The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), held in Yerevan, officially concluded.
Although negotiations were prolonged on several occasions, particularly during the working group's plenary session, an important milestone was achieved: the operational procedures of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) of the Convention were officially adopted.
Article 8(j) is a key provision of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. It addresses the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities that are relevant to biodiversity conservation. The adoption of the operational procedures marks an important step towards advancing the implementation of this provision and strengthening the participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in global biodiversity governance.
At the institutional level, the Subsidiary Body provides a permanent platform for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to contribute to decision-making, moving beyond participation through temporary, ad hoc groups. It also strengthens the recognition of traditional knowledge and community-led practices that contribute to biodiversity conservation within the framework of the Convention. In addition, it provides an institutional framework for strengthening support for Indigenous Peoples and local communities and promoting their access to resources for biodiversity conservation.