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Guatemala City, Guatemala, October 13, 2024 (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥). The "Dialogue on Governance Systems of Indigenous Peoples Related to Forests and Biological Diversity," held in Guatemala, addressed the critical issues of biodiversity loss, conservation challenges, and the collective management efforts led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The dialogue underscored the need for greater inclusion of these groups in institutional and state policies.

The event, organized by CONAP with technical and financial support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥), aimed to identify mechanisms to better recognize the essential role played by Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It brought together representatives from Guatemala's environmental and protected area governance bodies, as well as Indigenous and local organizations, with contributions from the Garifuna and Mayan communities across the country.

Key panelists included Germán Santo Cuá, President of the Board of Directors of Natural Resources of the 48 Cantons; Norma Catú, Deputy Chief of Party of the National Network of Organized Communities of Guatemala (RENACOR); and Igor de la Roca, Executive Secretary of CONAP.

CONAP Guatemala

Addressing governance systems on forests and biodiversity is a key call of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which urges each party to the Convention on Biological Diversity to intensify efforts to reverse ecosystem loss and degradation. It emphasizes the importance of ancestral knowledge and the full, effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in this global effort.

"We, as Indigenous Peoples, are the force that protects global biodiversity. However, despite our contributions, we have not made significant progress in addressing climate change challenges, either nationally or globally," remarked panelist Norma Catú. She added, "These spaces are valuable because they allow us, as community leaders, to share ideas and experiences, generating proposals that can benefit our communities and recognize the vital role of community authorities in protecting our territories and combating climate change."

CONAP Guatemala

The insights shared during the dialogue will inform Guatemala’s positions at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, taking place from October 20 to November 1 in Cali, Colombia.

"In this dialogue, we identified the need for innovative models to manage biodiversity, not limited to protected areas, but also leveraging historically successful approaches to natural resource management," said CONAP Executive Secretary Igor de la Roca. "This dialogue is the beginning of a process to improve biodiversity management in our country."

CONAP, the focal point for Guatemala's participation in COP16, is leading the development of national positions on biodiversity, climate change, and the sustainable management of wildlife. Guatemala will participate with an intergovernmental and intersectoral delegation of over 30 representatives—the largest and most diverse delegation the country has ever sent to this global conference.