Decision COP 16/6

The Conference of the Parties,

Appreciating the efforts of Colombia in hosting the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Cali, Colombia, and highlighting the contributions of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles,

Noting the submission from Brazil and Colombia contained in information document CBD/COP/16/INF/35,

Recalling decision 15/4 of 19 December 2022, by which the Conference of the Parties adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including its section C, and considering the whole-of-society approach,

Recognizing the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in the implementation of the Convention, 

Recognizing also the crucial role that efforts and actions by people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles, play in conserving biodiversity and in the implementation of the Convention in some countries, with positive contributions at the global level, as well as in the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, as appropriate,

1. Invites Parties, as appropriate, in line with national legislation or circumstances, to recognize the contributions of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles, their shared knowledge and connection with their lands in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while ensuring that nothing in such recognition may be construed as diminishing or extinguishing the rights that indigenous peoples currently have or may acquire in future;

2. Encourages Parties, as appropriate, in line with national legislation and circumstances, to facilitate the full and effective participation of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles, in implementing the Convention and the Framework, and to collaborate with them to protect and promote their shared knowledge, innovations and practices that support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity;

3. Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, on a voluntary basis, to consider providing financial support and enhancing capacity-building to protect the shared knowledge, innovations and practices of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles;

4. Encourages Parties, as appropriate, and subject to national legislation and circumstances, to communicate through their national reports on the contributions of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles, to the implementation of the Convention and the Framework for the information of the subsidiary bodies, as appropriate, and requests the Executive Secretary to compile the information submitted and make it available through the clearing-house mechanism.