The United Nations’ seventeenth meeting on biological diversity (CBD COP17) will be organized in Armenia, Oct 19–30. NKJ is there, contributing with two events.
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) brings together representatives of governments from around the world, international organizations, the scientific community, civil society, Indigenous peoples, youth, and the private sector. They will evaluate and accelerate the implementation of the global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The theme is “Taking Action for Nature” and the primary goal is to translate global pledges into concrete national actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
NKJ, in collaboration with the Nordic Council, are hosting two events in the Nordic Pavillion
NKJ’s first event, on Oct 21, is titled ”Managing conflicts between the green transition and Indigenous rights in Sápmi” (in the Nordic pavillion at 11-12). The green transition is driving major changes in land use across the Nordic region. In Sápmi, these changes can have significant implications for Sámi reindeer husbandry and the traditional use of land and natural resources. This session will highlight Nordic experiences and recent developments concerning cumulative impacts, traditional knowledge, and Sámi participation in planning and decision-making. It will explore practical approaches to upholding Indigenous rights and strengthening the implementation of Articles 8(j) and 10(c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
– The Nordic countries face many of the same challenges when balancing the green transition, biodiversity, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. For Sápmi, where reindeer husbandry and Sámi communities extend across national borders, Nordic cooperation provides a valuable opportunity to learn from each other and develop more coherent approaches to land-use planning and decision-making. By bringing these experiences to CBD COP17, we can contribute Nordic perspectives to the international discussion on how the goals of biodiversity conservation can be pursued while respecting Indigenous rights and traditional knowledge, says Sofie Andersson, organiser of this event and project coordinator at NKJ.
The day after, Oct 22, NKJ organizes an event on ”Novel Perennial Grain Crops – Linking Soil and Water Health” (in the Nordic pavillion at 14-15). Novel perennial grain crops developed in the Nordics offer a double win: producing valuable food and biomass while providing ecosystem services like reduced nutrient leakage and better soil health. This session explores the science, policy barriers, and vision of a perennial agricultural future.
– The development of perennial grains challenges our 10,000-year-old reliance on annual grains – this session explores how this could significantly transform our agri-food system, says Elsa Wallin, Project Coordinator at Nordic Agri Research (NKJ).
Are you in Yerevan for the COP17 meeting? Welcome to visit us in the Nordic pavillion, and to participate in our two events!