10/25/2024

Successful IKI networking event at CBD COP 16

A large, multi-story wooden building with a hexagonal shape is brightly lit at night, its structure reflected in a pond in the foreground. The surrounding area includes trees illuminated in blue and white lights, while a few people can be seen walking near the building. The sky is clear and dark, creating a peaceful atmosphere. — The Botanical Garden of Cali, Colombia.

The IKI Networking Event at CBD COP16 in Cali explored “Inclusive and equitable approaches to biodiversity conservation”, bringing together 75 participants to discuss practical methods for engaging central stakeholders, particularly indigenous peoples and local communities in conservation efforts.

Under the theme “Inclusive and equitable approaches to biodiversity conservation” the IKI Networking Event at the CBD COP 16 brought together 75 participants at the beautiful Botanical Garden of Cali, Colombia, including representatives from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) projects, the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), and other stakeholders on the 23 October 2024.

The aim was to explore practical methods and best practices to ensure the engagement of stakeholders, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities. This theme was reflected throughout the evening's discussions and activities, which were designed to foster collaboration and exchange. The inspiring and lively atmosphere, with active participation, highlighted the need of inclusive approaches to biodiversity conservation.

The evening provided a dynamic platform for networking and exchanging ideas on biodiversity conservation and the challenges of implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) goals.

Soft launch of the IKI Thematic Call 2024

A woman stands at a podium under a wooden pavilion. To the right, a screen displays a presentation titled "Thematic Call 2024." A banner promoting biological diversity is placed next to her. — Elke Steinmetz, Head of Division for International Cooperation on Biodiversity at the Federal Environment Ministry, announces the IKI Thematic Call 2024.

In her opening remarks, Elke Steinmetz, Head of Division for International Cooperation on Biodiversity at the Federal Environment Ministry, highlighted the importance of the event in advancing IKI’s objectives, looked back on central messages gained from the previous networking event at CBD COP 15 and soft-launched the IKI Thematic Call for 2024, which was met with great interest.

Speed networking and expert input

A group of people sits on wooden chairs in a large covered outdoor area, watching a presentation projected on a screen. — An expert input by Joji Carino from the IKI project "Transformative pathways" introduced the topic of the fishbowl discussion.

The evening’s activities included a speed networking session, where participants paired up for short, quick exchanges to make new connections and share experiences. Joji Carino from the IKI project "Transformative pathways" then gave an expert presentation on Evidence of Transformative Pathways towards KMGBF Implementation.

She highlighted the importance of partnerships between CBD parties and Indigenous Peoples to achieve the 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature” and provided an inspiring foundation to kick off discussions in the fishbowl activity that followed.

Fishbowl discussion: sharing knowledge and best practices

A group of about 20 people are seated in a circle under a roofed outdoor area, surrounded by lush greenery. The attendees are engaged in a discussion, with one man, wearing traditional clothing and a feathered headdress, speaking into a microphone. Banners in the background suggest an event focused on environmental or indigenous topics. The atmosphere is informal and collaborative. — The fishbowl discussion focused on practical approaches to ensure the inclusion and equitable participation of all stakeholders in biodiversity conservation.

A highlight of the evening was the fishbowl discussion. The discussion focused on practical approaches to ensure the inclusion and equitable participation of all stakeholders in biodiversity conservation.

In a very attentive atmosphere, there was an active discussion, including participation from various project representatives and from representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs).

A fundamental question raised was "who integrates whom?". Rather than discussing how to involve IPLCs, participants emphasised that IPLCs themselves should decide who should be involved in their processes.

Another prominent point was the monitoring of biodiversity in areas managed by IPLCs, highlighting the importance of self-organised monitoring. This approach not only supports internal organisation around resource use, but also supports communication at the policy level, promoting recognition and increased involvement of IPLCs in national processes. An additional call was made for the recognition of traditional knowledge within the scientific discourse. Many more observations, stories and insights were shared.

A diverse group of people sits in a semi-circle in an open-air room, engaged in a discussion led by a man in the center. The space has a rustic design with wooden beams and a mix of posters and displays on the walls, possibly related to environmental topics. — The panellists regularly took turns in the fishbowl format.

Claudia Ramírez, an experienced local moderator and interpreter from TRUST, hosted the event and led the fishbowl discussion. Graphic artist Laura Peralta (Tropinkal) visually captured the discussions and key takeaways in a large, evolving artwork on the wall, creatively incorporating the themes and ideas shared and creating a powerful visual summary of the event's discussions and outcomes.

Networking and closing

The evening concluded with a delicious dinner and a fun “Network Bingo” activity to encourage further interaction between participants. The event successfully fostered new connections and facilitated a rich exchange of experiences, paving the way for future collaboration between IKI projects and their partners. A particular highlight was also the participation of IKI Small Grant Project implementers in the event. Elke Steinmetz closed the evening with sharing her hopes of establishing the IKI networking event as a new tradition alongside the CBD COP and thanked all participants for joining.

The IKI team would like to thank everyone for their contribution to the success of the event and in particular the fantastic staff at the Botanical Garden Cali.