For the first time, Afro-descendant communities had an official space in the development of COP16, which is being held in the city of Santiago de Cali, Colombia, to discuss their role in the conservation of biodiversity.
For analysts, this forum, unanimously supported by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Biodiversity, represents a milestone in the fight for racial, ethnic and environmental justice in Afro-American territories.
The Minister of the Environment of Colombia, Susana Muhamad, highlighted in her speech the importance of this space and its relevance within COP16. “This implies that the issue is not peripheral, but that, thanks to the commitment of the black people of Latin America, this issue has managed to be present as an important negotiation issue,” he stated.
Likewise, the minister highlighted the crucial role that Afro-descendant peoples have had in the conservation of biodiversity and recalled that black communities inhabit strategic ecosystems that contribute 40% of global biodiversity. “Not recognizing the historical contribution of black communities to biodiversity is ignoring one of the most important cultural and political riches,” he added.
For her part, the vice president of Colombia, Francia Márquez, emphasized the hard work of the Afro-descendant delegates at the negotiating tables, pointing out the leadership of Jenny Bowen, head of the Colombian delegation, and Tatiana Olmedo, a 25-year-old young woman who has been key in the defense of Afro-descendant rights within the agreement. “This Afro-descendant effort is historic and its presence in this forum is an act of reparation and ethnic-racial justice,” he said.
Carolina Rocha, historian from Brazil, also intervened, highlighting that “the organization of the forum is a historic moment at COP16, with very important debates and narratives for the struggle of black people in Latin America and around the world.”
Josefina Klinger Zúñiga, director of the Mano Cambiada Corporation, added: “We live in the most strategic places where biodiversity is. This forum is not only a space for dialogue, it is a demand for our communities. Finally, our voices, our struggles and our relationship with nature are being recognized on a global level. “Here we are building a new narrative where Afro-descendant peoples are protagonists of conservation.”
The International Afro-descendant Forum at COP16 marks a significant step towards inclusion of Afro-descendant peoples within global decision-making processes, recognizing its fundamental role in the protection and conservation of global biodiversity.
2024-10-25 00:24:00
