GEAN Environment’s Post

🌳 Unveiling the Hidden Treasures of Indigenous Wisdom 🌄 In the urgent global pursuit to safeguard biodiversity, one of our most underutilized resources lies within the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples. https://lnkd.in/di33q7Fp

Multifunctional landscapes allow humans and nature to coexist harmoniously. These landscapes were highlighted at the 7th Investment Case Symposium organized by the Global Landscapes Forum on 25 October. These landscapes are key to achieving the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Read more and watch the session here: https://lnkd.in/d9vDtSxF

What do WaterborneTP transport, infrastructure and biodiversity have in common. A debate during the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2024 focussed on infrastructure and biodiversity, and Eero Lehtovaara conveyed the following key messages: ▶ Activities within the Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport partnership focus on eliminating negative impact on biodiversity as well ▶ The share of inland waterway transport in the total transport capacity can and has to be further increased ▶ Cooperation between all actors within the waterborne transport ecosystem is and will remain key

What do WaterborneTP transport, infrastructure and biodiversity have in common. A debate during the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2024 focussed on infrastructure and biodiversity, and Eero Lehtovaara conveyed the following key messages: ▶ Activities within the Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport partnership focus on eliminating negative impact on biodiversity as well ▶ The share of inland waterway transport in the total transport capacity can and has to be further increased ▶ Cooperation between all actors within the waterborne transport ecosystem is and will remain key

Towards 30 by 30: Balancing nature and people New analysis from scientists at the Natural History Museum reveals that current conservation efforts are not adequately protecting the most critical ecosystem services on which six billion people depend. In 2022, parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity signed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This is a landmark deal which, amongst other ambitions, seeks to conserve 30% of land and waters by 2030. This target is nicknamed ‘30 by 30’. So far, the approach to implementing 30 by 30 has been to strengthen and expand the global network of protected and conserved areas. However, our analysis shows that this might not be enough to make 30 by 30 work for people and planet. Read on at https://lnkd.in/ey7HFzFp

How much do you know about geodiversity? Geodiversity forms the landscapes all around us and plays a fundamental role in shaping ecosystems and supporting life. However, geodiversity has been referred to as ‘silent nature’ and its role is often taken for granted. Elaine Hooton explains more in this short video and the PolicyWISE briefing emphasizes the need for a more holistic approach to nature, one that fully recognizes and integrates the contributions of geodiversity alongside biodiversity in ecosystems. You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/eaz9-aAd

The latest report by the European Forest Institute (EFI) highlights the critical role EU forests play as long-term carbon sinks, contributing significantly to the EU’s emission reduction targets for 2050. In particular, reforestation and improved forest management in Southern Europe are identified as some of the most effective strategies for carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and ecosystem resilience. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dA5cA37X hummingbirds' latest reforestation project in Spain, now live on LITA.co , is a unique opportunity to support the restoration of degraded land while offering an attractive return on your savings: https://lnkd.in/dMUz3HT9

The World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026, organised by VLIZ - Flanders Marine Institute, and endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade event, has recently opened its call for session proposals. 🌊 The sessions will be based on the conference sub-themes, while the main theme will be “The marine biodiversity insights we need, for the ocean we want“. The applications are open until 31 March 2025! Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/3VSgZqU MarineSABRES, DTO BioFlow, DOORS Black Sea, AQUARIUS-RI, BioDT

In my capacity as chair of the Restoration Task Force within the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), I am happy to share this policy brief “Putting People at the Center of Ecosystem Restoration” which I co-authored with Marlène Elias, PhD from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.  As the pace of ecosystem restoration accelerates, putting people at the centre of ecosystem restoration has never been more urgent. People depend on ecosystems, people manage ecosystems, people degrade and restore ecosystems: people are the key to successful and lasting ecosystem restoration. In this policy brief we remind governments that successful implementation of Target 2 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework requires them to move beyond superficial engagement of stakeholders and adopt people-centered approaches that enable socially just restoration, include human rights in ecosystem restoration and NBSAPs, establish interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams to carry out restoration, learn from other processes that have integrated human dimensions and monitor outcomes of restoration for impacts on people.

While I deeply value the efforts at all levels to restore ecosystems under the UN Decade on #EcosystemRestoration, experience has repeatedly shown that any attempt to save and restore ecosystems will ultimately fail unless Indigenous peoples and local communities—the primary custodians of biodiversity—are placed at the heart of these initiatives. Merely mentioning Indigenous peoples and local communities is not enough. As those closely following COP discussions on biodiversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) know, it has been over 30 years since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Isn’t it time for all biodiversity and ecosystem initiatives to build upon existing lessons and go beyond symbolic involvement of Indigenous Peoples? We must take real, concrete steps to recognize Indigenous peoples as central figures in flagship projects, ensuring they are fully involved in decision-making on ecosystem restoration. Now, having served for two years on the Advisory Board of this UN Decade, I feel more strongly than ever that it’s time to fundamentally revisit our approach and place Indigenous peoples and local communities firmly at the core of ecosystem restoration efforts.