CGIAR System Organization - Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers

11/12/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/12/2024 20:41

Biodiversity, Gender, and Ethnicity Panel: A space for interethnic dialogue and conservation!

Spanish version also available.

On October 23, the gender team of the Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT, Natura Foundation, and the Directorate of Rural Women of the Ministry of Agriculture held the panel Biodiversity, Gender, and Ethnicity, in the framework of the COP16, CGIAR pavilion, a space for interdisciplinary and interethnic dialogue designed to discuss the challenges and opportunities in biodiversity conservation with a gender and ethnicity perspective.

The purpose of the event was to open a conversation to discuss the challenges and opportunities around biodiversity, gender, and ethnicity, and to identify concrete actions to incorporate intersectionality into the biodiversity conservation agenda.

Photo credit: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

Featured Panelists

The panel featured outstanding leaders from different communities and sectors, who shared their stories and experiences, challenging stereotypes and promoting change:

  • Ana Delia Fernandez (Wayú): Representative of the Wayú community.
  • Nataly Domicó (Embera Eyabida): Representative of the Embera Eyabida community.
  • Lebia Esther Arciniegas: Representative of the fishing communities.
  • Sandra Galán: Technical assistant director of Fundación Natura.
  • Fanny Howland: Researcher committed to conservation.

Key Issues Addressed

  • Fair and Inclusive Policies Panelists discussed the importance of recognizing that biodiversity includes everyone, and how this requires fair and respectful policies towards all forms of life.
  • Women's Voices and Communities In territories where women continue to be silenced, the weavers' network represents a collective space to tell stories, define the concept of biodiversity, and integrate territorial realities and alliances of mutual respect.
  • Structural Challenges and Barriers Internal and external obstacles limiting progress in conservation were addressed, including challenges within communities themselves, as well as structural barriers arising from armed conflict and structural violence.

The panel emphasized the need for academia to open its doors to ancestral, urban, and rural knowledge, promoting a real exchange that allows for the construction of participatory and equitable policies.

To achieve real change, ancestral knowledge must be integrated into public policies. A clear route for the protection of biodiversity was proposed, including effective representations and an adequate allocation of resources to allow progress towards the inclusion of women, youth, and differential communities.

The event concluded with a call to action to promote a culture of participation from childhood, valuing knowledge, and respecting fundamental rights. It is vital to have action plans that translate into binding policies, especially in areas such as artisanal fishing and territorial conservation.

Photo credit: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

To delve deeper into the discussions and insights shared on gender-related initiatives at COP16, you can view the full recording of the event.

Authors:

Angélica Urbano, PlaSA Colombia Communications, Bioversity Alliance - CIAT, Colombia

Daniela Salas, Communications NPS initiative, Bioversity Alliance - CIAT, Colombia

Photo credit: Alliance Bioversity and CIAT

This work is part of the CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS). CGIAR launched NPS with national and international partners to build policy coherence, respond to policy demands and crises, and integrate policy tools at national and subnational levels in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CGIAR centers participating in NPS are The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Potato Center (CIP), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and WorldFish. We would like to thank all funders who supported this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.