NOV 02, V7N- At the COP16 summit on nature in Colombia, nearly 200 countries approved the creation of a permanent consultative body for Indigenous peoples to have a formal voice in U.N. decisions on nature conservation. This body is seen as a significant acknowledgment of the essential role that Indigenous communities play in protecting biodiversity. It allows traditional knowledge and practices to be directly incorporated into global conservation efforts, which can strengthen the implementation of the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—an international agreement aimed at reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
 
Additionally, the summit adopted a measure to recognize the contributions of people of African descent to environmental stewardship. This decision aims to provide African-descendant communities with improved access to funding for their biodiversity initiatives and a greater role in international environmental discourse, which aligns with Colombia's goals as the host nation to promote inclusive conservation strategies.
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