Wildlife Works is excited to be attending Biodiversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia. As a leading REDD+ developer, our mission has always been to develop market-based mechanisms that make wildlife conservation work for local forest communities. Below, find a list of events we will be attending and participating in, as well as a list of our team members who will be present in Cali. If you’d like to schedule any meetings, please contact us.
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Blue Zone Events:
(Only those accredited may access this space)
Immersion in Community Biodiversity Monitoring (Main Panel Discussion)
Date: 29 October
Time: 1 to 2PM (GMT-5)
Venue: Nature Positive Pavilion at CBD COP16 BLUE ZONE / Small Room 30 people
Synopsis: In this event, indigenous biodiversity researcher Einer Valencia and community leaders Glenis Garrido and Ana Leonisa Tovar will share insights from the Wildlife Works Colombian REDD+ projects led by ASATIQ, Bajo Atrato, and Atrato Baudo communities. Alongside representatives from the Cataruben Foundation, they'll discuss how combining ancestral wisdom with modern conservation techniques has enhanced biodiversity monitoring in their territories. The conversation, exploring the vital role of indigenous and afro-descendant perspectives in conservation, will be moderated by Wildlife Works Colombia Country Director Enrique Díaz and the CEO and Founder of the Cataruben Foundation, María Fernanda.
Stewards of Biodiversity to be Recognized and Rewarded (Main Panel Discussion)
Date: 31 October
Time: 12 noon to 1PM (GMT-5)
Venue: Nature Positive Pavilion at CBD COP16 BLUE ZONE / Big Room 80 people
Synopsis: Biodiversity Stewardship Units introduce a new methodology, co-created by the Yawanawá people, to reward their contributions and those of other Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to delivering measurable biodiversity outcomes. Join this interactive session hosted by Yawanawá leaders who will share their experience in co-creating a new, market-based mechanism to reward their contribution to the conservation of biodiversity in their home territory (over 180,000 hectares). Their securing of intellectual property rights to the methodology, the activities carried out to date and what is still to come will be presented. Their co-creators will be on hand to answer questions on technical aspects, from eligibility to data collection, unit calculation, external review, market strategy and more. Constructive dialogue around the challenges and opportunities presented by this innovative new approach will be welcomed.
The speakers of this event are:
Tashka Yawanawa, – Sociocultural Association leader – Yawanawa
Laura Yawanawa – Sociocultural Association leader – Yawanawa
Mike Korchinsky, Founder and CEO – Wildlife Works
Dr. Mwangi Githiru, Chief Conservation Officer – Wildlife Works
Green Zone Events:
Nature guardians at work today – Innovative co-creation using ancestral knowledge, traditional practices and new technologies for nature conservation
Date: 29 October
Time: 10:00 AM Bogotá
Venue: La Maloca, Green Zone, COP16 CBD in Cali
Synopsis: This panel will showcase existing initiatives where ancestral knowledge and traditional practices are successfully combined with new technologies and accounting approaches required by financiers and buyers. Panellists will discuss which safeguards are critical to protect ancestral and traditional knowledge systems, and how these must be built into finance mechanisms to help scale indigenous-led solutions.
List of Wildlife Works team members at COP16:
Mike Korchinsky, Founder and President
Lider Sucre, Regional VP for Latin America
Monique Vanni, Country Director Brazil
Enrique Díaz, Country Director for Colombia
Mwangi Githiru, Chief Conservation Office
Marilia Oliveira, Climate Policy and Indigenous Affairs Specialist
Camila Solano, Coordinator of Conservation and Biodiversity Impact Assessment
Ana Gomez, Biodiversity Professional
Amérika Guerrero, Latin America Communications Specialist
Liliana Ayala, Climate Policy Specialist
If you’d like to schedule any meetings, please contact us.
Past Events:
Indigenous Economy and Territorial Governance: Protecting Life and Biodiversity (Side Event)
Hosts: This is a CONAP (Confederation of Amazonian nationalities of Peru) event, where Wildlife Works Colombia is a guest
Date: 28 October
Time: 18:15PM to 19:45PM
Venue: Peruvian Pavilion BLUE ZONE
Synopsis:The objective of the side event is to highlight how indigenous economies and territorial governance strengthen the protection of biodiversity and life in Amazonian territories. It will seek to demonstrate how sustainable development models based on traditional knowledge and territorial legal security prevent deforestation, promote ecosystem conservation and mitigate climate change. It will also explore community monitoring and surveillance strategies that strengthen governance and international cooperation and ensure the fundamental role of indigenous communities in global conservation. The side event will feature a variety of panelists, including indigenous leaders, the Peruvian government, and conservation organizations, each sharing their knowledge and experience on cases where funding has been key to protecting nature, improving the lives of communities, and preserving territory and culture.
Wildlife Works Participation: Enrique Díaz, Wildlife Works Country Director for Colombia, will talk about Wildlife Works' experience of working in partnership with indigenous communities, and will share some of the lessons learned.
Direct financing for nature at play – How communities attract emerging financial flows for nature, navigate the risks and safeguard their rights
Hosts: Peoples Forests Partnership and Organizacion Nacional de los Pueblos Indigenas de la Amazon Colombiana (OPIAC)
Date: 28 October
Time: 11:00 AM Bogotá
Venue: La Maloca, Green Zone, COP16 CBD in Cali
Synopsis: This event will feature examples from carbon and biodiversity markets for nature where communities are attracting funding. Panelists will explore lessons learnt from carbon markets to fund self-determined life plans and nature goals, and share reflections on biodiversity markets, discussing how to navigate the risks and assure safeguards.
