Financial Mechanism and Resources

T21 (Data, information and knowledge): How to Use GEF Funding

This page aims to provide information regarding the accessibility to best available data, information and knowledge, for recipient Parties and relevant stakeholders, including how to access funding of the Global Environment Facility in this regard. It is a work in progress and will be updated as necessary.

Significant progress has been made in the generation, sharing and assessment of knowledge and data on biodiversity, with big-data aggregation, advances in modelling and artificial intelligence opening up new opportunities for improved understanding of the biosphere. However, major imbalances remain in the location and taxonomic focus of studies and monitoring. Information gaps remain in the consequences of biodiversity loss for people, and the application of biodiversity knowledge in decision making is limited. Reported actions included: Promoting education and training programmes on biodiversity; Development and promotion of scientific research programmes; Undertaking species inventories; Identifying key biodiversity areas; Increasing the amount and quality of biodiversity information; Development of national biodiversity databases, clearing-house mechanisms; Preparation of publications; Promotion of community-based monitoring.

There has been an apparent increase in the past decade in the proportion of people who have heard of biodiversity and who understand the concept. Understanding of biodiversity appears to be increasing more rapidly among younger people. A recent survey suggested that more than one third of people in the most biodiverse countries have high awareness both of the values of biodiversity and the steps required for its conservation and sustainable use. Reported actions included: Convening of workshops, stakeholder meetings, organizing biodiversity exhibitions, organizing field trips and site visits and other similar awareness-raising activities; Inclusion of biodiversity in school curricula at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, including information on its values and the actions needed to conserve it; Use of media (such as radio, television, movies, social media platforms and print media) to raise awareness of biodiversity; Provision of training on biodiversity to stakeholders, including farmers, fishers and policymakers; Creation of biodiversity information centres. Some challenges were: Difficulties in reaching all people, including those residing in remote or distant communities; General lack of knowledge of how to conserve biodiversity; Lack of understanding of the links between biodiversity and other societal challenges, including the need to address climate change.

There has been an increase in the recognition of the value of traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use, both in global policy fora and in the scientific community. However, despite progress in some countries, there is limited information indicating that traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use have been widely respected and/or reflected in national legislation related to the implementation of the Convention or on the extent to which indigenous peoples and local communities are effectively participating in associated processes. Reported actions included: Efforts to better document traditional knowledge; Efforts to protect traditional knowledge and to ensure that indigenous peoples and local communities are fairly compensated for the use of their knowledge; Capacity-building programmes with a focus on traditional knowledge; Actions to improve the legal recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

Financial support of the Global Environment Facility

GEF-financed projects related to data, information and knowledge

• GEF BD FA: Projects funded under the three objectives of the BDFA strategy have the possibility to contribute to this Target, consistent with the design of the intervention.
• GEF policy framework on IPLCs ensures that all GEF investments are contributing to this target.

Guidance to the financial mechanism

The Conference of the Parties has invited the Global Environment Facility to support:

• Effective communication must be incorporated in the design phase as an integral part of projects, to raise public awareness and promote engagement, whenever critical for achieving the conservation and sustainable use of important biodiversity, and it can also contribute to achieving more sustainable consumption patterns; (XIII/21, annex I, para. 4)
• Development and implementation of communication, education and public awareness priority activities at the national and regional levels; (Decision X/24, annex, paragraph 4.10; XIII/21, annex II, para. 22)
• Raising awareness and building capacity relevant to the implementation of the Rutzolijirisaxik Voluntary Guidelines for the Repatriation of Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Relevant for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity, and developing, as appropriate, community protocols or processes for “prior and informed consent” or “free, prior and informed consent”, depending on national circumstances, or “approval and involvement”, and fair and equitable benefit-sharing. (Decision XIII/21, paragraph 29)
• Raising awareness and to building capacity relevant to the implementation of the guidelines (Mo’otz Kuxtal voluntary guidelines for the development of mechanisms, legislation or other appropriate initiatives to ensure the “prior and informed consent”, “free, prior and informed consent” or “approval and involvement”, depending on national circumstances, of indigenous peoples and local communities for accessing their knowledge, innovations and practices, for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of their knowledge, innovations and practices relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and for reporting and preventing unlawful appropriation of traditional knowledge), and developing, as appropriate, community protocols or processes for “prior and informed consent”, “free, prior and informed consent” or “approval and involvement”, depending on national circumstances, for fair and equitable benefit-sharing. (Decision XIII/18, paragraph 10).

Guidance to Parties

Accessibility to Data, Information and Knowledge

• Build on existing knowledge of biodiversity and poverty alleviation mainstreaming to integrate biodiversity into national development policies and plans, and use a variety of approaches to record uncertainty, contradictory evidence and gaps in knowledge to enable comparable national assessments; (IX/11A, para. 10; XIII/28, para. 7(a); VII/27, annex, action 1.5.2)

Governance

• Improve, diversify and strengthen protected-area governance types, applying governance principles, such as the rule of law, decentralization, participatory decision-making mechanisms for accountability and equitable dispute resolution institutions and procedures; (VII/28, annex, goal 3.1; X/31B, para. 32(a)-(b); IX/18A, para. 6(a)-(b), 14, 21)
• Implement specific plans, initiatives and effective processes for the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in full respect of their rights and recognition of their responsibilities, at all levels of protected areas planning, establishment, governance and management, and recognize the role of indigenous and local community conserved areas and conserved areas of other stakeholders in biodiversity conservation, collaborative management and diversification of governance types; (XIII/2, para. 7; XI/24, para. 1(e); X/31B, para. 32(a)-(c); X/31A, para. 1(i); VII/28, annex, goal 2.2; IX/18A, para. 6(d))
• Involve communities in the sustainable management of local wildlife resources, recognizing and supporting territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities (ICCAs), and using a range of governance models, including community hunting zones, community conservancies, payment for ecosystem services and certification schemes, as well as biodiversity-friendly management models; (14/7, annex, para. 28(c)(i))
• Promote secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests as a means of eradicating hunger and poverty, supporting sustainable development and enhancing the environment; (XII/5, annex, para. 5(b))
• Promote integration of the provisions of access and benefit sharing in regard to the third objective of the Convention in the governance of protected areas and support initiatives on the role of protected areas in poverty alleviation as well as for indigenous and local community livelihoods; (X/31B, para. 30(b))
• Establish or strengthen existing mechanisms of governance of fisheries, including policies for fishing capacity management and reduction, including measures and regulations with a view to promoting the conservation and recovery of endangered species, and ensure compliance with frameworks on unsustainable fishing gears and practices that severely impact vulnerable marine and coastal ecosystems, taking into account sustainable customary resource use of indigenous and local communities; (14/1, para. 14(d); X/28, para. 8; X/29, para. 56; XIII/3, para. 71; VIII/1, annex, priority action 4.2.1.2)
• Establish effective systemic processes for the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in full respect of their rights and recognition of their responsibilities, in the governance of protected areas and for integrating cultural, environmental, and social considerations in planning and decision-making; (IX/18A, para. 6(d); VII/16F, para. 10)
• Establish policies and institutional mechanisms with full participation of indigenous and local communities, to facilitate the legal recognition and effective management of indigenous and local community conserved areas in a manner consistent with the goals of conserving both biodiversity and the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities. Use social and economic benefits generated by protected areas for poverty reduction, consistent with protected-area management objectives. Engage indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders in participatory planning and governance, recalling the principles of the ecosystem approach; (VII/28, annex, goal 2.1)
• Establish effective processes for the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in full respect of their rights and recognition of their responsibilities, in the governance of protected areas, consistent with national law and applicable international obligations; (X/31B, para. 32(c))

Integrated and participatory management

Communication, awareness-raising, education

Monitoring, Research and Knowledge Management

Traditional Knowledge, Innovations, Practices and Technologies

• Respect, preserve and maintain the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities consistent with Article 8(j) in the implementation of the national biodiversity strategy and action plans, national policies and initiatives, and exchange information and share experiences regarding national legislation and other measures for the protection of the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities; (IX/8, para. 8(n); XII/5, para. 13; V/16, para. 15; XI/14A, para. 4; X/32, para. 2(f); IX/5, para. 1(d); VI/22, annex, programme element 1, goal 4, objective 1(a))
• Develop and implement strategies to protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices based on a combination of appropriate approaches, respecting customary laws and practices, including the use of existing intellectual property mechanisms, sui generis systems, customary law, the use of contractual arrangements, registers of traditional knowledge, and guidelines and codes of practice; (VI/10, para. 33)
• Develop and implement measures and legislation, where appropriate and in keeping with national laws and relevant international obligations, for the respect and protection of indigenous and local communities rights over their traditional knowledge innovations and practices, recognizing that traditional knowledge, whether written or oral, may constitute prior art; (VIII/1, annex, priority action 9.1.2; XIII/18, para. 2-3; V/26A, para. 4(c); VII/19E, para. 3)
• Implement effective measures to protect traditional knowledge and values in forest laws and planning tools; (VI/22, annex, programme element 2, goal 1, objective 3(d))
• Establish national mechanisms to ensure compliance, when required by domestic law, with prior informed consent of the Contracting Parties providing such resources, including countries of origin and of the indigenous and local communities providing associated traditional knowledge, and with mutually agreed terms on which access was granted; (VII/19E, para. 2; VIII/4D, para. 2)
• Establish knowledge platforms to bring together government agencies at different levels, the business sector, indigenous peoples and local communities and stakeholders to address the technical issues with respect to mainstreaming biodiversity, taking into account matters related to environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility; (14/3, para. 13(p))
• Encourage the disclosure of the origin of relevant traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in applications for intellectual property rights, where the subject matter of the application concerns or makes use of such knowledge in its development, and take into account traditional knowledge in the examination of novelty and inventive step in patent applications; (VI/10, para. 39, 40, 46, 48; VI/24C, para. 12)
• Develop, adopt and/or recognize national and local sui generis systems for the protection, preservation and promotion of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities taking into consideration customary law and traditional practices, and develop mechanisms to promote compliance with sui generis systems for the protection, preservation and promotion of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities at national level; (XII/12E, para. 6-7; VII/16H, para. 7; VIII/5E, para. 1, 3; IX/13F, para. 2; X/41, para. 3; XI/14B, para. 8, and E, para. 9)
• Mainstream traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including those on customary sustainable use of biodiversity, into the implementation of all relevant Sustainable Development Goals with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities and with their prior and informed consent or free, prior and informed consent or approval and involvement, as appropriate, and consistent with national legislation and circumstances, and in accordance with international obligations; (14/14, para. 1; 14/1, para. 14(l))
• Enhance scientific knowledge and the use of the ecosystem approach as well as traditional and indigenous knowledge to support the development of adaptive management plans and to improve management effectiveness of protected areas for addressing impacts from climate change on biodiversity, and encourage the establishment of protected areas that benefit indigenous and local communities, including by respecting, preserving, and maintaining their traditional knowledge in accordance with article 8(j) and related provisions; (X/31B, para. 14(b); VII/28, annex, goal 1.1, 4.4 )
• Establish effective mechanisms to document existing knowledge and experiences on protected area management, including traditional knowledge in accordance with Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, and identify knowledge and skills gaps; (VII/28, annex, goal 3.2)
• Increase support for and coordinate research to improve knowledge of trends in biodiversity, and understanding of its value, including its role in the provision of ecosystem services, as a means of improving decision-making at global, regional, national and local levels, and also recognizing cross-scale interactions in ecosystems; (VIII/9, para. 19)
• Promote the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities and the use of relevant traditional knowledge and practices in appropriate ecosystem restoration activities, in accordance with Articles 8(j), 10(c) and 10(d) of the Convention; (XI/16, para.1(g))
• Facilitate new knowledge acquisition and dissemination, and enhance public awareness, education and knowledge on integrated soil management and agro-ecological approaches; (VIII/23B, annex, activity 1.1-1.4; VIII/23B, annex, activity 3.2)
• Enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and poverty reduction through the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components; (XII/5, para. 5)
• Develop and implement ways and means to share in a fair and equitable way with indigenous and local communities the benefits arising from use of their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices (VIII/1, annex, priority action 9.2.1; 14/31B, para. 8; VI/10, para. 47)
• Promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits resulting from the utilization of forest genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge; (VI/22, annex, programme element 1, goal 5, objective 1)
• Develop government coordination mechanisms, mechanisms for stakeholder inputs and engagement, multi-stakeholder knowledge platforms, and independent governmental audit or evaluation institutions to enhance biodiversity mainstreaming and enhance implementation at the national level; (14/3, para. 13(o))
• Promote partnerships and technology transfer between users and providers of genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge; (3/1, para. 7(g); 2/5, para. 5)
• Identify local and indigenous knowledge that can contribute to synergies, and establish institutional arrangements to enable interface between scientists and the national officials responsible for the development and implementation of policy related to the biodiversity-related conventions; (XIII/24, annex I, para. 19)
• Conduct research on the benefits and adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology on biodiversity, with a view to filling knowledge gaps and identifying how those effects relate to the objectives of the Convention and its Protocols; (XIII/17, para. 9(a))
• Prioritize taxonomic efforts according to scientific knowledge gaps and user needs, and increase the knowledge base on ecological range and the condition of the species in order to better meet the user-needs in respect of bioindication of ecological health; (X/39, para. 6, 15(d); VI/8, annex, para. 2)
• Promote regional cooperation and share experiences and best practices on relevant measures, including approaches and measures relating to traditional knowledge shared across borders, where they exist; (XIII/18, para. 6; NP3/1, para. 7(d))
• Support and assist indigenous and local communities to retain control and ownership of their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices including through the repatriation of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, in databases, and promote The Rutzolijirisaxik Voluntary Guidelines for the Repatriation of Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Relevant for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity through educational and awareness-raising activities, as appropriate; (14/12, para. 2(a), 2(b); IX/13C, para. 1)
• Pursue the fair and equitable resolution of land claims as an essential element of efforts to facilitate the retention and use of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, and take appropriate measures to further advance the elements of the plan of action for the retention of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; (VII/16E, para. 9, 15, 16; VIII/5B, para. 10)
• Support indigenous and local communities in capturing and preserving their taxonomic knowledge, and promote awareness about the role of traditional knowledge systems and the collective actions of indigenous peoples and local communities to complement the scientific knowledge in support of the effective implementation; (XIII/31, para. 6(h); X/39, para. 15(a))
• Expand knowledge, understanding and awareness of the multiple goods and services provided by the different levels and functions of agricultural biodiversity, including local knowledge of its management, conduct research and conservation of native plants or animals, local races, wild relatives of cultivated or domesticated species in order to improve the knowledge on their genetic variability, regarding important traits for agriculture such as biotic/abiotic resistance, yield and nutritional value, paying a particular attention to smallholder farmers, indigenous and local communities and Farmers’ Rights to the preservation of seeds under traditional cultivation; (VIII/1, annex, priority action 1.1.2.8, 4.2.4.5; V/5, annex, programme element 2; VI/5, para. 22; VIII/23C, para. 2(a))
• Take into account the need to appropriately recognize indigenous and community conserved territories and areas and their traditional knowledge and conservation practices as the basis for local biodiversity conservation plans without interfering in their customary governance systems, and to set local biodiversity conservation plans as the basis for programmes aimed at poverty eradication for sustainable livelihoods in order to enhance the basis for the achievement of sustainable development goals. (XII/5, annex, B)
• Support the development by indigenous peoples and local communities of community protocols and procedures, minimum requirements for mutually agreed terms and model contractual clauses for benefit-sharing arising from the utilization of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, taking into consideration their customary laws, recognizing and integrating traditional knowledge, customary sustainable use as well as diverse approaches undertaken by indigenous peoples and local communities in efforts to maintain genetic diversity, reduce habitat and biodiversity loss, and to promote an equitable and participatory approach to the management and restoration of critical ecosystems; (3/1, para. 6(b))
• Enable indigenous and local communities to develop and implement adaptive community-management systems to conserve and sustainably use forest biological diversity, using as appropriate traditional forest-related knowledge, and create an environment that fosters respect, and stimulates, preserves and maintains traditional knowledge related to forest biological diversity, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities; (VI/22, annex, programme element 1, goal 4, objective 3)
• Develop endogenous research capabilities to add value to genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources; (Decision X/24, annex, para. 4.11; X/25, para. 13; XI/5, paras. 21, 22 and 23, and appendix I; XII/30, paras. 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and appendix II; X/1, para. 14; XI/1, D, para. 2 and E, para. 2; NP-1/6; NP-1/8, annex I, para. 29(a); and NP-1/9, annex, para. 34; XIII/21, annex II, para. 23(d))
• Understand the values and knowledge of use of biological diversity held by the indigenous and local communities and the opportunities these offer for sustainable tourism and the support of local tourism; (V/25, para. 4)
• Encourage the implementation of sustainable tourism activities aimed at increasing awareness, respect and knowledge for mountain biological diversity, including knowledge of the local, natural and cultural landscapes; (VII/27, annex, goal 3.5.3)
• Establish baseline knowledge and information systems for the conservation of island biodiversity, and improve the knowledge base of genetic resources, identify and develop or transfer knowledge, science and technology appropriate to islands for the conservation and sustainable use of island biodiversity, and increase national and regional information networking capacity to facilitate broader access to and transfer of technology of benefit to island biodiversity; (VIII/1, annex, goal 10 and priority action 11.3.5)
• Recognize and protect island traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including indigenous and local communities’ linguistic diversity that maintains biodiversity-related knowledge, respect and facilitate the exchange of knowledge on indigenous island technologies among indigenous and local communities, and establish and implement mechanisms to respect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices on lands and waters traditionally occupied and/or used by indigenous and local communities; (VIII/1, annex, priority action 11.2.1, 9.1.1)
• Improve knowledge on and methods for the assessment and monitoring of the status and trends of mountain biological diversity based on available information, increase dissemination of knowledge on upland-lowland interactions and on components of interdependence, and foster exchange of experiences and knowledge of sustainable development and ecosystem vulnerability among countries with mountains, taking into account the vulnerability of social-cultural systems and communities; (VII/27, annex, goal 3.4, activity 3.4.5, goal 3.2, goal 3.5.4)
• Respect, understand and support the traditions and sustainable practices of the indigenous and local communities in mountain regions in ways which accommodate their needs, participation, knowledge and practices for conservation and sustainable use of mountain biodiversity, and support activities of indigenous and local communities involved in the use of traditional mountain-related knowledge, in particular concerning sustainable management of biodiversity, soil, water resources and slope; (X/30, para. 5(c); VII/27, annex, action 1.3.3, 1.5.4, 2.2.2)
• Further promote the education of women and their role in the conservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge (VII/27, annex, goal 3.5.5)
• Develop and implement, through a participatory process, a sustainable and integrated agriculture development plan, including the use of knowledge, practices and innovations of indigenous and local communities, production and use of traditional crops and livestock and associated traditional knowledge, sustainable use of medicinal plants and maintenance of home gardens, and develop and implement measures to strengthen in situ or on-farm conservation of wild plants and animals and traditional crops and associated knowledge of indigenous and local communities, recognizing the widespread use of land-races of crops and stock strains on islands (VIII/1, annex, priority action 3.1.1, 4.2.3)
• Develop national strategies, programmes and plans which, inter alia, empower their indigenous and local communities and build their capacity for in situ conservation and sustainable use and management of agricultural biological diversity, building on the indigenous knowledge systems, including on the links between biodiversity, food and nutrition, uphold diversification and ecological rotation and agroforestry, and promote community and family farming, alongside agroecology, with a view to promoting sustainable production and improving nutrition; (XIII/3, para. 27; III/11, para. 15)
• Promote and share further research to address gaps in knowledge, including the effects of the partial loss of pollinators on crop production, and potential impacts of pesticides, in particular neonicotinoids and other systemic pesticides, taking into account their possible cumulative effects, and of living modified organisms, on pollinator populations, under field conditions, including differential impacts on managed and wild pollinators, and on social versus solitary pollinators, and the impacts on pollination of both crop and non-crop plants over both the short and long term, and under different climatic conditions; (XIII/15, para. 7(w)-7(aa))
• Assess the state of scientific and indigenous knowledge on pollinator conservation, in order to identify gaps in knowledge and opportunities for application of knowledge, including taxonomic knowledge, and the knowledge, innovations and practices of farmers and indigenous and local communities in sustaining pollinator diversity and agro-ecosystem services for and in support of food production and food security, and protect and promote traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, protect traditional and established land rights and tenure and to promote biological and cultural diversity, and the links between them, for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators including diverse farming systems; (VI/5, annex II, para. 1.3; XIII/15, para. 7(s))
• Continue developing strategies and take actions, and continue investing resources in the development and circulation of new knowledge on alien species and pathways, particularly through relevant existing tools, including the use of the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities in the development and implementation of measures to address invasive alien species, in accordance with Article 8(j) of the Convention; (XIII/13, para. 24-25)
• Improve the knowledge of the impacts of invasive alien species on forest ecosystems and adjacent ecosystems, and further develop knowledge on forest ecosystem services, and implement, as appropriate, innovative tools for securing such services, such as Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations; (VI/22, annex, programme element 1, goal 2, objective 1; IX/5, para. 2(e))
• Increase knowledge on monetary and non-monetary cost-benefit accounting for forest biodiversity evaluation; (VI/22, annex, programme element 2, goal 2(i))
• Increase awareness of the actual and potential contribution of knowledge, practices and innovations of indigenous and local communities and related access and benefit sharing issues, notably through the increase in the number of biodiversity-related publications in national libraries, and alternative means of communicating public information on traditional knowledge related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, in plain language and diverse community-friendly formats, such as video, including television, audio for community radio, songs, posters, theatre/drama, and film, in order to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, including women and youth, at local, national and international levels, while supporting the development by indigenous and local communities of their own media tools; (VIII/6, annex II, priority activity 2, 3; XI/2D, para. 24; VI/19, para. 11; IX/13E, para. 5; NP-1/7, para. 7; VII/27, annex, goal 3.5.2)
• Increase awareness amongst all stakeholders of the potential contribution of traditional forest-related knowledge to conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity, and implement effective measures to recognize, respect, protect and maintain traditional forest-related knowledge and values in forest-related laws and forest planning tools, in accordance with Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity; (VI/22, annex, programme element 2, goal 3)
• Strengthen knowledge and information, including comparable data sets, and related research and monitoring activities on the linkages between biodiversity, climate change and human well‑being in educational programmes at all levels; (XI/21, para. 6(b); IX/16A, para. 4(e)-4(f))
• Take into account the importance of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices related to biodiversity when addressing the impacts of climate change in sectoral plans and strategies including renewable energies, and encourage activities at the local level led by indigenous peoples and local communities, including consideration and integration of indigenous and traditional knowledge, practices, plans and institutions; (VIII/30, para. 3; 14/5, para. 3(b); XIII/4, para. 8(g); X/33, para. 8(v); IX/13B, para. 4, 6; IX/16A, para. 4(h); XI/21, para. 6(a))
• Strengthen community-based management and the role of collective action in the management of natural resources and traditional indigenous knowledge systems and local communities and smallholders’ traditional knowledge systems; (XII/5, annex, para. 5(d); XIII/20, para. 19; X/42, para. 3)
• Support the efforts of indigenous and local communities to determine the status, trends and threats related to the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, with the full involvement and approval of these communities, and develop community action plans for its preservation, maintenance and respect; (IX/13B, para. 2; IX/13D, para. 2; VII/16E, para. 6)
• Support and assist indigenous and local communities to maintain, control, protect and develop their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, and support capacity building and the development of necessary infrastructure and resources with the aim of enabling indigenous and local communities to make informed decisions regarding the documentation of traditional knowledge; (X/43, para. 24; VII/16H, para. 9; VI/10, para. 23; V/16, para. 12; XIII/3, para. 31)
• Ensure that capacity‑building programmes include both scientific and traditional knowledge and involve participatory processes, community-based management, and the use of the ecosystem approach, and the management of systems of life, and take into consideration the needs of relevant stakeholders, and particularly indigenous and local communities, women, the youth, vulnerable and marginalized; (XII/5, annex, A)
• Develop regional and subregional research centres and networks for the exchange of research, information, traditional and cultural knowledge and technology concerning dry and sub-humid lands, such as on ecological, physical and social processes that affect the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands, especially ecosystem structure and functioning (e.g., grazing, droughts, floods, fires, tourism, agricultural conversion or abandonment); (IX/17, para. 2; V/23, annex I, para. 5)
• Support actions to strengthen knowledge on the linkages between gender and biodiversity, including the collection of sex-disaggregated data, highlighting the unique knowledge of biodiversity held by women and indigenous and local communities experts on diversity and gender mainstreaming and the importance of traditional knowledge and customary practice held by men and women in supporting implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans; (14/18, para. 4; XII/7, annex, para. 1, 3;)
• Consider the contribution of traditional knowledge and customary practices to human health; (XII/21, para. 8)
• Work with indigenous and local communities to develop measures and mechanisms to mitigate the consequences of actions arising from perverse incentives leading to the decline of knowledge, innovations and practices embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. (VII/16E, para. 22)
• Undertake suitable initiatives to enhance awareness of the knowledge held by indigenous and local communities and the appropriate procedures, such as prior informed consent, for accessing such knowledge in accordance with national legislation on access to traditional knowledge, and facilitate the participation of indigenous and local communities and the application of traditional knowledge favorable to the conservation of biodiversity, with their prior informed consent in accordance with national laws, in the management, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity of inland water ecosystems; (VII/4, annex, goal 2.4.5, 2.5.4, 3.2)
• Mitigate and manage anthropogenic underwater noise through the use of spatio‑temporal management of activities, relying on sufficiently detailed temporal and spatial knowledge of species or population distribution patterns combined with the ability to avoid generating noise in the area at those times; (XII/23, para. 3(f))
• Evaluate the current state of scientific and technological knowledge on the effects of mariculture on marine and coastal biological diversity, and facilitate further research to fill gaps in knowledge on marine and coastal areas, in particular in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and Consider traditional knowledge, where applicable as a source to develop sustainable mariculture techniques; (XI/18B, para. 5; X/29, para. 10, 48; IV/5, annex, programme element 4; XII/22, para. 13; XII/23, para. 3(b); VII/5, para. 45(m))
• Integrate the traditional, scientific, technical and technological knowledge of indigenous and local communities, consistent with Article 8(j) of the Convention, and ensure the integration of social and cultural criteria and other aspects for the identification of marine areas in need of protection as well as the establishment and management of marine protected areas. (IX/20, para. 27; IV/5, annex, programme element 2)
• Take into account emerging knowledge on ocean acidification and to incorporate it into national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), national and local plans on integrated marine and coastal area management, and the design and management plans for marine and coastal protected areas; (X/29, para. 67)
• Develop or expand national and regional networks of coral reef managers to promote exchange of information, knowledge and best practices; (XII/23, annex, para. 11.1)
• Promote the use of the traditional, scientific, technical and technological knowledge of indigenous and local communities at the national level, with their full and effective participation, in support of the description of areas meeting the EBSA criteria; (XII/22, para. 15; XI/17, para. 19, 24)
• Expand and improve monitoring and research on biodiversity in cold-water areas, improve knowledge-sharing among various actors and provide opportunities for participation in assessment, monitoring and research, including through the application of traditional knowledge, fisher’s knowledge and citizen science; (XIII/11, annex II, para. 5.4-5.5)
• Improve knowledge on and methods for the assessment of the status and trends of forest biological diversity, based on available information; (VI/22, annex, programme element 3, goal 2)
• Support the development of registers of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity through participatory programmes and consultations with indigenous and local communities, taking into account strengthening legislation, customary practices and traditional systems of resource management, such as the protection of traditional knowledge against unauthorized use; (V/16, para. 17; VII/16E, para. 29)
• Design and test indicators at the national level for status and trends of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, and consider how indigenous and local communities might effectively participate in the development, collection and analysis of data, including through Community-Based Monitoring; (IX/13H, para. 6; XII/12A, para. 9)

Knowledge management

Easy and timely access to the best available, fit-for-purpose biodiversity data, information and knowledge assets is critical for effective planning, policy formulation, decision-making and implementation. CBD knowledge management covers various types of data, information and knowledge relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, ranging from scientific, technical, technological, legal and policy data and information to implementation-related information and knowledge, including case studies on experiences, best practices and lessons learned in the development and implementation of national biodiversity policies, plans and programmes. It also includes the decisions, recommendations and official documentation created by biodiversity-related conventions, other Rio conventions and related processes. Knowledge management encompasses a range of processes, strategies and practices through which biodiversity knowledge, information and data are generated, produced and collected, organized or curated, stored, shared and used or applied to achieve biodiversity-related objectives and outcomes, such as informed policy development, decision-making, planning and implementation or ongoing organizational learning through the collection and sharing of best practices and lessons learned to inform or improve future activities.

Many Governments and organizations still face challenges in implementing effective processes and initiatives for knowledge management. In many countries, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition, data, information and knowledge on biodiversity that policymakers, practitioners, indigenous peoples and local communities and scientists require are limited. Moreover, much of what is available is fragmented, difficult to find or inaccessible. Knowledge management component seeks to address some of those issues, including barriers to the effective use of existing biodiversity data, information and knowledge, by leveraging existing biodiversity knowledge management initiatives and networks, bridging the gaps that prevent their full usage and enhancing coordination and collaboration among initiatives and networks. It is aimed at enhancing interoperability, accessibility and use of relevant information and knowledge management systems, tools and mechanisms to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It also includes actions to foster coordination, collaboration and complementarity among various initiatives and institutions supporting the generation, capture, management and use of biodiversity-related data, information and knowledge, and to encourage global data providers to support national stakeholders and national statistical systems, which are key to monitoring at the national level.

• In Decision 14/25: Knowledge management under the Convention and its Protocols, the Conference of the Parties endorsed the joint modalities of operation for the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention, the Biosafety Clearing-House and the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House, noting the progress made with the implementation of the web strategy for the Convention and its Protocols and the development of national clearing-house mechanisms, including the roll-out of the Bioland tool to assist Parties in the establishment or improvement of their national clearing house mechanisms; the need to collect, organize and share biodiversity knowledge and experience, including traditional knowledge, to facilitate and support enhanced implementation of the Convention and its Protocols; the need for open access data and open source tools which are a requirement for any effective knowledge management, especially in developing countries; the need to strengthen coherence and integration between the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention, the Biosafety Clearing-House and the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House
• In Decision 15/16: Knowledge management and the clearing-house mechanism, the Conference of the Parties worked on a new work programme for the clearing house mechanism in line with the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework and relevant decisions, mechanisms and strategies, emphasizing the critical importance of easy and timely access to quality data, information and knowledge in supporting the effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Related links

• Global knowledge support service for biodiversity, the initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the European Commission , notably for tracking progress on targets and goals;
• The Data4Nature initiative;
• The global partnership PANORAMA: Solutions for a Healthy Planet, which supports implementation through knowledge generation, management and sharing for effective biodiversity planning, policy development, decision-making, implementation, transparency and responsibility;
• The Bern process supported by the United Nations Environment Programme;
• The Amazon Regional Observatory of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, which includes information and data for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and invites donors and multilateral organizations to provide international cooperation for strengthening these initiatives, as well as other relevant knowledge platforms

GEF knowledge strategy

To confront the challenges of how to organize, manage and harness its complex and dynamic system of knowledge assets and resources, the GEF launched a Knowledge Management InitiativeiIn December 2010, and released the Strategic framework and work plan for GEF-5 (GEF/C.40/Inf.03), focused on data sharing for projects and programs.

For GEF-6, the GEF released, in June 2015, the GEF Knowledge Management Approach Paper (GEF/C.48/07/Rev.01), highlighting project and programme impacts and policy dialogues on options and approaches. The Paper was informed by STAP’s report Knowledge Management in the GEF: STAP Interim Report (GEF/STAP/C.48/Inf.03/Rev.01). A Knowledge Management Advisory Group was established in October 2015 for GEF Partners.

The GEF Evaluation of Knowledge Management (KM) in the GEF 2020 assessed common KM strategy for the partnership, KM integration within programs, knowledge capture, knowledge development, knowledge sharing and dissemination, knowledge application, KM technology, through the GEF Academy, GEF Portal, good practice briefs, knowledge and learning requirements for project concepts and project proposals, knowledge platforms, web-based tools, events, as well as publications and videos, presentations at global environmental forums, use of social media tools (blogs, Twitter).

In May 2023, the GEF published the Global Environment Facility Strategy for Knowledge Management and Learning (GEF/C.64/07), defined the GEF vision as to become an efficient knowledge driven and learning entity for investing in the planet. The goal is to improve and enhance knowledge capture, sharing and learning processes across the GEF Partnership, with three main objectives:

• 1. Embed cutting-edge knowledge into investments.
• 2. Increase knowledge flows through platforms.
• 3. Create and enable the environment for learning and capacity building.

GEF-8 strategic directions

• 1. Alignment of KM&L with GEF-8 delivery: harnessing KM&L for the blue and green recovery; facilitate interoperability of platforms and tools to share and leverage knowledge; launching a knowledge and collaboration platform;
• 2. Strengthening KM&L in programming: continue integrating KM&L in projects and programs; investing in tools for portfolio review and learning; foster South-South exchange for cross scale dialogue and learning;
• 3. Investing in generation of global public goods: identify and invest in priority areas for knowledge capture and sharing;
• 4. Aligning KM&L with communications and outreach: utilize existing ICT infrastructure to minimize overhead expenses and shorten project deployment cycle; raise awareness about KM initiatives through targeted outreach efforts; dully align with communications strategies across the partnership and the GEF’s communications and visibility policy to maximize impact.