Latin America and the Caribbean at COP 16 - Colombia

CAF will bring the voice of Latin America and the Caribbean to COP16 in Cali, highlighting its key role in protecting global biodiversity. In the Blue Zone, we will participate in talks and debates alongside experts and leaders from the region, which can be followed online. Simultaneously, in the Green Zone, we will offer free activities open to the public focused on biodiversity. Get ready and join us

CAF Pavilion Inauguration: Latin America and the Caribbean – Biodiversity Brings Us Together

This event will mark the inauguration of the CAF Pavilion at COP16, a space designed to promote collaboration and the exchange of experiences on the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a focus on ecosystem protection and the role of communities, CAF aims to highlight the region’s solutions to address the global biodiversity crisis. During the event, the Women Piangüeras Meeting and the Chocó-Bogotá Declaration will take place.

Participants:

  • Sergio Diaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality of Brazil
  • Francia Márquez, Vice President of Colombia
  • Nelly Valencia, Soprano from the Pacific
  • Ahysen Arboleda, Coordinator of the First International Meeting of Women Piangüeras
  • Dina Greysi Pandales Martínez, Piangüeras Representative from Colombia
  • Lucy Morales, Piangüeras Representative from Ecuador
  • Andrea Musuy, Piangüeras Representative from Mexico
  • Marilyn Jiménez, Piangüeras Representative from Costa Rica
  • Rosa María Córdova, Piangüeras Representative from Peru
  • Erick Castro, Principal Executive of CAF’s Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity Management (Moderator)
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Amir Lebdioui, Director of the Oxford Technology & Management Centre for Development (Moderator)
  • Hernando García Martínez, General Director, Alexander Von Humboldt Institute
  • Sandra Vilardy, PhD in Ecology and Environment, University of Los Andes
  • Diego Inclán, Executive Director, National Institute of Biodiversity - INABIO, Ecuador

CAF Talk: A New Bioeconomy

This event will feature a keynote lecture by Carlos Nobre, a renowned researcher, on the economic potential of forests and the bioeconomy. During his presentation, he will explore the opportunities offered by the Amazon forests to promote sustainable development and generate benefits for local communities and biodiversity.

Speaker:

  • Carlos Nobre, Senior Researcher, Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo, Brazil

Biodiversity and Productive Development: Review of the Economic Landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean

This event will present the findings of the University of Oxford report on the role of biodiversity as a driver of productive development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document discusses how sectors such as agriculture, fishing, ecotourism, and biotechnology can leverage biodiversity to foster innovation and sustainable growth in the region.

Speakers:

  • Amir Lebdioui, Director of the Technology and Industrialization for Development (TIDE) Center, University of Oxford
  • Deuza Santos, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Management Coordinator, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA)
  • Anna Stewart Ibarra, Executive Director, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)
  • Sarah Wyatt, Senior Biodiversity Specialist, The Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
  • Donovan Campbell, Professor of Environmental Geography, University of the West Indies, Jamaica

Launch of the Strategic Ecosystems Approach in Latin America and the Caribbean

This event will present CAF’s strategic ecosystems approach for Latin America and the Caribbean, aimed at addressing biodiversity loss by integrating solutions at regional and transnational levels. The session will include the presentation of a portfolio of projects focused on the conservation and restoration of key ecosystems, and the necessary economic investment to implement these initiatives will be discussed.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President, CAF – development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF – development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Brigitte Baptiste, Rector at Universidad EAN, Colombia
  • Miguel Segur, Manager of Sustainability and Natural Capital, NTT DATA

Impacts and Challenges of Illegal Mining on the Sustainability of Strategic Ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean - CAF/OAS

This event, organized by CAF and the OAS, will address the impacts of illegal mining on biodiversity and strategic ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean. Solutions and experiences to mitigate these damages will be presented, with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable management of natural resources.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Gastón Schulmeister, Director of the Department against Transnational Organized Crime, OAS
  • Domingo Peas, Territorial Coordinator, Sacred Headwaters Initiative, Ecuador
  • Ana Milena Vásquez, President of Women in Mining Organization, Colombia
  • Jairo García Guerrero, Secretary of Security and Justice of Cali
  • Gustavo Guerrero, Deputy Prosecutor for Environmental, Mining, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs, Office of the Attorney General of Colombia
  • Tina Oliveira, Representative of the Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Socio-environmental Information - RAISG

Innovative Financial Instruments for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Patagonian Ecosystem

This event will bring together experts in the conservation and sustainable use of Patagonia to discuss innovative financing strategies aimed at restoring and protecting this strategic ecosystem, both on land and at sea. The discussion will highlight the opportunities these instruments offer to enhance biodiversity and promote sustainable development for local communities in Argentina and Chile.

Speakers:

  • Cristian Laborda, Executive Director of Fundación Patagonia Azul
  • Corina Lehmann, Director of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, Argentina
  • Eugenio Rengifo, Executive Director of Fondo Naturaleza Chile
  • Eduardo Sorensen, Underwater Photographer Specialist
  • Pablo Badenier, Former Minister of Environment of Chile
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Director of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF

Strategic Ecosystems: Páramos and High Mountain Ecosystems in Latin America

This event highlights the importance of conserving and restoring high mountain ecosystems, with a special focus on páramos and native species such as the frailejón. During the meeting, experts will share strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and deforestation in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru, and key projects will be presented to ensure the environmental resilience of the Andean region.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Mauricio Diazgranados, Chief Science Officer and Dean of the International Plant Science Center, New York Botanical Garden
  • Alfred Ballesteros, Director of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca (CAR)
  • Marcela Fernández, Founder of Cumbres Blancas Colombia
  • Yober Arias, Director of Cumbres Blancas Colombia
  • Fabio Arjona, Executive Director of Conservation International
  • Andrea Yáñez Ariza, Manager of the Bogotá Water Fund
  • Gonzalo Sánchez Castañeda, Legal Representative of the La Casita Feliz Civil Society Nature Reserve, Colombia

Belén Declaration, Biodiversity and Climate in the Amazon: Reflections for Effective Regional Cooperation to Prevent Biome Collapse

This panel will bring together key regional figures to reflect on Amazonian regional cooperation in the face of the environmental emergency. Challenges and necessary solutions to halt the degradation of the Amazon will be discussed, respecting the sovereignty of the Amazonian countries, and contributions will be prepared for the 5th Summit of OTCA Presidents in 2025.

Speakers:

  • Martin Von Hildebrand, Founder of Gaia Foundation
  • Vanessa Grazziotin, Executive Director of OTCA
  • Carlos Nobre, Co-chair of the Science Panel for the Amazon
  • Gregorio Mirabal, Representative of COICA
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Tatiana Schor, Director of the Amazon Initiative at the IDB
  • Iremar Antonio Ferreira, Pan-Amazonian Social Forum - FOSPA
  • Angélica García, Coordinator of the Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Socio-environmental Information - RAISG
  • Juan Carlos Losada, Representative of the Chamber of Bogotá of the Republic of Colombia and member of the Amazonian Parliament - Parlamaz

Biodiversity-Based Innovation: Presentation of the InNatureLab Project

 

This event will present the CAF-Latimpacto-Trafigura Innovation Project, which aims to promote innovative biodiversity-based solutions for sustainable socio-economic development in the Amazon and its connected biomes. Biomimicry will be one of the key strategies explored to address environmental and social challenges, reconciling biodiversity conservation with productive development.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • María Moreno, Coordinator of Innovation and Strategic Alliances in Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Rolando Andrade, Consultant for Innovation and Strategic Alliances in Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Juan David Ferreira, Program Director at Latimpacto
  • Darío Soto, Executive Director of Trafigura Foundation
  • Mabel Torres, Former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Colombia

UNEP - Integrated Regional Environmental Information System. First Regional Report on the State of the Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional SDG Data and Environmental Indicators.

This event will present the first regional report on the state of the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on regional SDG data and environmental indicators. The gaps and challenges in environmental management will be discussed, exploring collaborative strategies for ecosystem conservation and restoration in the region.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Juan Bello, Regional Director of the Integrated Environmental Information System - UNEP
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Director of the Technical Advisory Department on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Cecilia Guerra, Principal Executive of the Technical Advisory Department on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Andrew Plumptre, Head of the Secretariat of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA)
  • Richard Kiy, CEO of the Institute of the Americas
  • Ane Alencar, Director of the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM/MAPBIOMAS)
  • Ángela Andrade, Chair of the Commission on Ecosystem Management, IUCN

Leaders for Biodiversity

This event aims to spotlight the leaders who promote biodiversity conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The work of 10 change agents driving community initiatives and promoting sustainable practices will be recognized, inspiring more people to contribute to environmental development and the protection of ecosystems in the region.

Speakers:

  • Andrés Zamora, Director of Strategic Communication, CAF
  • Wade Davis, Anthropologist and Photographer
  • Lorena Arroyo, Director of América Futura at El País
  • Paolo Realpe, Founder of the collective 'Muisne desde Adentro' in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador
  • Karen Brewer, Content Creator and Educator at @KarenExplora

  

MIT | Equitable Markets: Lessons on the Participation of Ethnic Communities in the Carbon Market in Colombia and its Implications for Biodiversity Credits

This event will analyze the strategic role of ethnic communities in biodiversity conservation in Colombia, within the context of carbon markets and their impact on biodiversity credits. Lessons and recommendations will be shared to ensure fair participation of communities in these markets, promoting community governance as a key tool for environmental conservation.

Speakers:

  • Marcela Ángel, Director of the Natural Climate Solutions Program, MIT ESI
  • Jimena Muzio, Research Assistant, MIT ESI
  • Martín Pérez, WWF US
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, CAF
  • Natalia Arango Vélez, Fondo Acción
  • Mauricio Rodríguez, Asocarbono
  • Angélica Mayolo, MIT ESI

Documentary Screening: 'The Elder Brothers: The Arhuaco People, Their Connection to the Land, and the Role of Women in Preserving Their Culture'.

This emotional 20-minute documentary takes us to the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, home to the Arhuacos, who consider this sacred place the center of the world. Through the ancestral wisdom of the mamos and the vital work of Arhuaco women, it explores how this community strives to maintain equilibrium between the earth, the sky, and humanity. Filmed in the historic villages of Nabusimake and Katansama, the short film is a tribute to their culture and their commitment to passing on their teachings to future generations.

ECUADOR | Interinstitutional Partnerships and Goal Prioritization in Ecuador's National Biodiversity Strategy

This event will highlight Ecuador's rich biodiversity and its alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It will explore how strategic partnerships and participatory work between local and international actors are key to updating the National Biodiversity Strategy, focusing on the country’s strategic ecosystems.

Speakers:

  • Georgina de Moya, Technical Specialist, UNDP
  • Dr. Kirsten Probst, Senior Planning Officer, GIZ
  • Lina Valencia, Andean Countries Coordinator, REWILD
  • Luis Suárez, Executive Director, Conservation International (CI) Ecuador
  • Esteban Falconí, Project Manager, WWF Ecuador

VENEZUELA | A Look at the Challenges in Technical Cooperation among the SNAPs of Latin America and the Caribbean. Regional Coordination of RedParques Venezuela

This event will discuss the importance of RedParques and the progress of the 2024 Work Plan of the Regional Coordination, focusing on the challenges towards meeting the targets of the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework. The National Park System of Venezuela will be highlighted as a model of integration between biodiversity and communities.

Speakers:

  • Miguel Serrano, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Cooperation, MINEC
  • Hilda Ángel, General Manager of National Parks and Natural Monuments at INPARQUES and Regional Coordinator of RedParques
  • Lisbeth Fernández, Technical Focal Point of RedParques

25 Years of the Amazon without Fire Program in the Amazon Region: A Successful Experience of Regional Cooperation

This event will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Amazon without Fire Program (PASF), an international cooperation initiative that has promoted the prevention of forest fires in the Amazon region. The event will highlight best practices in regional cooperation and the results achieved in Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador in integrated fire management, emphasizing the importance of prevention for biodiversity conservation. 25 years of the Amazon without Fire program in the Amazon region: a successful experience in regional cooperation. This event will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Amazon without Fire Program (PASF), an international cooperation initiative that has promoted the prevention of forest fires in the Amazon region. The event will highlight best practices in regional cooperation and the results achieved in Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador in integrated fire management, emphasizing the importance of prevention for biodiversity conservation.

Nature Tourism: An Opportunity for the Conservation of Protected Areas

This event will discuss the opportunities and challenges of nature tourism as a tool for the conservation of protected areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. The dialogue will focus on how ecotourism can generate sustainable income, promote environmental education, and improve local infrastructure, contributing to biodiversity protection.

Speakers:

  • Oscar Rueda García, Director of Sustainable Tourism at CAF
  • Glenda Ortega, Deputy Secretary of Natural Heritage, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador
  • Guiselle Méndez, National Coordinator of the Sustainable Tourism Program of the National System of Conservation Areas of Costa Rica
  • Jesús Mardomingo, Managing Partner of the Banking and Financial Department at Dentons in Spain
  • Luisz Olmedo Martínez, Director of National Natural Parks of Colombia

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Tourism: Presentation of the CAF RE-SET Program, Biodiversity Restoration through Ecosystem Services Linked to Tourism

This event will present CAF's Re-SET program, focused on biodiversity restoration through ecosystem services linked to tourism. The program aims to fund initiatives that integrate ecotourism as an income generator and promoter of biodiversity conservation. Regional and global case studies on projects using ecotourism for ecosystem regeneration will be presented during the event.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Marcello Gandolfi, International Expert in Sustainable Tourism
  • Mauricio Velásquez, Principal Executive of the Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity Management at CAF

ECUADOR | Sustainability in Action: Biotrade Ecosystem in Ecuador

This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador, will present the biotrade model as a strategy for the sustainable use of biodiversity. Innovative public policies and financing mechanisms that promote the conservation of Ecuador's strategic ecosystems, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, will be highlighted.

Speakers:

  • Glenda Ortega, Deputy Secretary of Natural Heritage, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador
  • Mauricio Velázquez, Senior Environment Executive, CAF
  • María Fernanda Sánchez, Coordinator of the Sacha Project, Fundación Pachamama Ecuador

Strategic Ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean: Prioritizing Projects for the People

This event will showcase CAF's efforts to combat biodiversity loss in 14 strategic ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean. An interactive tool will be introduced, allowing users to visually explore the ecosystems and the identified projects, with the goal of promoting biodiversity conservation and restoration, aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer at Conservation International
  • Miguel Segur, Sustainability and Natural Capital Manager at NTT DATA

Dialogue 'LAC and its Forest Monitoring Systems: An Approach as a Tool for a Zero-Deforestation-Committed Agricultural Production'

This dialogue will bring together experts to discuss the role of forest monitoring in the transition towards sustainable and deforestation-free agricultural production, especially within the framework of new regulations such as the European Green Deal (EUDR). Monitoring cases from countries in the region will be presented to strengthen geolocation and traceability capabilities, aligned with biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture goals.

Speakers:

  • Javier Ortiz, Representative of the European Forest Institute
  • Ximena Herrera, Coordinator of the National Forest Monitoring System, Ministry of Environment of Ecuador
  • Cecilia Macera, General Director of Information and Forest and Wildlife Management at SERFOR
  • Eugenia Balanta, General Manager of CAFEXCOOP
  • Lina Caballero, Deputy Director of Ecosystems at IDEAM
  • Juan Esteban Orduz, Former President, National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia

PARAGUAY | Paraguay in Action: Progress and Experiences in the Protection of National Biodiversity

This event will present Paraguay’s progress in implementing actions to protect its biodiversity and developing its national biodiversity strategy. Experiences in habitat restoration, conservation of key biodiversity areas, and the alignment of national goals with the commitments of the Global Biodiversity Framework will be shared.

Speakers:

  • Darío Mandelburger, General Director of Biodiversity Protection and Conservation, MADES
  • Lilian Portillo, Director of Strategic Planning, MADES
  • Catherine Alonso, Director of Environmental Services, MADES
  • Oscar Rodas, Director of Climate Change and Policies, WWF-Paraguay
  • Federico Montedomeq, Sustainability Manager, Silvipar
  • Maria José Mendoza, Director of Environmental Information, MADES and Focal Point for Equality and Indigenous Affairs

This dialogue will bring together leaders from different generations to discuss the opportunities available for youth in biodiversity protection. Through panels, topics such as the implementation of the Escazú Agreement, the role of youth in environmental entrepreneurship, and the connection between climate and biodiversity will be addressed. The event aims to foster youth participation in the environmental agenda leading up to COP30.

This dialogue will bring together leaders from different generations to discuss the opportunities available for youth in biodiversity protection. Through panels, topics such as the implementation of the Escazú Agreement, the role of youth in environmental entrepreneurship, and the connection between climate and biodiversity will be addressed. The event aims to foster youth participation in the environmental agenda leading up to COP30.

Building Trust in Biodiversity Credits: Metrics, Measurements, and Comparability

This event, organized by the Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA), will address the importance of metrics and measurements in biodiversity credits. The comparability framework proposed by BCA will be presented, aiming to establish clear parameters for comparing biodiversity credits in terms of quality, equity, and integrity. The event will promote market transparency and provide clear guidance for participants interested in biodiversity credits.

Speakers:

  • PJ Stephenson (TBC), Co-lead of the Metrics and Measurement Working Group at BCA, IUCN / University of Lausanne
  • Josh Brann, Technical Coordinator, Biodiversity Credit Alliance

CAF Talk: Actions for the Amazon

Speaker:

Iván Duque, President of Colombia in 2018

COSTA RICA | Costa Rica Towards Achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework Goals: Deforestation Eradication and Forest Cover Increase

This event will showcase Costa Rica's achievements in eradicating deforestation, increasing forest cover, and implementing innovative financial mechanisms like PSA-Biodiversidad Plus to promote biodiversity conservation. The country’s experiences in transitioning towards a low-emission agricultural model and conserving its marine and terrestrial ecosystems, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) Goals, will be shared.

Speakers:

  • Franz Tattenbach Capra, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica
  • Eugenia Arguedas, Costa Rica Focal Point for the CBD, MINAE

Song to Life: The Influence of Carlos Vives on Environmental Awareness

The event will explore the relationship between music and biodiversity, analyzing how Carlos Vives' work has been influenced by nature. Through a conversation with Colombian scientist and former Deputy Minister of Environment, Sandra Vilardy, the discussion will focus on how biodiversity has inspired Vives' lyrics and sounds, as well as his initiative 'Tras La Perla' in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, which aims for the well-being of local communities and cultural preservation based on biodiversity.

Speakers:

  • Carlos Vives, Colombian singer and songwriter
  • Sandra Vilardy, Professor at Universidad de Los Andes and former Deputy Minister of Environment of Colombia

 
Dialogue Ahead of the VIII Global Summit of Cities and Subnational Governments COP

8th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities

Free Day

 
Presentation of the Tropical Pacific Fund

Oceans Day at COP16, Inaugural Session

The event will begin with a series of opening speeches and a video highlighting the importance of oceans in the fight against climate change and biodiversity conservation. The role of marine protected areas in preserving marine ecosystems will be emphasized, with a focus on the actions needed to achieve conservation goals.

Speakers:

  • Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Oceans
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Sandra Bessudo, Director of the Malpelo Foundation and Other Marine Ecosystems

Linking Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) with the Global Biodiversity Framework

This session explores how Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) can align with the Global Biodiversity Framework, promoting the sustainable management of 100% of oceans. The aim is to highlight best practices and challenges in the development and implementation of SOPs and their role in marine biodiversity conservation and marine spatial planning.

Speakers:

  • Cynthia Barzuna, Director of the Ocean Action 2030 Coalition
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
  • Representatives from Fiji, USA, Norway, Seychelles, Chile, Japan, Canada, and Australia

Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coastal Resilience: Building a Sustainable Future

This session will address the importance of ocean-based solutions to enhance coastal resilience against climate risks, such as sea level rise and ecosystem degradation. The Coastal Risk Index (CRI) and its role in coastal biodiversity protection and climate adaptation will be presented.

Speakers:

  • Carlos Correa,  Minister of Environment of Colombia in 2022
  • Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN
  • Loreley Picourt, Executive Director of Ocean & Climate Platform
  • Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Director of Ocean and Climate Policy at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
  • Chip Cunliffe, Program and Risk Director at ORRAA
  • Jonathan Delance, Advisor to the Vice Ministry of Coastal and Marine Resources, Dominican Republic
  • José Ramón Reyes, Vice Minister of Coastal and Marine Resources, Dominican Republic
  • Erick Castro, Technical Advisor on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF
  • Monique Galvao, Vice President of Rare Brazil

Mobilizing Finance to Bridge the Gap from 8% to 30% Ocean Protection by 2030

This session will focus on the blue financing mechanisms needed to reach the ambitious target of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030. Strategies for unlocking financial resources to enable the expansion and effective management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be discussed.

Speakers:

  • Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica
  • Marie-May Jeremie, CEO, Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust
  • Patricia Leon, Associate Director for Nature Conservation, Bezos Earth Fund
  • Jennifer Corpuz, Global Advocate and Policy Lead, Nia Tero
  • Rita El Zaghloul, Director, Secretariat of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
  • Erick Castro, Principal Executive, CAF, Technical Advisor on Biodiversity and Climate (Blue Economy)
  • Marcela Portocarrero Aya, World Bank

Business Management and Innovation Towards a Regenerative Blue Economy

This session will highlight how companies and financial institutions are leading the transition to a regenerative blue economy by adopting sustainable practices and investing in innovations that align ocean sectors with global biodiversity and climate goals.

Speakers:

  • Alfredo Giron, Ocean Director at the World Economic Forum
  • Thomas Sberna, Regional Head of Coastal and Ocean Resilience, IUCN Africa
  • Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  • Jimena Rodriguez, Group Senior Manager of Oceans & Biodiversity, DP World
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Technical Advisor on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF

Partners for the Pacific Ocean: Technical and Financial Solutions for the Conservation of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR-CAF)

This session will explore the overall actions carried out within the framework of CMAR, discussing technical and financial solutions for the conservation of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor and its contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework goals.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Juan C. Navarro, International Cooperation
  • Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment of Colombia

 
Accelerating Blue Ambitions: Financing the Future from COP16 to UNOC 2025

Speakers:

  • Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
  • Sandra Bessudo, Director of the Malpelo Foundation and Other Marine Ecosystems

 
Oceans Day Reception. Charting a New Course for Ocean Action: Celebrating Contributions to Global Biodiversity and Advancing Partnerships for Sustainability

The event aims to unlock the political leadership needed to accelerate action towards Goal 3 and discuss opportunities to create a viable plan to achieve the 30x30 target in the oceans. National experiences and new opportunities in the high seas will be presented, focusing on partnerships to monitor progress.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Rita Maria El Zaghloul, Director of the Secretariat of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
  • Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Oceans
  • Markus Reymann, Co-Director of TBA21
  • Daniel Ortega, Director of Contributions to Development and Impact Measurement at CAF
  • Cynthia Barzuna, Director of Ocean Action 2030
  • Erick Castro, Principal Executive of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF
  • Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Alfredo Girón, Head of Oceans at the World Economic Forum
  • Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO of GEF

Green Coalition of Public Development Banks for the Amazon Region: Opportunities for Resource Mobilization

This event will bring together leaders from public development banks and strategic partners to discuss opportunities for resource mobilization in the Amazon region. The Green Coalition aims to scale investments in sustainable economic activities that harmonize environmental management with income generation, promoting biodiversity conservation and inclusive economic growth in the Amazon.

Speakers:

  • Estefania Laterza, CAF Representative in Brazil
  • Cristina Blaso Banal, International Institutional Relations Manager at BNDES
  • Mary Alejandra Figueroa Medina, Head of Sustainability at Banco Agrario de Colombia
  • Juan Pablo Bustamante Caballero, Vice President of Strategic Affairs and Sustainability at FINAGRO
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Anderson da Silva Caputo, Division Chief, Connectivity, Markets, and Finance at IDB
  • Svetlana Klimenko, Senior Financial Management Specialist at the World Bank

Recognizing the Value of Strategic Ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities for Biodiversity Credit Development

This event will explore the challenges and opportunities in developing a biodiversity credit market in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lessons learned from carbon credits, the differences between biodiversity credits and offsets, and the key role these instruments can play in the conservation and restoration of the region’s strategic ecosystems will be discussed.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Brigitte Baptiste, Rector of Universidad EAN, Colombia
  • Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer at Conservation International
  • Hernando García Martínez, Director of the Alexander Von Humboldt Institute
  • Manesh Lacoul, Global Coordinator of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance
  • Alessandro Valentini, Leader of Innovative Finance for Nature at the World Economic Forum
  • Jorge Gastelumendi, Director of Adrienne Arsht - Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Director of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF

CAF, the Green Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean: Actions for a Cleaner and More Sustainable Region

The event focuses on disseminating key policy messages to address the climate and biodiversity crisis, as well as advancing a just energy transition. The main actions in resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and innovative financial instruments aimed at promoting sustainable development in the region and positioning CAF as the leading green bank in Latin America and the Caribbean will be presented.

Speaker:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President, CAF
  • José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary, ECLAC
  • Pablo Brassiolo, Socioeconomic Research Directorate, CAF
  • Fernando Álvarez, Socioeconomic Research Directorate, CAF
  • Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, CAF

FUCCAE | Diálogos sobre Biodiversidade: Uma Perspectiva do Sul do Sul

CAF Talk: Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples

Business Sector Contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework

This event will bring together leaders from the business and financial sectors to discuss the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the private sector's contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework. Mechanisms that facilitate business participation in biodiversity conservation will be discussed, highlighting the importance of integrating sustainable strategies in megadiverse countries like Colombia.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Bruce Mac Master, President of the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI)

MIT | Biogeographical Chocó: Delimitation and Transnational Actions for Biodiversity Protection, Climate Action, and Sustainable Development

This event will present the study 'Biogeographical Chocó: Delimitation and Transnational Strategies,' highlighting the importance of this neotropical natural corridor as a biodiversity hotspot in Latin America. The goal is to generate a multi-stakeholder dialogue that promotes cooperation among governments, multilateral banks, academia, the private sector, and local communities to implement innovative solutions in conservation and sustainable development.

Speakers:

  • Pablo Palacios, Professor at Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá
  • Angélica Mayolo, MLK Fellow, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative (MIT ESI)
  • Josefina Klinger, Director of the Mano Cambiada Foundation
  • Raisa Banfield, Director of Panama Sustainable Foundation
  • Zoraida Quesada, Researcher, Pacific Environmental Research Institute (IIAP)
  • Martha Rosero, Conservation International

Positive Incentives for Ibero-America and Exchange of Best Practices. Biodiversity Dialogues

This event, organized by CAF and the Biodiversity Foundation of Spain, will explore how to promote positive incentives for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in Ibero-America. Public-private collaboration experiences will be shared, and discussions will focus on how to mobilize the private sector in the fight against biodiversity loss, in line with the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Sonia Castañeda, Deputy Director of Green Transition at the Biodiversity Foundation
  • Elena Pita, Director of the Biodiversity Foundation, Spain
  • Ma. Jesús Rodríguez de Sáncho, General Director of Biodiversity, Forests, and Desertification at the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge
  • George Jaksch, President of the Biodiversity Partnership Mesoamerica
  • Davi Bomtempo, Superintendent of Environment and Sustainability at the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil
  • Daniel Sánchez y Sánchez, Co-President of the Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity and Business

New Financial Mechanisms for Positive Biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean: Presentation of CAF's Credit Line for Strategic Ecosystems

This event will share progress in the conservation of coastal wetlands in Chile, highlighting the implementation of Law 21.202 and the GEF Coastal Wetlands Project. It will address how protecting these ecosystems enables the restoration of degraded areas, the development of local economies, and the implementation of nature-based solutions for disaster mitigation.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Miguel Solana, Regional & Technical Lead, IRFF at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Alfredo Giron, Head of Ocean Action Agenda at World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • Mario Pardo, CEO of BBVA Colombia
  • Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO & Chairperson of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
  • Inés Manzano, Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador
  • Lydia von Krosigk, Sector Economist Biodiversity at KfW Development Bank

How Can Public Development Banks Align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?

This event will explore how Public Development Banks can contribute to achieving the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Strategies will be discussed to align financial flows with biodiversity goals, increase financial resources allocated to biodiversity, and promote private investments. Representatives from various financial institutions will present their progress and perspectives in this area.

Speakers:

  • Javier Diaz Fajardo, IDFC/Bancoldex
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD
  • Christiane Laibach, KfW
  • Julie Clarke, DBSA
  • Misa Kemmiya, JICA
  • Jessica Smith, UNEP-FI
  • Aaron Vermeulen, WWF

FUCCAE | Dialogues on Biodiversity: A View from the Deep South

 

 

Guardians of Life: Indigenous Women Preserving Biodiversity

This event will bring together indigenous women from Latin America and the Caribbean to highlight their crucial role in protecting biodiversity. Through their ancestral knowledge and sustainable practices, indigenous women are the guardians of the most biodiverse territories on the planet. The gathering aims to make their contributions visible, share experiences, and discuss strategies to strengthen their leadership in biodiversity conservation and the defense of their territories.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Florina López, Kuna People, Co-Coordinator of the Indigenous Women's Network on Biodiversity – Latin America and the Caribbean, Panama
  • Hortencia Hidalgo, Aymara People, Indigenous Women's Network on Biodiversity, Chile
  • Edith Bastidas Calderón, Pastos People, Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia
  • Luisa Castañeda Quintana, Deputy Director of Land is Life, Colombia

Uncovering the Potential of the Americas Flyways Initiative

This event, organized by CAF, BirdLife International, and the Audubon Society, will present the progress of the Americas Flyways Initiative (AFI), which aims to protect and restore key biodiversity sites along migratory routes. The initiative focuses on implementing nature-based solutions and developing bird-friendly infrastructure, enhancing the resilience of these ecosystems by 2050.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Santiago Aparicio, Director of the Americas Flyways Initiative (AFI)
  • Martin Harper, CEO of BirdLife International
  • Chad Wilsey, Chief Scientist of the National Audubon Society
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Maisa Rojas, Minister of Environment of Chile
  • Rodrigo Díaz, Regional Governor of Biobío, Chile

Strengthening the Amazon Regional Observatory (ORA) - Progress and Perspectives - ACTO

This event will present the progress in strengthening the Amazon Regional Observatory through the development of the climate change module and the update of the biodiversity module. The relationships between biodiversity loss, climate change, and their impact on indigenous peoples will be addressed, along with proposals to mitigate these effects and promote resilient initiatives.

Speakers:

  • Edith Paredes, Administrative Director, ACTO
  • Estefania Laterza, Country Director, CAF, Brazil
  • Rathna Kewal, Climate Change Coordinator, ACTO
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Mauro Luis Ruffino, Coordinator of the Amazon Regional Observatory, ACTO
  • Alberto Pizarro, Executive Secretary, FILAC

CHILE | Incorporating Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Landscape Management in Coastal Wetlands in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Central-Southern Chile

This event will share progress in the conservation of coastal wetlands in Chile, highlighting the implementation of Law 21.202 and the GEF Coastal Wetlands Project. It will address how protecting these ecosystems enables the restoration of degraded areas, the development of local economies, and the implementation of nature-based solutions for disaster mitigation.

Speakers:

  • Juan Anjari, National Coordinator of the GEF Coastal Wetlands Project
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Alfonso de Urresti, Senator of the Republic of Chile
  • Daniela Manuscevich, Head of the Division of Natural Resources and Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment of Chile

Parliamentary Meeting on the Occasion of COP 16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Pacific Alliance)

This meeting will bring together parliamentarians from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss the importance of biodiversity protection in the region and its relationship with sustainable development. The event will address topics such as climate change, biological diversity, and the strategic role of parliaments in implementing public policies that promote environmental conservation.

Speakers:

  • Kandya Obezo Casseres, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Colombia
  • María Inés Ruz, Ambassador of Chile to Colombia
  • Sergio Bobadilla, Pro Tempore President of CISAP
  • José Luis Pérez, Senator of Colombia
  • María Paita, Congresswoman of Peru
  • Sofía Sánchez, Member of PARLATINO
  • Gilberth Jiménez, Assembly Member of Costa Rica

BOLIVIA | The Coca Leaf as a Genetic Resource Associated with Traditional Uses and Knowledge within the Framework of Indigenous Peoples' Rights

This event will promote a dialogue on the coca leaf as a key genetic resource for the Andean-Amazonian indigenous peoples. It will address the importance of traditional knowledge associated with its use, as well as the fair and equitable participation of indigenous peoples in the benefits derived from the utilization of this resource. The event will highlight the progress of the Critical Review of the Coca Leaf requested by the WHO and the challenges in protecting indigenous rights.

Speakers:

  • David Choquehuanca Céspedes, Vice President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
  • Darío Mejía, Representative of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
  • Juan Carlos Alurralde, Secretary General of the Vice Presidency of Bolivia
  • Alberto Pizarro Chañilao, Technical Secretary of FILAC

PANAMA | Trade Regulation and Peaceful Coexistence: A Tool for the Management of Threatened Species

This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment of Panama, will address progress in the management of threatened species and efforts to prevent the extinction of key species, such as the jaguar, sharks, and rays. International mechanisms, such as CITES and CMS, will be discussed, highlighting how these instruments support the conservation of endangered species, aligned with Target 4 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speakers:

  • Tomás Fernández, Director of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment of Panama
  • Digna Barsallo, Director of Coasts and Seas, Ministry of Environment of Panama
  • Carlos Polo, Sharky Management and Consulting
  • Ricardo Moreno, Yaguará Foundation Panama

Mechanisms and Policies for Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration

This event, organized by the 20x20 Initiative and its partners, CAF and WRI, aims to discuss financial mechanisms and innovative policies that can catalyze biodiversity conservation and restoration in Latin America. Lessons learned and challenges in implementing solutions such as biodiversity credits and payments for ecosystem services will be debated, as well as how to mobilize public and private financing to meet the Kunming-Montreal agreement targets.

Speakers:

  • Octavio Carrasquilla, CAF
  • René Zamora Cristales, 20x20 Initiative, WRI
  • Dr. Maisa Rojas, Minister of Environment of Chile
  • Clara Solano, Fundación Natura
  • Victoria Rachmaninoff, Biodiversity Coordinator, WRI
  • Fernando López Larreynaga, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, El Salvador
  • Cecilia Córdoba, Latin America Director, MIROVA Natural Capital
  • Patricia Orantes, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Guatemala

Towards a New Economy in the Amazon Basin: Strategic Sectoral Transformations

This event organized by CAF and WRI aims to discuss the structural changes needed in key sectors of the Amazon to move towards a carbon-neutral, restorative, and equitable economy. The event will present pioneering studies and bring together environmental leaders to discuss best practices and regulatory frameworks that promote economic development and forest protection in the Pan-Amazonian region.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Rafael Barbieri, Senior Economist, WRI-Brazil
  • Tasso Azevedo, Environmental Management Specialist and Coordinator of the Climate Observatory (Brazil)
  • Julia Cuadros, Executive Director of CooperAcción (Peru)
  • Jorge Mario Rodríguez, Director of CENICAÑA (Colombia)
  • Renata de Melo Rosa, Sustainability Director at Grupo Amaggi (Brazil)
  • Yolanda Kakabadse, Former Minister of Environment (Ecuador)
  • Elvira Espejo, Director of the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore (Bolivia)
  • Mark Bynoe, Renewable Energy Advisor (Guyana)
  • Winston Lackin, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Suriname)
  • Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, Global Director of Economics, WRI

BOLIVIA | Achievements Under the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water of Bolivia, will present the progress made towards the goals of the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Bolivia's actions to combat biodiversity loss, protect protected areas and wetlands, and ensure the sustainable management of wildlife species, all aligned with global conservation goals, will be highlighted.

Speakers:

  • Omar Osco Alanoca, General Director of Biodiversity and Protected Areas, VMABCCGDF
  • Moises Yonyun Hur, Planning Director, SERNAP

CAF Pavilion Inauguration: Latin America and the Caribbean – Biodiversity Brings Us Together

This event will mark the inauguration of the CAF Pavilion at COP16, a space designed to promote collaboration and the exchange of experiences on the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a focus on ecosystem protection and the role of communities, CAF aims to highlight the region’s solutions to address the global biodiversity crisis. During the event, the Women Piangüeras Meeting and the Chocó-Bogotá Declaration will take place.

Participants:

  • Sergio Diaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality of Brazil
  • Francia Márquez, Vice President of Colombia
  • Nelly Valencia, Soprano from the Pacific
  • Ahysen Arboleda, Coordinator of the First International Meeting of Women Piangüeras
  • Dina Greysi Pandales Martínez, Piangüeras Representative from Colombia
  • Lucy Morales, Piangüeras Representative from Ecuador
  • Andrea Musuy, Piangüeras Representative from Mexico
  • Marilyn Jiménez, Piangüeras Representative from Costa Rica
  • Rosa María Córdova, Piangüeras Representative from Peru
  • Erick Castro, Principal Executive of CAF’s Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity Management (Moderator)
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Amir Lebdioui, Director of the Oxford Technology & Management Centre for Development (Moderator)
  • Hernando García Martínez, General Director, Alexander Von Humboldt Institute
  • Sandra Vilardy, PhD in Ecology and Environment, University of Los Andes
  • Diego Inclán, Executive Director, National Institute of Biodiversity - INABIO, Ecuador

CAF Talk: A New Bioeconomy

This event will feature a keynote lecture by Carlos Nobre, a renowned researcher, on the economic potential of forests and the bioeconomy. During his presentation, he will explore the opportunities offered by the Amazon forests to promote sustainable development and generate benefits for local communities and biodiversity.

Speaker:

  • Carlos Nobre, Senior Researcher, Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo, Brazil

Biodiversity and Productive Development: Review of the Economic Landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean

This event will present the findings of the University of Oxford report on the role of biodiversity as a driver of productive development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document discusses how sectors such as agriculture, fishing, ecotourism, and biotechnology can leverage biodiversity to foster innovation and sustainable growth in the region.

Speakers:

  • Amir Lebdioui, Director of the Technology and Industrialization for Development (TIDE) Center, University of Oxford
  • Deuza Santos, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Management Coordinator, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA)
  • Anna Stewart Ibarra, Executive Director, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)
  • Sarah Wyatt, Senior Biodiversity Specialist, The Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
  • Donovan Campbell, Professor of Environmental Geography, University of the West Indies, Jamaica

Launch of the Strategic Ecosystems Approach in Latin America and the Caribbean

This event will present CAF’s strategic ecosystems approach for Latin America and the Caribbean, aimed at addressing biodiversity loss by integrating solutions at regional and transnational levels. The session will include the presentation of a portfolio of projects focused on the conservation and restoration of key ecosystems, and the necessary economic investment to implement these initiatives will be discussed.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President, CAF – development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF – development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Brigitte Baptiste, Rector at Universidad EAN, Colombia
  • Miguel Segur, Manager of Sustainability and Natural Capital, NTT DATA

Impacts and Challenges of Illegal Mining on the Sustainability of Strategic Ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean - CAF/OAS

This event, organized by CAF and the OAS, will address the impacts of illegal mining on biodiversity and strategic ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean. Solutions and experiences to mitigate these damages will be presented, with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable management of natural resources.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Gastón Schulmeister, Director of the Department against Transnational Organized Crime, OAS
  • Domingo Peas, Territorial Coordinator, Sacred Headwaters Initiative, Ecuador
  • Ana Milena Vásquez, President of Women in Mining Organization, Colombia
  • Jairo García Guerrero, Secretary of Security and Justice of Cali
  • Gustavo Guerrero, Deputy Prosecutor for Environmental, Mining, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs, Office of the Attorney General of Colombia
  • Tina Oliveira, Representative of the Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Socio-environmental Information - RAISG

Innovative Financial Instruments for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Patagonian Ecosystem

This event will bring together experts in the conservation and sustainable use of Patagonia to discuss innovative financing strategies aimed at restoring and protecting this strategic ecosystem, both on land and at sea. The discussion will highlight the opportunities these instruments offer to enhance biodiversity and promote sustainable development for local communities in Argentina and Chile.

Speakers:

  • Cristian Laborda, Executive Director of Fundación Patagonia Azul
  • Corina Lehmann, Director of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, Argentina
  • Eugenio Rengifo, Executive Director of Fondo Naturaleza Chile
  • Eduardo Sorensen, Underwater Photographer Specialist
  • Pablo Badenier, Former Minister of Environment of Chile
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Director of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF

Strategic Ecosystems: Páramos and High Mountain Ecosystems in Latin America

This event highlights the importance of conserving and restoring high mountain ecosystems, with a special focus on páramos and native species such as the frailejón. During the meeting, experts will share strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and deforestation in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru, and key projects will be presented to ensure the environmental resilience of the Andean region.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Mauricio Diazgranados, Chief Science Officer and Dean of the International Plant Science Center, New York Botanical Garden
  • Alfred Ballesteros, Director of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca (CAR)
  • Marcela Fernández, Founder of Cumbres Blancas Colombia
  • Yober Arias, Director of Cumbres Blancas Colombia
  • Fabio Arjona, Executive Director of Conservation International
  • Andrea Yáñez Ariza, Manager of the Bogotá Water Fund
  • Gonzalo Sánchez Castañeda, Legal Representative of the La Casita Feliz Civil Society Nature Reserve, Colombia

Belén Declaration, Biodiversity and Climate in the Amazon: Reflections for Effective Regional Cooperation to Prevent Biome Collapse

This panel will bring together key regional figures to reflect on Amazonian regional cooperation in the face of the environmental emergency. Challenges and necessary solutions to halt the degradation of the Amazon will be discussed, respecting the sovereignty of the Amazonian countries, and contributions will be prepared for the 5th Summit of OTCA Presidents in 2025.

Speakers:

  • Martin Von Hildebrand, Founder of Gaia Foundation
  • Vanessa Grazziotin, Executive Director of OTCA
  • Carlos Nobre, Co-chair of the Science Panel for the Amazon
  • Gregorio Mirabal, Representative of COICA
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Tatiana Schor, Director of the Amazon Initiative at the IDB
  • Iremar Antonio Ferreira, Pan-Amazonian Social Forum - FOSPA
  • Angélica García, Coordinator of the Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Socio-environmental Information - RAISG
  • Juan Carlos Losada, Representative of the Chamber of Bogotá of the Republic of Colombia and member of the Amazonian Parliament - Parlamaz

Biodiversity-Based Innovation: Presentation of the InNatureLab Project

 

This event will present the CAF-Latimpacto-Trafigura Innovation Project, which aims to promote innovative biodiversity-based solutions for sustainable socio-economic development in the Amazon and its connected biomes. Biomimicry will be one of the key strategies explored to address environmental and social challenges, reconciling biodiversity conservation with productive development.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • María Moreno, Coordinator of Innovation and Strategic Alliances in Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Rolando Andrade, Consultant for Innovation and Strategic Alliances in Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Juan David Ferreira, Program Director at Latimpacto
  • Darío Soto, Executive Director of Trafigura Foundation
  • Mabel Torres, Former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Colombia

UNEP - Integrated Regional Environmental Information System. First Regional Report on the State of the Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional SDG Data and Environmental Indicators.

This event will present the first regional report on the state of the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on regional SDG data and environmental indicators. The gaps and challenges in environmental management will be discussed, exploring collaborative strategies for ecosystem conservation and restoration in the region.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Juan Bello, Regional Director of the Integrated Environmental Information System - UNEP
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Director of the Technical Advisory Department on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Cecilia Guerra, Principal Executive of the Technical Advisory Department on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF
  • Andrew Plumptre, Head of the Secretariat of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA)
  • Richard Kiy, CEO of the Institute of the Americas
  • Ane Alencar, Director of the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM/MAPBIOMAS)
  • Ángela Andrade, Chair of the Commission on Ecosystem Management, IUCN

Leaders for Biodiversity

This event aims to spotlight the leaders who promote biodiversity conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The work of 10 change agents driving community initiatives and promoting sustainable practices will be recognized, inspiring more people to contribute to environmental development and the protection of ecosystems in the region.

Speakers:

  • Andrés Zamora, Director of Strategic Communication, CAF
  • Wade Davis, Anthropologist and Photographer
  • Lorena Arroyo, Director of América Futura at El País
  • Paolo Realpe, Founder of the collective 'Muisne desde Adentro' in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador
  • Karen Brewer, Content Creator and Educator at @KarenExplora

  

MIT | Equitable Markets: Lessons on the Participation of Ethnic Communities in the Carbon Market in Colombia and its Implications for Biodiversity Credits

This event will analyze the strategic role of ethnic communities in biodiversity conservation in Colombia, within the context of carbon markets and their impact on biodiversity credits. Lessons and recommendations will be shared to ensure fair participation of communities in these markets, promoting community governance as a key tool for environmental conservation.

Speakers:

  • Marcela Ángel, Director of the Natural Climate Solutions Program, MIT ESI
  • Jimena Muzio, Research Assistant, MIT ESI
  • Martín Pérez, WWF US
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, CAF
  • Natalia Arango Vélez, Fondo Acción
  • Mauricio Rodríguez, Asocarbono
  • Angélica Mayolo, MIT ESI

Documentary Screening: 'The Elder Brothers: The Arhuaco People, Their Connection to the Land, and the Role of Women in Preserving Their Culture'.

This emotional 20-minute documentary takes us to the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, home to the Arhuacos, who consider this sacred place the center of the world. Through the ancestral wisdom of the mamos and the vital work of Arhuaco women, it explores how this community strives to maintain equilibrium between the earth, the sky, and humanity. Filmed in the historic villages of Nabusimake and Katansama, the short film is a tribute to their culture and their commitment to passing on their teachings to future generations.

ECUADOR | Interinstitutional Partnerships and Goal Prioritization in Ecuador's National Biodiversity Strategy

This event will highlight Ecuador's rich biodiversity and its alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It will explore how strategic partnerships and participatory work between local and international actors are key to updating the National Biodiversity Strategy, focusing on the country’s strategic ecosystems.

Speakers:

  • Georgina de Moya, Technical Specialist, UNDP
  • Dr. Kirsten Probst, Senior Planning Officer, GIZ
  • Lina Valencia, Andean Countries Coordinator, REWILD
  • Luis Suárez, Executive Director, Conservation International (CI) Ecuador
  • Esteban Falconí, Project Manager, WWF Ecuador

VENEZUELA | A Look at the Challenges in Technical Cooperation among the SNAPs of Latin America and the Caribbean. Regional Coordination of RedParques Venezuela

This event will discuss the importance of RedParques and the progress of the 2024 Work Plan of the Regional Coordination, focusing on the challenges towards meeting the targets of the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework. The National Park System of Venezuela will be highlighted as a model of integration between biodiversity and communities.

Speakers:

  • Miguel Serrano, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Cooperation, MINEC
  • Hilda Ángel, General Manager of National Parks and Natural Monuments at INPARQUES and Regional Coordinator of RedParques
  • Lisbeth Fernández, Technical Focal Point of RedParques

25 Years of the Amazon without Fire Program in the Amazon Region: A Successful Experience of Regional Cooperation

This event will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Amazon without Fire Program (PASF), an international cooperation initiative that has promoted the prevention of forest fires in the Amazon region. The event will highlight best practices in regional cooperation and the results achieved in Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador in integrated fire management, emphasizing the importance of prevention for biodiversity conservation. 25 years of the Amazon without Fire program in the Amazon region: a successful experience in regional cooperation. This event will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Amazon without Fire Program (PASF), an international cooperation initiative that has promoted the prevention of forest fires in the Amazon region. The event will highlight best practices in regional cooperation and the results achieved in Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador in integrated fire management, emphasizing the importance of prevention for biodiversity conservation.

Nature Tourism: An Opportunity for the Conservation of Protected Areas

This event will discuss the opportunities and challenges of nature tourism as a tool for the conservation of protected areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. The dialogue will focus on how ecotourism can generate sustainable income, promote environmental education, and improve local infrastructure, contributing to biodiversity protection.

Speakers:

  • Oscar Rueda García, Director of Sustainable Tourism at CAF
  • Glenda Ortega, Deputy Secretary of Natural Heritage, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador
  • Guiselle Méndez, National Coordinator of the Sustainable Tourism Program of the National System of Conservation Areas of Costa Rica
  • Jesús Mardomingo, Managing Partner of the Banking and Financial Department at Dentons in Spain
  • Luisz Olmedo Martínez, Director of National Natural Parks of Colombia

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Tourism: Presentation of the CAF RE-SET Program, Biodiversity Restoration through Ecosystem Services Linked to Tourism

This event will present CAF's Re-SET program, focused on biodiversity restoration through ecosystem services linked to tourism. The program aims to fund initiatives that integrate ecotourism as an income generator and promoter of biodiversity conservation. Regional and global case studies on projects using ecotourism for ecosystem regeneration will be presented during the event.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Marcello Gandolfi, International Expert in Sustainable Tourism
  • Mauricio Velásquez, Principal Executive of the Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity Management at CAF

ECUADOR | Sustainability in Action: Biotrade Ecosystem in Ecuador

This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador, will present the biotrade model as a strategy for the sustainable use of biodiversity. Innovative public policies and financing mechanisms that promote the conservation of Ecuador's strategic ecosystems, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, will be highlighted.

Speakers:

  • Glenda Ortega, Deputy Secretary of Natural Heritage, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador
  • Mauricio Velázquez, Senior Environment Executive, CAF
  • María Fernanda Sánchez, Coordinator of the Sacha Project, Fundación Pachamama Ecuador

Strategic Ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean: Prioritizing Projects for the People

This event will showcase CAF's efforts to combat biodiversity loss in 14 strategic ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean. An interactive tool will be introduced, allowing users to visually explore the ecosystems and the identified projects, with the goal of promoting biodiversity conservation and restoration, aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer at Conservation International
  • Miguel Segur, Sustainability and Natural Capital Manager at NTT DATA

Dialogue 'LAC and its Forest Monitoring Systems: An Approach as a Tool for a Zero-Deforestation-Committed Agricultural Production'

This dialogue will bring together experts to discuss the role of forest monitoring in the transition towards sustainable and deforestation-free agricultural production, especially within the framework of new regulations such as the European Green Deal (EUDR). Monitoring cases from countries in the region will be presented to strengthen geolocation and traceability capabilities, aligned with biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture goals.

Speakers:

  • Javier Ortiz, Representative of the European Forest Institute
  • Ximena Herrera, Coordinator of the National Forest Monitoring System, Ministry of Environment of Ecuador
  • Cecilia Macera, General Director of Information and Forest and Wildlife Management at SERFOR
  • Eugenia Balanta, General Manager of CAFEXCOOP
  • Lina Caballero, Deputy Director of Ecosystems at IDEAM
  • Juan Esteban Orduz, Former President, National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia

PARAGUAY | Paraguay in Action: Progress and Experiences in the Protection of National Biodiversity

This event will present Paraguay’s progress in implementing actions to protect its biodiversity and developing its national biodiversity strategy. Experiences in habitat restoration, conservation of key biodiversity areas, and the alignment of national goals with the commitments of the Global Biodiversity Framework will be shared.

Speakers:

  • Darío Mandelburger, General Director of Biodiversity Protection and Conservation, MADES
  • Lilian Portillo, Director of Strategic Planning, MADES
  • Catherine Alonso, Director of Environmental Services, MADES
  • Oscar Rodas, Director of Climate Change and Policies, WWF-Paraguay
  • Federico Montedomeq, Sustainability Manager, Silvipar
  • Maria José Mendoza, Director of Environmental Information, MADES and Focal Point for Equality and Indigenous Affairs

This dialogue will bring together leaders from different generations to discuss the opportunities available for youth in biodiversity protection. Through panels, topics such as the implementation of the Escazú Agreement, the role of youth in environmental entrepreneurship, and the connection between climate and biodiversity will be addressed. The event aims to foster youth participation in the environmental agenda leading up to COP30.

This dialogue will bring together leaders from different generations to discuss the opportunities available for youth in biodiversity protection. Through panels, topics such as the implementation of the Escazú Agreement, the role of youth in environmental entrepreneurship, and the connection between climate and biodiversity will be addressed. The event aims to foster youth participation in the environmental agenda leading up to COP30.

Building Trust in Biodiversity Credits: Metrics, Measurements, and Comparability

This event, organized by the Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA), will address the importance of metrics and measurements in biodiversity credits. The comparability framework proposed by BCA will be presented, aiming to establish clear parameters for comparing biodiversity credits in terms of quality, equity, and integrity. The event will promote market transparency and provide clear guidance for participants interested in biodiversity credits.

Speakers:

  • PJ Stephenson (TBC), Co-lead of the Metrics and Measurement Working Group at BCA, IUCN / University of Lausanne
  • Josh Brann, Technical Coordinator, Biodiversity Credit Alliance

CAF Talk: Actions for the Amazon

Speaker:

Iván Duque, President of Colombia in 2018

COSTA RICA | Costa Rica Towards Achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework Goals: Deforestation Eradication and Forest Cover Increase

This event will showcase Costa Rica's achievements in eradicating deforestation, increasing forest cover, and implementing innovative financial mechanisms like PSA-Biodiversidad Plus to promote biodiversity conservation. The country’s experiences in transitioning towards a low-emission agricultural model and conserving its marine and terrestrial ecosystems, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) Goals, will be shared.

Speakers:

  • Franz Tattenbach Capra, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica
  • Eugenia Arguedas, Costa Rica Focal Point for the CBD, MINAE

Song to Life: The Influence of Carlos Vives on Environmental Awareness

The event will explore the relationship between music and biodiversity, analyzing how Carlos Vives' work has been influenced by nature. Through a conversation with Colombian scientist and former Deputy Minister of Environment, Sandra Vilardy, the discussion will focus on how biodiversity has inspired Vives' lyrics and sounds, as well as his initiative 'Tras La Perla' in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, which aims for the well-being of local communities and cultural preservation based on biodiversity.

Speakers:

  • Carlos Vives, Colombian singer and songwriter
  • Sandra Vilardy, Professor at Universidad de Los Andes and former Deputy Minister of Environment of Colombia

 
Dialogue Ahead of the VIII Global Summit of Cities and Subnational Governments COP

8th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities

Free Day
 
Presentation of the Tropical Pacific Fund

Oceans Day at COP16, Inaugural Session

The event will begin with a series of opening speeches and a video highlighting the importance of oceans in the fight against climate change and biodiversity conservation. The role of marine protected areas in preserving marine ecosystems will be emphasized, with a focus on the actions needed to achieve conservation goals.

Speakers:

  • Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Oceans
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Sandra Bessudo, Director of the Malpelo Foundation and Other Marine Ecosystems

Linking Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) with the Global Biodiversity Framework

This session explores how Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) can align with the Global Biodiversity Framework, promoting the sustainable management of 100% of oceans. The aim is to highlight best practices and challenges in the development and implementation of SOPs and their role in marine biodiversity conservation and marine spatial planning.

Speakers:

  • Cynthia Barzuna, Director of the Ocean Action 2030 Coalition
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
  • Representatives from Fiji, USA, Norway, Seychelles, Chile, Japan, Canada, and Australia

Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coastal Resilience: Building a Sustainable Future

This session will address the importance of ocean-based solutions to enhance coastal resilience against climate risks, such as sea level rise and ecosystem degradation. The Coastal Risk Index (CRI) and its role in coastal biodiversity protection and climate adaptation will be presented.

Speakers:

  • Carlos Correa,  Minister of Environment of Colombia in 2022
  • Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN
  • Loreley Picourt, Executive Director of Ocean & Climate Platform
  • Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Director of Ocean and Climate Policy at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
  • Chip Cunliffe, Program and Risk Director at ORRAA
  • Jonathan Delance, Advisor to the Vice Ministry of Coastal and Marine Resources, Dominican Republic
  • José Ramón Reyes, Vice Minister of Coastal and Marine Resources, Dominican Republic
  • Erick Castro, Technical Advisor on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF
  • Monique Galvao, Vice President of Rare Brazil

Mobilizing Finance to Bridge the Gap from 8% to 30% Ocean Protection by 2030

This session will focus on the blue financing mechanisms needed to reach the ambitious target of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030. Strategies for unlocking financial resources to enable the expansion and effective management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be discussed.

Speakers:

  • Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica
  • Marie-May Jeremie, CEO, Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust
  • Patricia Leon, Associate Director for Nature Conservation, Bezos Earth Fund
  • Jennifer Corpuz, Global Advocate and Policy Lead, Nia Tero
  • Rita El Zaghloul, Director, Secretariat of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
  • Erick Castro, Principal Executive, CAF, Technical Advisor on Biodiversity and Climate (Blue Economy)
  • Marcela Portocarrero Aya, World Bank

Business Management and Innovation Towards a Regenerative Blue Economy

This session will highlight how companies and financial institutions are leading the transition to a regenerative blue economy by adopting sustainable practices and investing in innovations that align ocean sectors with global biodiversity and climate goals.

Speakers:

  • Alfredo Giron, Ocean Director at the World Economic Forum
  • Thomas Sberna, Regional Head of Coastal and Ocean Resilience, IUCN Africa
  • Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  • Jimena Rodriguez, Group Senior Manager of Oceans & Biodiversity, DP World
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Technical Advisor on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF

Partners for the Pacific Ocean: Technical and Financial Solutions for the Conservation of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR-CAF)

This session will explore the overall actions carried out within the framework of CMAR, discussing technical and financial solutions for the conservation of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor and its contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework goals.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Juan C. Navarro, International Cooperation
  • Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment of Colombia

 
Accelerating Blue Ambitions: Financing the Future from COP16 to UNOC 2025

Speakers:

  • Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
  • Sandra Bessudo, Director of the Malpelo Foundation and Other Marine Ecosystems

 
Oceans Day Reception. Charting a New Course for Ocean Action: Celebrating Contributions to Global Biodiversity and Advancing Partnerships for Sustainability

The event aims to unlock the political leadership needed to accelerate action towards Goal 3 and discuss opportunities to create a viable plan to achieve the 30x30 target in the oceans. National experiences and new opportunities in the high seas will be presented, focusing on partnerships to monitor progress.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Rita Maria El Zaghloul, Director of the Secretariat of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
  • Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Oceans
  • Markus Reymann, Co-Director of TBA21
  • Daniel Ortega, Director of Contributions to Development and Impact Measurement at CAF
  • Cynthia Barzuna, Director of Ocean Action 2030
  • Erick Castro, Principal Executive of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF
  • Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Alfredo Girón, Head of Oceans at the World Economic Forum
  • Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO of GEF

Green Coalition of Public Development Banks for the Amazon Region: Opportunities for Resource Mobilization

This event will bring together leaders from public development banks and strategic partners to discuss opportunities for resource mobilization in the Amazon region. The Green Coalition aims to scale investments in sustainable economic activities that harmonize environmental management with income generation, promoting biodiversity conservation and inclusive economic growth in the Amazon.

Speakers:

  • Estefania Laterza, CAF Representative in Brazil
  • Cristina Blaso Banal, International Institutional Relations Manager at BNDES
  • Mary Alejandra Figueroa Medina, Head of Sustainability at Banco Agrario de Colombia
  • Juan Pablo Bustamante Caballero, Vice President of Strategic Affairs and Sustainability at FINAGRO
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Anderson da Silva Caputo, Division Chief, Connectivity, Markets, and Finance at IDB
  • Svetlana Klimenko, Senior Financial Management Specialist at the World Bank

Recognizing the Value of Strategic Ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities for Biodiversity Credit Development

This event will explore the challenges and opportunities in developing a biodiversity credit market in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lessons learned from carbon credits, the differences between biodiversity credits and offsets, and the key role these instruments can play in the conservation and restoration of the region’s strategic ecosystems will be discussed.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Brigitte Baptiste, Rector of Universidad EAN, Colombia
  • Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer at Conservation International
  • Hernando García Martínez, Director of the Alexander Von Humboldt Institute
  • Manesh Lacoul, Global Coordinator of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance
  • Alessandro Valentini, Leader of Innovative Finance for Nature at the World Economic Forum
  • Jorge Gastelumendi, Director of Adrienne Arsht - Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council
  • Ignacio Lorenzo, Director of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF

CAF, the Green Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean: Actions for a Cleaner and More Sustainable Region

The event focuses on disseminating key policy messages to address the climate and biodiversity crisis, as well as advancing a just energy transition. The main actions in resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and innovative financial instruments aimed at promoting sustainable development in the region and positioning CAF as the leading green bank in Latin America and the Caribbean will be presented.

Speaker:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President, CAF
  • José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary, ECLAC
  • Pablo Brassiolo, Socioeconomic Research Directorate, CAF
  • Fernando Álvarez, Socioeconomic Research Directorate, CAF
  • Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, CAF

FUCCAE | Diálogos sobre Biodiversidade: Uma Perspectiva do Sul do Sul
CAF Talk: Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples
Business Sector Contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework

This event will bring together leaders from the business and financial sectors to discuss the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the private sector's contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework. Mechanisms that facilitate business participation in biodiversity conservation will be discussed, highlighting the importance of integrating sustainable strategies in megadiverse countries like Colombia.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Bruce Mac Master, President of the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI)

MIT | Biogeographical Chocó: Delimitation and Transnational Actions for Biodiversity Protection, Climate Action, and Sustainable Development

This event will present the study 'Biogeographical Chocó: Delimitation and Transnational Strategies,' highlighting the importance of this neotropical natural corridor as a biodiversity hotspot in Latin America. The goal is to generate a multi-stakeholder dialogue that promotes cooperation among governments, multilateral banks, academia, the private sector, and local communities to implement innovative solutions in conservation and sustainable development.

Speakers:

  • Pablo Palacios, Professor at Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá
  • Angélica Mayolo, MLK Fellow, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative (MIT ESI)
  • Josefina Klinger, Director of the Mano Cambiada Foundation
  • Raisa Banfield, Director of Panama Sustainable Foundation
  • Zoraida Quesada, Researcher, Pacific Environmental Research Institute (IIAP)
  • Martha Rosero, Conservation International

Positive Incentives for Ibero-America and Exchange of Best Practices. Biodiversity Dialogues

This event, organized by CAF and the Biodiversity Foundation of Spain, will explore how to promote positive incentives for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in Ibero-America. Public-private collaboration experiences will be shared, and discussions will focus on how to mobilize the private sector in the fight against biodiversity loss, in line with the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Sonia Castañeda, Deputy Director of Green Transition at the Biodiversity Foundation
  • Elena Pita, Director of the Biodiversity Foundation, Spain
  • Ma. Jesús Rodríguez de Sáncho, General Director of Biodiversity, Forests, and Desertification at the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge
  • George Jaksch, President of the Biodiversity Partnership Mesoamerica
  • Davi Bomtempo, Superintendent of Environment and Sustainability at the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil
  • Daniel Sánchez y Sánchez, Co-President of the Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity and Business

New Financial Mechanisms for Positive Biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean: Presentation of CAF's Credit Line for Strategic Ecosystems

This event will share progress in the conservation of coastal wetlands in Chile, highlighting the implementation of Law 21.202 and the GEF Coastal Wetlands Project. It will address how protecting these ecosystems enables the restoration of degraded areas, the development of local economies, and the implementation of nature-based solutions for disaster mitigation.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Miguel Solana, Regional & Technical Lead, IRFF at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Alfredo Giron, Head of Ocean Action Agenda at World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • Mario Pardo, CEO of BBVA Colombia
  • Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO & Chairperson of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
  • Inés Manzano, Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador
  • Lydia von Krosigk, Sector Economist Biodiversity at KfW Development Bank

How Can Public Development Banks Align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?

This event will explore how Public Development Banks can contribute to achieving the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Strategies will be discussed to align financial flows with biodiversity goals, increase financial resources allocated to biodiversity, and promote private investments. Representatives from various financial institutions will present their progress and perspectives in this area.

Speakers:

  • Javier Diaz Fajardo, IDFC/Bancoldex
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD
  • Christiane Laibach, KfW
  • Julie Clarke, DBSA
  • Misa Kemmiya, JICA
  • Jessica Smith, UNEP-FI
  • Aaron Vermeulen, WWF

FUCCAE | Dialogues on Biodiversity: A View from the Deep South

 

 

Guardians of Life: Indigenous Women Preserving Biodiversity

This event will bring together indigenous women from Latin America and the Caribbean to highlight their crucial role in protecting biodiversity. Through their ancestral knowledge and sustainable practices, indigenous women are the guardians of the most biodiverse territories on the planet. The gathering aims to make their contributions visible, share experiences, and discuss strategies to strengthen their leadership in biodiversity conservation and the defense of their territories.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Florina López, Kuna People, Co-Coordinator of the Indigenous Women's Network on Biodiversity – Latin America and the Caribbean, Panama
  • Hortencia Hidalgo, Aymara People, Indigenous Women's Network on Biodiversity, Chile
  • Edith Bastidas Calderón, Pastos People, Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia
  • Luisa Castañeda Quintana, Deputy Director of Land is Life, Colombia

Uncovering the Potential of the Americas Flyways Initiative

This event, organized by CAF, BirdLife International, and the Audubon Society, will present the progress of the Americas Flyways Initiative (AFI), which aims to protect and restore key biodiversity sites along migratory routes. The initiative focuses on implementing nature-based solutions and developing bird-friendly infrastructure, enhancing the resilience of these ecosystems by 2050.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Santiago Aparicio, Director of the Americas Flyways Initiative (AFI)
  • Martin Harper, CEO of BirdLife International
  • Chad Wilsey, Chief Scientist of the National Audubon Society
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Maisa Rojas, Minister of Environment of Chile
  • Rodrigo Díaz, Regional Governor of Biobío, Chile

Strengthening the Amazon Regional Observatory (ORA) - Progress and Perspectives - ACTO

This event will present the progress in strengthening the Amazon Regional Observatory through the development of the climate change module and the update of the biodiversity module. The relationships between biodiversity loss, climate change, and their impact on indigenous peoples will be addressed, along with proposals to mitigate these effects and promote resilient initiatives.

Speakers:

  • Edith Paredes, Administrative Director, ACTO
  • Estefania Laterza, Country Director, CAF, Brazil
  • Rathna Kewal, Climate Change Coordinator, ACTO
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Mauro Luis Ruffino, Coordinator of the Amazon Regional Observatory, ACTO
  • Alberto Pizarro, Executive Secretary, FILAC

CHILE | Incorporating Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Landscape Management in Coastal Wetlands in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Central-Southern Chile

This event will share progress in the conservation of coastal wetlands in Chile, highlighting the implementation of Law 21.202 and the GEF Coastal Wetlands Project. It will address how protecting these ecosystems enables the restoration of degraded areas, the development of local economies, and the implementation of nature-based solutions for disaster mitigation.

Speakers:

  • Juan Anjari, National Coordinator of the GEF Coastal Wetlands Project
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Alfonso de Urresti, Senator of the Republic of Chile
  • Daniela Manuscevich, Head of the Division of Natural Resources and Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment of Chile

Parliamentary Meeting on the Occasion of COP 16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Pacific Alliance)

This meeting will bring together parliamentarians from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss the importance of biodiversity protection in the region and its relationship with sustainable development. The event will address topics such as climate change, biological diversity, and the strategic role of parliaments in implementing public policies that promote environmental conservation.

Speakers:

  • Kandya Obezo Casseres, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Colombia
  • María Inés Ruz, Ambassador of Chile to Colombia
  • Sergio Bobadilla, Pro Tempore President of CISAP
  • José Luis Pérez, Senator of Colombia
  • María Paita, Congresswoman of Peru
  • Sofía Sánchez, Member of PARLATINO
  • Gilberth Jiménez, Assembly Member of Costa Rica

BOLIVIA | The Coca Leaf as a Genetic Resource Associated with Traditional Uses and Knowledge within the Framework of Indigenous Peoples' Rights

This event will promote a dialogue on the coca leaf as a key genetic resource for the Andean-Amazonian indigenous peoples. It will address the importance of traditional knowledge associated with its use, as well as the fair and equitable participation of indigenous peoples in the benefits derived from the utilization of this resource. The event will highlight the progress of the Critical Review of the Coca Leaf requested by the WHO and the challenges in protecting indigenous rights.

Speakers:

  • David Choquehuanca Céspedes, Vice President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
  • Darío Mejía, Representative of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
  • Juan Carlos Alurralde, Secretary General of the Vice Presidency of Bolivia
  • Alberto Pizarro Chañilao, Technical Secretary of FILAC

PANAMA | Trade Regulation and Peaceful Coexistence: A Tool for the Management of Threatened Species

This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment of Panama, will address progress in the management of threatened species and efforts to prevent the extinction of key species, such as the jaguar, sharks, and rays. International mechanisms, such as CITES and CMS, will be discussed, highlighting how these instruments support the conservation of endangered species, aligned with Target 4 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speakers:

  • Tomás Fernández, Director of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment of Panama
  • Digna Barsallo, Director of Coasts and Seas, Ministry of Environment of Panama
  • Carlos Polo, Sharky Management and Consulting
  • Ricardo Moreno, Yaguará Foundation Panama

Mechanisms and Policies for Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration

This event, organized by the 20x20 Initiative and its partners, CAF and WRI, aims to discuss financial mechanisms and innovative policies that can catalyze biodiversity conservation and restoration in Latin America. Lessons learned and challenges in implementing solutions such as biodiversity credits and payments for ecosystem services will be debated, as well as how to mobilize public and private financing to meet the Kunming-Montreal agreement targets.

Speakers:

  • Octavio Carrasquilla, CAF
  • René Zamora Cristales, 20x20 Initiative, WRI
  • Dr. Maisa Rojas, Minister of Environment of Chile
  • Clara Solano, Fundación Natura
  • Victoria Rachmaninoff, Biodiversity Coordinator, WRI
  • Fernando López Larreynaga, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, El Salvador
  • Cecilia Córdoba, Latin America Director, MIROVA Natural Capital
  • Patricia Orantes, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Guatemala

Towards a New Economy in the Amazon Basin: Strategic Sectoral Transformations

This event organized by CAF and WRI aims to discuss the structural changes needed in key sectors of the Amazon to move towards a carbon-neutral, restorative, and equitable economy. The event will present pioneering studies and bring together environmental leaders to discuss best practices and regulatory frameworks that promote economic development and forest protection in the Pan-Amazonian region.

Speakers:

  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity, CAF
  • Rafael Barbieri, Senior Economist, WRI-Brazil
  • Tasso Azevedo, Environmental Management Specialist and Coordinator of the Climate Observatory (Brazil)
  • Julia Cuadros, Executive Director of CooperAcción (Peru)
  • Jorge Mario Rodríguez, Director of CENICAÑA (Colombia)
  • Renata de Melo Rosa, Sustainability Director at Grupo Amaggi (Brazil)
  • Yolanda Kakabadse, Former Minister of Environment (Ecuador)
  • Elvira Espejo, Director of the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore (Bolivia)
  • Mark Bynoe, Renewable Energy Advisor (Guyana)
  • Winston Lackin, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Suriname)
  • Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, Global Director of Economics, WRI

BOLIVIA | Achievements Under the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

This event, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water of Bolivia, will present the progress made towards the goals of the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Bolivia's actions to combat biodiversity loss, protect protected areas and wetlands, and ensure the sustainable management of wildlife species, all aligned with global conservation goals, will be highlighted.

Speakers:

  • Omar Osco Alanoca, General Director of Biodiversity and Protected Areas, VMABCCGDF
  • Moises Yonyun Hur, Planning Director, SERNAP

Women Guardians of the Mangrove: I International Gathering of Piangueras of the Eastern Tropical Pacific

The first day of the international gathering brings together piangueras (shellfish harvesters) from the Eastern Tropical Pacific, along with governments and conservation organizations. Through workshops and panels, the importance of the mangrove ecosystem, the sustainable harvesting of the piangua (mangrove cockle), and the role of women in its conservation and fair trade are discussed. The Network of Piangueras of the Eastern Tropical Pacific will be launched.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Carlos Correa, Former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia
  • Alejandra Navarrete, Government and Multilateral Liaison Officer, The Ocean Foundation, Mexico
  • Fabio Arjona, Executive Director of Conservation International, Colombia
  • Sandra Valenzuela, Executive Director of WWF Colombia
  • Karen Mejía, Director General of the National Authority for Aquaculture and Fisheries of Colombia (AUNAP)
  • María del Pilar López Uribe, Secretary of Economic Development of Bogotá
  • Dina Greysi Pandales Martínez, Pianguera, Association of Piangueras of Chocó, Colombia
  • Martha Liliana Salazar, Pianguera, Community Council of La Plata, Bahía Málaga, Colombia
  • Dayana Hurtado Sánchez, Pianguera, Asocoexportadora Association and member of FEDECONCHA, Colombia
  • Adelina Solano Carranza, Pianguera, Costa Rica
  • Marilyn Priscila Jiménez Mojica, Pianguera, Coope Moluscos Chome, Costa Rica
  • Grecia Berónica Monroy Ruiz, Pianguera, Mangrove Users Network, Ecuador
  • Rosa Torres Olmedo, Pianguera, Bunche Fishing Association, Ecuador
  • Lucy Morales, Pianguera, President of ASOPROMANGLAR of Puerto El Morro, Ecuador
  • Mitzi Estefanía Gutiérrez Hernández, Pianguera, Wild Coast, Mexico
  • Andrea Musuy Méndez García, Pianguera, Wild Coast, Mexico
  • Rosa Cordova López, Pianguera, AEXAPROH Association, Los Tunpis, Peru
  • Jaime Cavelier, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Director for Latin America and Colombia, ICCF, Colombia
  • Juan Criado, Specialist in the Exact and Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO, Colombia
  • Fay Crevoshay, Director of Communications and Public Policy, Wild Coast, Mexico

Opening of Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will fade away, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Women Guardians of the Mangrove: I International Gathering of Piangueras of the Eastern Tropical Pacific

The second day of the international meeting continues with working groups focused on the realities and challenges of shellfish harvesting (piangueo) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Success stories in the commercialization of piangua will be presented, and a recognition ceremony will be held to honor women as guardians of the mangrove. The event will promote experience sharing and the strengthening of the new Network of Piangueras.

Speakers:

  • Yesid González Duque, General Director, ASOCARS
  • Juan Criado, Specialist in the Exact and Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO
  • Dilian Francisca Toro, Governor of Valle del Cauca, Government of Valle del Cauca

Location: Plazoleta San Francisco, ASOCARS Pavilion, Cra 6 #9, Cali

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

From Games to Solutions: Gamification and Sustainable Tourism

This event aims to show how the use of games can motivate tourists and operators to adopt more sustainable practices. With a focus on students and educators from Valle del Cauca, an augmented reality app will be presented to educate interactively, encouraging environmental conservation through a competition with rewards.

Speakers:

  • Óscar Rueda, Director of Sustainable Tourism at CAF
  • Juan Fernando Sansón, Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Universidad Externado de Colombia
  • Derly Pardo, Advisor at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism of Colombia
  • Carolina Cortés, Principal Executive of the Sustainable Tourism Department at CAF

Location: Hotel Faranda - Collection Cali

FREE

 

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Youth Participation Lab 'Diversity in Action: Young People Building a Green Planet'

This event will bring together Afro-descendant and Indigenous youth committed to biodiversity to discuss the Escazú Agreement, climate, biodiversity, and environmental entrepreneurship.

Location: IDEAS School

CLOSED EVENT

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Presentation of the Study on Afro-descendant Entrepreneurship in Latin America

This event will launch research on Afro-descendant entrepreneurship in Latin America, highlighting their profile, sectors of operation, challenges, and opportunities. At COP16, it emphasizes how these sustainable businesses contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework in areas such as gastronomy, tourism, and fashion.

Speakers:

  • Danielle Almeida, Director of Program and International Relations at Afrolab in Preta Hub
  • Eddy Bermúdez, Diversity Coordinator, Gender, Inclusion, and Diversity Management at CAF
  • Paula Moreno, President of Manos Visible
  • José Proscopio Ríos, Director of the Petronio Álvarez Festival
  • Alejandro Eder, Mayor of Cali

Location: Cali Cultural Center – Main Hall

FREE

Presentation of the RED Reports on Energy Transition and Biodiversity

This event presents CAF's Economy and Development Reports (RED) on 'Global Challenges, Regional Solutions' and 'Renewed Energies', which address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity, and a just energy transition in the region, highlighting policies for low-carbon economies and social inclusion.

Location: Cali Cultural Center – Main Auditorium

FREE

Green Employability Forum: Popular Economy and New Technologies

This panel aims to bring the community closer to sustainability and environmental awareness. It includes discussions on social leadership and conservation practices, green employability, the future economy, and public policies to promote new occupations and technology.

Speakers:

  • Mario Rincón, National Coordinator of the Labor Skills Assessment and Certification Group (ECCL) at SENA
  • Claudia López, National Coordinator of Public Policy for Vocational Training at the ILO
  • Milena Molina, Project Manager at OEI
  • Elsis María Valencia, Labor Competency Evaluator in Popular Economy at SENA Regional Valle
  • Hector Bombiela, Advisor at the SENA Directorate

Location: Coliseo del Pueblo - Valle Commitment and Propacífico Pavilion

FREE

Bio-Photography Talk 'Recognizing Biodiversity Through Photography'

This talk will delve into the experiences of the invited photographers in nature and the stories behind the exhibited photos. It explores how biodiversity enriches their lives and professions and how this connection can inspire anyone to value nature, emphasizing that without biodiversity, these meanings are lost.

Speakers:

  • Federico Ríos, award-winning documentary photographer known for his work on migrants in the Darién Gap
  • Eduardo Sorensen, Chilean underwater photographer
  • Óscar Pérez, digital nomad and cultural manager
  • Amado Villafaña, photographer and Arhuaco leader from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
  • César Martínez, photographer specializing in nature, travel, and heritage
  • Leydi Higidio, Secretary of Culture of Cali

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Photography Exhibition 'From Another Lens' and Concert by the Desepaz Youth Symphony

The exhibition will bring attendees of the Green Zone closer to the visual richness of Colombia's biodiversity, while also decorating and enhancing the COP 16 experience.

The event's closing features the Desepaz Youth Symphony Orchestra, a concert that explores the vibrant rhythms of Colombia. From the cumbia and bullerengue of the Caribbean to the marimba and currulao of the Pacific, their repertoire celebrates the country’s cultural diversity, offering a unique symphonic experience.

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

 

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Discussion 'Dialogue of Knowledge from School: Holistic Education for Nature Protection'

The discussion will address the role of education in shaping citizens with environmental culture, the importance of integrating ancestral and scientific knowledge for biodiversity conservation, and promoting education that transforms the relationship between humans and nature.

Speakers:

  • María Clara Rodríguez, Director of the Botanical Garden of Cali
  • Nubia Carolina Córdoba, Governor of Chocó
  • Luis Alberto Sanabria, Vice Minister of Heritage, Memories, and Cultural Governance of Colombia
  • Gloria Mercedes Carrasco, Vice Minister of Preschool, Basic, and Middle Education of Colombia
  • Carlos Germán Duque - Jahura, Principal of Colegio Ideas

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Knowledge Dialogue 'Citizens of the River: Creative Communities'

At COP16, a Knowledge Dialogue is proposed to highlight how culture contributes to the conservation of the Cauca River. The aim is to raise awareness about the value of ancestral knowledge, highlight cultural practices, and share conservation experiences, promoting sustainable management and peace with nature.

Location: Departmental Library

FREE

Cultural Showcase 'Offering of Peace with Nature'

Indigenous students from Vaupés and Vichada will present 'Offering of Peace with Nature', a performance about the relationship with the environment in the Amazon. It includes 'The Voice of the Ancestors', a dance that pays homage to sacred trees, and 'Under the Starry Sky', based on Curripaca wisdom and guided by a community leader.

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Discussion 'Cultural Protection and Biodiversity: More Than a Link'

The event explores the relationship between nature and culture through two anthropological perspectives: ethnology, which addresses the connection between Amazonian cultures and nature, and archaeology, which examines the evolution of this relationship since the first inhabitants. The Río Arriba project will be launched during the event.

Speakers:

  • Wade Davis, ethnographer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker, known for his work in preserving endangered cultures and ecosystems
  • Martin Von Hildebrand, Colombian anthropologist who has supported the rights of Amazonian indigenous peoples since 1972
  • Carl Henrik Langebaek, anthropologist who has made significant contributions to the study of the history and culture of indigenous peoples in Colombia
  • Silvia Gómez, leader of the Initiative in Colombia and Peru for the Climate and Land Use Alliance
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Cultural Showcase PITEKUS

Pitekus Enmono is a musical and theatrical project, its name inspired by Australopithecus, the ancestor of Homo sapiens that lived 4 million years ago in Africa. Its influences are so diverse that they are reflected in its compositions. In this musical journey, the marimba and percussion take a leading role. It also incorporates modern sound resources such as beatboxing, body percussion, and a loop station, offering a reinterpretation of some traditional music from Ecuador, as well as presenting original and unpublished pieces. The project's theatrical perspective engages the audience in an interactive dynamic, making them part of the show.

Location: Teatro Municipal

FREE

Beyond Sustainability in Tourism

The event aims to promote tourism that not only minimizes its environmental impact but also restores ecosystems and benefits local communities, addressing opportunities and challenges for a greener and more inclusive tourism.

Speakers:

  • Elizabeth Beardsley, Policy Advisor at the U.S. Green Building Council
  • Sergio Rodríguez Abitia, President for the Americas of the International Social Tourism Organisation (ISTO)
  • Laura Durana, Executive Director of the Colombian Association for Responsible Tourism
  • Óscar Rueda, Director of Sustainable Tourism at CAF

Location: Cali Chamber of Commerce – Multi-purpose Room

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Concert Puerto Candelaria 'The Symphony of the Odd Bugs'

The Symphony of the Odd Bugs is a fun and powerful fable that delivers positive messages through bugs as protagonists. With the group's unique style, the songs inspired by Latin popular culture aim to empower, entertain, and bring smiles with their original poetry.

Location: Green Zone Main Stage

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

mmerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Presentation of the Pieltierra Mural

Unveiling of the mural created during an open workshop (8 hours daily) focused on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. The 20 m² mural was made using natural materials like clay and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has been dedicated to art and pedagogy for a decade. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning with other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drives, seeking to bring color, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1era - Calle 11

BiodiverCities at COP16: How to Finance Greener, Fairer, and More Prosperous Cities for Latin America and the Caribbean?

The Meeting of the BiodiverCities Network in Cali, Colombia, within the framework of COP16, aims to promote a dialogue on the relevance of the BiodiverCities model for building a new development paradigm aligned with international commitments on sustainable urban development and the environment. It also seeks to position the Network in global discussions as a best practice example in establishing alliances and networks of local governments committed to climate change adaptation and global biodiversity protection. The meeting also aims to identify potential global and regional funding sources for programs and projects that support this vision of a more sustainable future.

Date: October 27
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Cali Cultural Center

 

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Artistic Showcase 'Friends of the River'

Concert featuring Cauca violins, adapted from the European violin with Afro-descendant rhythms, and a demonstration of machete and cane fencing, which reinforces the cultural memory of the Black community in northern Cauca. The event aims to highlight cultural practices and the care of the Cauca River at COP16.

Location: Main Stage - Green Zone

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Documentary Series Screening 'The Art of Resilience'

This event will feature a discussion panel and the screening of a special edition of the documentary series 'The Art of Resilience'. This edition, which highlights the most significant moments of the series, showcases the leadership of communities that, through innovative initiatives, are transforming their territories and improving the quality of life for the most vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative aims to show how the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as an essential roadmap to ensure a more just and sustainable future.

Location: Universidad Libre de Cali

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Panel Discussion: Environmental Innovation in 21st Century Learning Spaces

Exchange ideas and experiences on the importance of incorporating sustainability and environmental care into the design and construction of educational spaces, and how this connects with flexible, safe, and resilient learning modalities to shape responsible citizens in the 21st century.

Speakers:

  • Martín Motta, Principal Executive of Social Infrastructure at CAF
  • Rosan Bosch, Founder and Creative Director of Rosan Bosch Studio
  • Óscar Sánchez Jaramillo, Vice Minister of Preschool, Basic, and Middle Education of Colombia

Location: Banco de Occidente - Room 4

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Women Guardians of the Mangrove: I International Gathering of Piangueras of the Eastern Tropical Pacific

The first day of the international gathering brings together piangueras (shellfish harvesters) from the Eastern Tropical Pacific, along with governments and conservation organizations. Through workshops and panels, the importance of the mangrove ecosystem, the sustainable harvesting of the piangua (mangrove cockle), and the role of women in its conservation and fair trade are discussed. The Network of Piangueras of the Eastern Tropical Pacific will be launched.

Speakers:

  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Carlos Correa, Former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia
  • Alejandra Navarrete, Government and Multilateral Liaison Officer, The Ocean Foundation, Mexico
  • Fabio Arjona, Executive Director of Conservation International, Colombia
  • Sandra Valenzuela, Executive Director of WWF Colombia
  • Karen Mejía, Director General of the National Authority for Aquaculture and Fisheries of Colombia (AUNAP)
  • María del Pilar López Uribe, Secretary of Economic Development of Bogotá
  • Dina Greysi Pandales Martínez, Pianguera, Association of Piangueras of Chocó, Colombia
  • Martha Liliana Salazar, Pianguera, Community Council of La Plata, Bahía Málaga, Colombia
  • Dayana Hurtado Sánchez, Pianguera, Asocoexportadora Association and member of FEDECONCHA, Colombia
  • Adelina Solano Carranza, Pianguera, Costa Rica
  • Marilyn Priscila Jiménez Mojica, Pianguera, Coope Moluscos Chome, Costa Rica
  • Grecia Berónica Monroy Ruiz, Pianguera, Mangrove Users Network, Ecuador
  • Rosa Torres Olmedo, Pianguera, Bunche Fishing Association, Ecuador
  • Lucy Morales, Pianguera, President of ASOPROMANGLAR of Puerto El Morro, Ecuador
  • Mitzi Estefanía Gutiérrez Hernández, Pianguera, Wild Coast, Mexico
  • Andrea Musuy Méndez García, Pianguera, Wild Coast, Mexico
  • Rosa Cordova López, Pianguera, AEXAPROH Association, Los Tunpis, Peru
  • Jaime Cavelier, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Director for Latin America and Colombia, ICCF, Colombia
  • Juan Criado, Specialist in the Exact and Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO, Colombia
  • Fay Crevoshay, Director of Communications and Public Policy, Wild Coast, Mexico

Opening of Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will fade away, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Women Guardians of the Mangrove: I International Gathering of Piangueras of the Eastern Tropical Pacific

The second day of the international meeting continues with working groups focused on the realities and challenges of shellfish harvesting (piangueo) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Success stories in the commercialization of piangua will be presented, and a recognition ceremony will be held to honor women as guardians of the mangrove. The event will promote experience sharing and the strengthening of the new Network of Piangueras.

Speakers:

  • Yesid González Duque, General Director, ASOCARS
  • Juan Criado, Specialist in the Exact and Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO
  • Dilian Francisca Toro, Governor of Valle del Cauca, Government of Valle del Cauca

Location: Plazoleta San Francisco, ASOCARS Pavilion, Cra 6 #9, Cali

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

From Games to Solutions: Gamification and Sustainable Tourism

This event aims to show how the use of games can motivate tourists and operators to adopt more sustainable practices. With a focus on students and educators from Valle del Cauca, an augmented reality app will be presented to educate interactively, encouraging environmental conservation through a competition with rewards.

Speakers:

  • Óscar Rueda, Director of Sustainable Tourism at CAF
  • Juan Fernando Sansón, Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Universidad Externado de Colombia
  • Derly Pardo, Advisor at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism of Colombia
  • Carolina Cortés, Principal Executive of the Sustainable Tourism Department at CAF

Location: Hotel Faranda - Collection Cali

FREE

 

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Youth Participation Lab 'Diversity in Action: Young People Building a Green Planet'

This event will bring together Afro-descendant and Indigenous youth committed to biodiversity to discuss the Escazú Agreement, climate, biodiversity, and environmental entrepreneurship.

Location: IDEAS School

CLOSED EVENT

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Presentation of the Study on Afro-descendant Entrepreneurship in Latin America

This event will launch research on Afro-descendant entrepreneurship in Latin America, highlighting their profile, sectors of operation, challenges, and opportunities. At COP16, it emphasizes how these sustainable businesses contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework in areas such as gastronomy, tourism, and fashion.

Speakers:

  • Danielle Almeida, Director of Program and International Relations at Afrolab in Preta Hub
  • Eddy Bermúdez, Diversity Coordinator, Gender, Inclusion, and Diversity Management at CAF
  • Paula Moreno, President of Manos Visible
  • José Proscopio Ríos, Director of the Petronio Álvarez Festival
  • Alejandro Eder, Mayor of Cali

Location: Cali Cultural Center – Main Hall

FREE

Presentation of the RED Reports on Energy Transition and Biodiversity

This event presents CAF's Economy and Development Reports (RED) on 'Global Challenges, Regional Solutions' and 'Renewed Energies', which address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity, and a just energy transition in the region, highlighting policies for low-carbon economies and social inclusion.

Location: Cali Cultural Center – Main Auditorium

FREE

Green Employability Forum: Popular Economy and New Technologies

This panel aims to bring the community closer to sustainability and environmental awareness. It includes discussions on social leadership and conservation practices, green employability, the future economy, and public policies to promote new occupations and technology.

Speakers:

  • Mario Rincón, National Coordinator of the Labor Skills Assessment and Certification Group (ECCL) at SENA
  • Claudia López, National Coordinator of Public Policy for Vocational Training at the ILO
  • Milena Molina, Project Manager at OEI
  • Elsis María Valencia, Labor Competency Evaluator in Popular Economy at SENA Regional Valle
  • Hector Bombiela, Advisor at the SENA Directorate

Location: Coliseo del Pueblo - Valle Commitment and Propacífico Pavilion

FREE

Bio-Photography Talk 'Recognizing Biodiversity Through Photography'

This talk will delve into the experiences of the invited photographers in nature and the stories behind the exhibited photos. It explores how biodiversity enriches their lives and professions and how this connection can inspire anyone to value nature, emphasizing that without biodiversity, these meanings are lost.

Speakers:

  • Federico Ríos, award-winning documentary photographer known for his work on migrants in the Darién Gap
  • Eduardo Sorensen, Chilean underwater photographer
  • Óscar Pérez, digital nomad and cultural manager
  • Amado Villafaña, photographer and Arhuaco leader from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
  • César Martínez, photographer specializing in nature, travel, and heritage
  • Leydi Higidio, Secretary of Culture of Cali

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Photography Exhibition 'From Another Lens' and Concert by the Desepaz Youth Symphony

The exhibition will bring attendees of the Green Zone closer to the visual richness of Colombia's biodiversity, while also decorating and enhancing the COP 16 experience.

The event's closing features the Desepaz Youth Symphony Orchestra, a concert that explores the vibrant rhythms of Colombia. From the cumbia and bullerengue of the Caribbean to the marimba and currulao of the Pacific, their repertoire celebrates the country’s cultural diversity, offering a unique symphonic experience.

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

 

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Discussion 'Dialogue of Knowledge from School: Holistic Education for Nature Protection'

The discussion will address the role of education in shaping citizens with environmental culture, the importance of integrating ancestral and scientific knowledge for biodiversity conservation, and promoting education that transforms the relationship between humans and nature.

Speakers:

  • María Clara Rodríguez, Director of the Botanical Garden of Cali
  • Nubia Carolina Córdoba, Governor of Chocó
  • Luis Alberto Sanabria, Vice Minister of Heritage, Memories, and Cultural Governance of Colombia
  • Gloria Mercedes Carrasco, Vice Minister of Preschool, Basic, and Middle Education of Colombia
  • Carlos Germán Duque - Jahura, Principal of Colegio Ideas

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Knowledge Dialogue 'Citizens of the River: Creative Communities'

At COP16, a Knowledge Dialogue is proposed to highlight how culture contributes to the conservation of the Cauca River. The aim is to raise awareness about the value of ancestral knowledge, highlight cultural practices, and share conservation experiences, promoting sustainable management and peace with nature.

Location: Departmental Library

FREE

Cultural Showcase 'Offering of Peace with Nature'

Indigenous students from Vaupés and Vichada will present 'Offering of Peace with Nature', a performance about the relationship with the environment in the Amazon. It includes 'The Voice of the Ancestors', a dance that pays homage to sacred trees, and 'Under the Starry Sky', based on Curripaca wisdom and guided by a community leader.

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Discussion 'Cultural Protection and Biodiversity: More Than a Link'

The event explores the relationship between nature and culture through two anthropological perspectives: ethnology, which addresses the connection between Amazonian cultures and nature, and archaeology, which examines the evolution of this relationship since the first inhabitants. The Río Arriba project will be launched during the event.

Speakers:

  • Wade Davis, ethnographer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker, known for his work in preserving endangered cultures and ecosystems
  • Martin Von Hildebrand, Colombian anthropologist who has supported the rights of Amazonian indigenous peoples since 1972
  • Carl Henrik Langebaek, anthropologist who has made significant contributions to the study of the history and culture of indigenous peoples in Colombia
  • Silvia Gómez, leader of the Initiative in Colombia and Peru for the Climate and Land Use Alliance
  • Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF

Location: Municipal Theater

FREE

Cultural Showcase PITEKUS

Pitekus Enmono is a musical and theatrical project, its name inspired by Australopithecus, the ancestor of Homo sapiens that lived 4 million years ago in Africa. Its influences are so diverse that they are reflected in its compositions. In this musical journey, the marimba and percussion take a leading role. It also incorporates modern sound resources such as beatboxing, body percussion, and a loop station, offering a reinterpretation of some traditional music from Ecuador, as well as presenting original and unpublished pieces. The project's theatrical perspective engages the audience in an interactive dynamic, making them part of the show.

Location: Teatro Municipal

FREE

Beyond Sustainability in Tourism

The event aims to promote tourism that not only minimizes its environmental impact but also restores ecosystems and benefits local communities, addressing opportunities and challenges for a greener and more inclusive tourism.

Speakers:

  • Elizabeth Beardsley, Policy Advisor at the U.S. Green Building Council
  • Sergio Rodríguez Abitia, President for the Americas of the International Social Tourism Organisation (ISTO)
  • Laura Durana, Executive Director of the Colombian Association for Responsible Tourism
  • Óscar Rueda, Director of Sustainable Tourism at CAF

Location: Cali Chamber of Commerce – Multi-purpose Room

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Pieltierra Mural

Open workshop (8 hours daily) on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. Participants will create a 20 m² mural using natural materials such as clays and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has dedicated a decade to art and pedagogy. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning from other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drivers, aiming to bring colors, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1 - Calle 11

FREE

Concert Puerto Candelaria 'The Symphony of the Odd Bugs'

The Symphony of the Odd Bugs is a fun and powerful fable that delivers positive messages through bugs as protagonists. With the group's unique style, the songs inspired by Latin popular culture aim to empower, entertain, and bring smiles with their original poetry.

Location: Green Zone Main Stage

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

mmerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Pedagogical Experience 'Teaching Biodiversity'

This is an interactive journey to promote knowledge and protection of biodiversity. Through creative pedagogy focused on peaceful coexistence and conservation, participants explore a learning path that answers the question: How is biodiversity taught? The experience, led by the Roots & Shoots group from Colegio Los Manglares, aims to showcase innovative pedagogical outcomes, inspiring participants to value and protect biodiversity.

The Roots & Shoots program, which has done remarkable work in conservation and animal welfare, was founded by Jane Goodall, globally renowned for her studies on wild chimpanzees.

Location: Green Zone

FREE

Presentation of the Pieltierra Mural

Unveiling of the mural created during an open workshop (8 hours daily) focused on the use of natural pigments and collective muralism. The 20 m² mural was made using natural materials like clay and minerals, under the guidance of artist Diana Rocío Acosta, who combines art and pedagogy to promote creativity and collective expression.

Diana Acosta, 33 years old, has been dedicated to art and pedagogy for a decade. Self-taught since childhood, her passion has grown through experimentation and learning with other artists. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she merges art and teaching as her main life drives, seeking to bring color, love, and change to the world.

Location: Green Zone: Carrera 1era - Calle 11

BiodiverCities at COP16: How to Finance Greener, Fairer, and More Prosperous Cities for Latin America and the Caribbean?

The Meeting of the BiodiverCities Network in Cali, Colombia, within the framework of COP16, aims to promote a dialogue on the relevance of the BiodiverCities model for building a new development paradigm aligned with international commitments on sustainable urban development and the environment. It also seeks to position the Network in global discussions as a best practice example in establishing alliances and networks of local governments committed to climate change adaptation and global biodiversity protection. The meeting also aims to identify potential global and regional funding sources for programs and projects that support this vision of a more sustainable future.

Date: October 27
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Cali Cultural Center

 

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Artistic Showcase 'Friends of the River'

Concert featuring Cauca violins, adapted from the European violin with Afro-descendant rhythms, and a demonstration of machete and cane fencing, which reinforces the cultural memory of the Black community in northern Cauca. The event aims to highlight cultural practices and the care of the Cauca River at COP16.

Location: Main Stage - Green Zone

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Documentary Series Screening 'The Art of Resilience'

This event will feature a discussion panel and the screening of a special edition of the documentary series 'The Art of Resilience'. This edition, which highlights the most significant moments of the series, showcases the leadership of communities that, through innovative initiatives, are transforming their territories and improving the quality of life for the most vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative aims to show how the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as an essential roadmap to ensure a more just and sustainable future.

Location: Universidad Libre de Cali

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Panel Discussion: Environmental Innovation in 21st Century Learning Spaces

Exchange ideas and experiences on the importance of incorporating sustainability and environmental care into the design and construction of educational spaces, and how this connects with flexible, safe, and resilient learning modalities to shape responsible citizens in the 21st century.

Speakers:

  • Martín Motta, Principal Executive of Social Infrastructure at CAF
  • Rosan Bosch, Founder and Creative Director of Rosan Bosch Studio
  • Óscar Sánchez Jaramillo, Vice Minister of Preschool, Basic, and Middle Education of Colombia

Location: Banco de Occidente - Room 4

Butterfly Boulevard Experience

The Butterfly Boulevard, located in the green zone of COP16, offers an interactive journey for audiences of all ages, fostering a scientific and environmental spirit. At the end of the experience, attendees will receive a zine with information about butterflies and a space to record their observations, encouraging them to share their experience on social media.

Location: Bulevar del Río

FREE

Biodiversity and Culture, an Immersive Experience

Immerse yourself in an experience that will activate all your senses. Through immersive sounds, images, and textures, you will feel the richness and diversity of nature in a unique way. Once you are completely connected with its vastness, it will disappear, leaving you with a deep and emotional understanding of why it is essential to protect biodiversity.

Location: Bulevar del Río – Biodiversity District

FREE