Decision COP 16/4

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling its decision V/16 of 26 May 2000, by which it endorsed the programme of work on the implementation of Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity annexed to that decision, and decision X/43 of 29 October 2010, by which it revised said programme of work for the period 2010–2020,

Recognizing the need for a more holistic, forward-looking and integrated programme of work that is aligned with and supports the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

Recognizing also and respecting the scope and the provisions of the Convention,

Building on the composite report on the status and trends regarding the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as the guidelines and other tools already developed by the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention and adopted by the Conference of the Parties, 

Emphasizing the need for the effective implementation at the national level of the guidelines and other tools related to Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention adopted by the Conference of the Parties to support the implementation of the relevant goals and targets of the Framework,

Noting that a number of tasks of the programme of work on the implementation of Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention, as adopted in decision V/16 and amended in decision X/43, are ongoing for Parties,

1. Decides to adopt the programme of work on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to indigenous peoples and local communities to 2030, as contained in the annex to the present decision, prioritizing those tasks that contribute directly to the timely, full and effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;

2. Requests Parties, and invites other Governments, to report on progress on the implementation of the programme of work on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities, including the application of existing and relevant guidelines and standards, in their national reports;

3. Decides to implement, taking national legislation, circumstances and priorities into account, as appropriate, the programme of work on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities;

4. Reiterates its invitation to Parties in paragraph 7 of decision X/40 B of 29 October 2010 to consider designating national focal points for Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention in support of national focal points, to facilitate communications with indigenous peoples and local communities and to promote the effective implementation of the programme of work on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention;

5. Encourages Parties to engage with indigenous peoples and local communities as on-the-ground partners in the implementation of the Convention, including by recognizing, supporting and valuing their collective actions and respecting their indigenous and traditional territories and their efforts in applying, preserving and maintaining their traditional knowledge, innovation and practices in relation to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity;

6. Urges Parties to enable the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the preparation of national reports and in the development, revision, update and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans;

7. Invites Parties to increase the funding provided to the voluntary funding mechanism to support the effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in processes of relevance to the Convention and its Protocols;

8. Requests all Parties and stakeholders, and invites other Governments, to continue efforts to mobilize financial resources from all sources and provide non-financial resources for indigenous peoples and local communities in order to enhance collective actions to implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans;

9. Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to establish and support a global network of national focal points on Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention to support the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols at the national and international levels;

10. Also requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to collaborate with other relevant global processes and mechanisms to facilitate an exchange in relation to decision 15/21 of 10 December 2022 and the implementation of Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities, taking into account national legislation and international instruments.