October 22, 2024, Cali, Colombia — At the CBD COP16, the side event ‘Biocultural Diversity and Territories: Protecting Mountain Food Systems and IP & LC Solutions to the Biodiversity and Climate Crisis’ was held by Farmers' Seed Network China, co-hosted by UNEP-IEMP. It highlighted the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity conservation through farmer seed systems. At the event, UNEP-IEMP reinforced its commitment to supporting these initiatives, with Director Linxiu Zhang delivering a speech that underscored the need for global action.

In her remarks, Director Zhang emphasized the deep connection between UNEP-IEMP and the Farmers' Seed Network, acknowledging the strong support for the topic among event participants. She highlighted the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and food insecurity, stressing that these challenges must be addressed holistically. She also pointed to the abundance of evidence supporting the success of biodiversity-rich landscapes managed by local communities. These areas, led by IPLCs, offer concrete solutions through cultural heritage and community-based systems that promote sustainable livelihoods.

In a powerful call to action, Director Zhang advocated for stronger representation of IPLCs in global frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. She stressed the need to bring these local voices into mainstream policy discussions, and emphasized the importance of strengthening networks and fostering multi-level cooperation between UN agencies, research institutions, NGOs, and local communities to scale up successful initiatives.

Reflecting on UNEP-IEMP’s role in South-South cooperation, Director Zhang reaffirmed the organization's commitment to promoting integrated approaches that link biodiversity, climate, and food security, and, as the event concluded, encouraged participants to share the stories of success showcased at COP16 with a wider audience, to inspire further action for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development globally.