COP16, the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference, will be held in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1, 2024.

COP16 is a pivotal event where global leaders, environmental organizations, and civil society will meet to further develop and implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This framework, established at COP15, focuses on protecting biodiversity, reversing habitat loss, and addressing the climate crisis.

At COP16, discussions will revolve around creating actionable plans to meet global biodiversity targets, including restoring ecosystems and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources.

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), will be advocating for the integration of restoration efforts into these global strategies, helping to guide both policy and practical solutions for ecological recovery.

The conference will also highlight the role of Indigenous communities and local knowledge in biodiversity conservation, ensuring that financial resources are equitably distributed to support restoration projects in biodiverse yet vulnerable regions like Colombia.

On Restoration Day 2 (30th October), Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) CEO, Bethanie Walder will take active participation in COP16 along with International Policy Head, George D. Gann, CERP.

The session will showcase the value of restoring diverse types of ecosystems, such as forest, grasslands, rangelands, savannas, inland water, peatlands, marine and productive ecosystems. It will also look at how to monitor restoration across ecosystems, including with the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring, along with the launch of the Target 2 Resource Guide, aimed at supporting countries in the translation of restoration plans into tangible action.

Find out more here.