Between October 21 and November 1, Colombia hosted the Biodiversity Summit (COP16) in Cali, a historic event that brought together representatives from nearly all over the world to establish agreements focused on environmental protection and biodiversity. This event marked a milestone as the most inclusive and massive COP in history, with over 12,000 people in the Blue Zone and more than one million visitors in the Green Zone. Additionally, it generated a significant economic impact, with revenues of 122 billion pesos and a 400% growth in local business sales.

Main Results

Blue Zone

The COP16, known as "the People's COP," reached historic agreements::

-Recognition of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities: For the first time in 26 years, the value of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples as custodians of biodiversity was proclaimed. This included the creation of a subsidiary body under Article 8J of the Convention on Biological Diversity to ensure their active participation until 2030.

- Cali Fund: A fund was established to raise resources derived from the use of digital sequence information of genetic resources, particularly by pharmaceutical, agricultural, and biotechnology industries.

-Marine Protection: New initiatives for marine conservation were agreed upon, highlighting their importance in the fight against climate change..

- Environmental Education: A historic environmental education campaign was launched, focusing on raising awareness from schools to shape generations responsible for the environment.

Despite the progress, consensus was not reached on the creation of a global fund to address biodiversity loss due to the lack of quorum in the final sessions.

At the end of the summit, on November 2,44 Of the 196 parties, new NBSAPs (National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans) had been developed.

Green zone

The Green Zone was the most massive and inclusive hub of COP16, attracting over 900,000 people in 12 days. With activities open to the public, this space stood out for:

-Over 1,100 cultural and academic events, such as concerts, forums, and green business exhibitions..

-Economic Impact: Green businesses and local ventures generated sales exceeding 300 million pesos.

- Community Participation: Local and Indigenous communities were mobilized, using this platform to promote their conservation and cultural initiatives.

HIBN (Hispanic International Business Network) participamos en la zona verde con dos mesas compartidas con la Federación Wala Cannabis  una organizacion de medicina ancestral: uno ubicado en el Bulevar del Río, cerca de la Maloca de la Amazonia, y otro en el Coliseo del Pueblo, en la ciudadela de la biodiversidad. Visitamos la zona azul, asistimos a  eventos academicos.

Durante diez dias de participación  se entregaron 2.000 volantes informátivos sobre Terapia de Bosque, 500 libretas, 2.000 volantes de promoción para el reto de vigia de la naturaleza, Afiche promocional de la terapia de bosque con sus patrocinadores  y se participo en:

- Forest Therapy awareness sessions aimed at adult and student populations.

-Presentation on Forest Therapy as a strategy for the care and protection of biodiversity at the Municipal Council of Cali.

- Forest Therapy experiences in the green areas of the location and the Melendez River; the Forest Therapy sessions and training reached an unprecedented scope..

        - Activities at universities such as Icesi, San Buenaventura, and Antonio Nariño, with the participation of 170 students and 20 professors..

Nature Watch Challenge

The Nature Watch Project, developed through the iNaturalist app, aimed to capture and document the biodiversity of Cali and Colombia, showcasing the wealth of species that inhabit the country. As part of this initiative, the COP16 Nature Watch Challenge was held, organized in collaboration with the FAHEPA Foundation and our sponsors.

the project not only highlights the natural wealth of Colombia but also inspires greater environmental awareness and fosters a commitment to the conservation of its unique biodiversity.

We thank the support of our sponsors, who believed in our purpose. They are: Comunidad Be, JPP Production LLC, Celinz International, Multilingual Education, Interenvios, Marines Empanadas, Temas Colombia, Fundación Ana Herrera de Pardo, Cascos Anticorrupción, and Dental USA. 

COP16 not only placed biodiversity on the same level as decarbonization and climate change, but it also left a significant educational and cultural legacy.

• It raised awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the need to promote global consensus.
• It mobilized communities to protect the environment.
• It promoted environmental education programs from schools.

The next Summit will be held in the Republic of Armenia, chosen as the host for COP17 on Biodiversity, which will take place in 2026. This event will continue the important work started in Cali, and at HIBN, we look forward to the opportunity to actively participate and continue contributing to this crucial global agenda.l.