In a quite “not-yet-post-pandemic” time, this year’s Congress shed a special spotlight on how several key changes must be addressed in order to accelerate actions towards avoiding future pandemics, including investment in Nature-based Solutions, the creation of more green jobs through taxation and seizing this opportunity to do things differently by valuing nature as if it really matters, by rethinking and rebuilding our system and putting nature and people at the top of our priorities. It is undeniable that environmental degradation, the climate crisis and biodiversity loss have a major impact on human health worldwide and how, only through the collaboration of science and traditional knowledge, is will be possible to find real solutions to the current crisis. That is why this year, for the first time in history, indigenous people had a vote as decision-makers regarding the protection of territories they have inhabited for centuries such as the Amazon rainforest. Additionally, the Indigenous and Local Communities (IPLC’s) launched the Global Indigenous Agenda for the Governance of Indigenous Lands, Territories, Waters, Coastal Seas and Natural Resources which includes Securing recognition and respect for collective Indigenous rights and governance of lands, territories, waters, coastal seas and natural resources, promoting and implementing Indigenous solutions to conservation of biodiversity, promoting and implement Indigenous solutions to the climate crisis, influencing post COVID-19 recovery and food security agendas to improve the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples, increasing and strengthening Indigenous leadership in decision-making processes and access to resources related climate and nature conservation. Furthermore, there was more space for young and local communities to speak and share their ideas than during any previous year, with events such as the Global Youth Summit and the first ever World Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nature which took place during the first days of the Congress, reinforcing the idea of how, only through integrating multidisciplinary approaches and diverse sectors including governments, local communities, science, NGO’s and the private and financial sectors will it be possible to accurately target the ecological crisis and achieve the goals set during the Congress. During the following days at the Congress, hundreds of events took place, ranging from workshops to panels, webinars, art exhibitions, film screenings, and e-posters where CEM participated in over 30 in-person and online events. During the first day of public events, Chair Angela Andrade and several CEM members led the Ecosystem approach as the cornerstone of our future webinar, where they highlighted the most recent achievements of several CEM technical groups. David Keith, from the Red List of Ecosystems group described how the recently published IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology and the Red List of Ecosystem Database can serve as important tools for assessing and monitoring ecosystems worldwide in order to achieve direct impacts ecosystem restoration. Emmanuelle Cohen focused on how Nature-based solutions serve as a bridge between scientific information and practical, social-environmental goals and highlighting the 50+ events where CEM has participated including training, educating, supervising and supporting projects and organizations, leading them towards more efficient Nature-based solutions. Cara Nelson approached restoration and rewilding as a critical conservation priority to reverse ecosystem degradation and restoration of degraded ecosystems, and how CEM has provided specific principles and standards of practice for ecosystem restoration to ensure highest and most effective restoration, as “we can have good intentions, but without standards and principles we can make mistakes which can be counterproductive in the end, causing more damage than benefits”. Liette Vasseur reflected on how an inclusive approach is fundamental for improving conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem health for human wellbeing, and how only by working together with local communities, indigenous, youth, women and men in cities, etc. is it possible to address effective Nature-based Solutions. Last but not least, Carlos Zambrana, addressed human health issues and their direct relation to ecosystem degradation worldwide, and how ecosystem restoration can serve as an efficient mitigator for pandemics and other health risks. |