This side event will examine the importance of land- and seascape-based interventions to protect, restore and effectively manage wildlife populations and their habitats as a means for addressing the biodiversity and climate crises simultaneously, in ways that deliver multiple co-benefits for nature and the climate, vulnerable communities and national economies.

In this event, groundbreaking scientists will present the most recent evidence on the contribution that wild animal populations make to climate mitigation through their role in carbon cycling and sequestration, and will explore how this potential can be maximised to help countries deliver on the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (T2, T3, T4, T8, T11) and the goals of the Paris Agreement.

It will also explore the value of wildlife conservation and rewilding initiatives for supporting the climate resilience and adaptation of threatened species, vulnerable ecosystems, local communities and national economies, through channels such as building ecosystem connectivity, creating climate resilient landscapes, building climate resilient livelihoods and local economies, and contributing to low-carbon, climate resilient green growth.

The event will also show how countries can leverage wildlife conservation and rewilding to address climate change and biodiversity loss holistically by integrating wildlife into their NDCs in ways that align with their NBSAPs. IFAW will present a set of guidelines to enable countries to do this by 2025.

By examining a variety of practical examples and visionary models, the event will also consider innovative approaches to delivering locally led, wildlife centred, landscape based approaches that deliver positive benefits for nature, climate and people.