieved some significant milestones that signal progress toward the 2030 goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The Cali Fund: The launch of the Cali Fund marked a significant step in ensuring equitable sharing of benefits from digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. Large companies and industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, animal and plant breeding that profit from DSI will now contribute a portion of their revenues to this fund. The majority of these resources will support developing nations, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities (IPLCs) by addressing their conservation priorities, building capacity, and providing access to new technologies. This marks a historic step in ensuring biodiversity benefits reach those who need them most.
Empowering Indigenous Communities: Another significant outcome was the establishment of a permanent body to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity efforts. This decision strengthens their role in protecting ecosystems and contributing to KMGBF goals. The inclusion of African-descended communities in conservation efforts further highlights a commitment to equitable and inclusive biodiversity strategies.
Mobilizing Resources for Biodiversity: COP16 highlighted critical efforts to secure $200 billion annually by 2030 for global biodiversity initiatives and redirect $500 billion in subsidies that harm ecosystems. Progress was noted on existing funds, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), which has raised $400 million, including $163 million pledged at COP16, and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, launched with $200 million from China. These funds prioritize high-impact projects in developing countries, particularly fragile ecosystems like small island states. Parties also explored creating a global financing instrument to enhance funding mechanisms. Evaluations of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) emphasized its key role, with $2.42 billion approved for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in GEF-8’s first two years.
Despite its early suspension, the outcomes from COP16 demonstrate the strength of global collaboration in addressing urgent biodiversity challenges. The remaining agenda will be revisited at a follow-up session.
COP16 demonstrated that agriculture is not only vital for food security but also central to biodiversity conservation. The voices of youth, Indigenous communities, and local stakeholders, amplified by organizations like YPARD, are essential to shaping sustainable agricultural practices. From innovative projects like the Honey Bee Route to global policy initiatives like the Cali Fund, the conference highlighted agriculture’s transformative potential to safeguard ecosystems, empower communities, and achieve global biodiversity goals.
Looking ahead to COP30, the momentum gained at COP16 serves as a call to action. By investing in sustainable farming practices, fostering community participation, and promoting youth leadership, the global community can create resilient food systems and protect the planet’s biodiversity for future generations.
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