Sites, Rights & Resources: An integrated approach to sustaining biological and cultural diversity

UNESCO’s side event proposes a multi-actor roadmap for building sustainable partnerships and reconciling diverse interests and needs to deliver a nature-culture weave to underpin the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The event examines the dynamics, tensions and opportunities between the KM-GBF Joint Programme of Work on the links between biological and cultural diversity and Target 3: Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas. Different constituencies, including Governments, Indigenous Peoples, conservationists and State Parties identify common ground on transforming sites, rights and resources for successful results and approaches to mobilizing multiple knowledge systems and interculturality.

Partnerships are essential for driving the global shift in behavior, biological connectivity, nature conservation, human rights compliance and landscape-scale planning. Addressing the nexus of biodiversity and climate challenges requires a collaborative approach that invites cooperation and respect between diverse actors, national governments, rights-holders, knowledge holders, and funding partners to sustain the planet at different scales.

UNESCO is a global convener on natural and cultural diversity as well as the main multilateral agency supporting effective conservation of cultural and natural heritage sites. UNESCO hosts the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the Man and Biosphere Intergovernmental Programme, the UNESCO Global Geoparks programme as well as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the 2003 Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems programme. Africa, Gender Equality, Youth and Small Island Developing States are UNESCO priorities.