VToujours in Business with Nature
VToujours is commited to empowering local communities, governments, the private sector and other stakeholders by providing adapted sustainable solutions to eradicate poverty aiming to value, innovate, protect and conserve Nature, integrating processes and practices to transform business models and boost equitable economies.
VToujours participated at the COP 16, from October 20th to November 1th 2024, joined more than 20.000 people that represented businesses, governments, Indigenous peoples, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders.
As members of the business community, we participated at the COP 16 contributing, learning, and exploring potential collaborations for the successful implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global biodiversity framework (KMGBF).
VToujours is member of IUCN, IPBES, CBD Women’s Caucus, Business for Nature, among other organisations. During COP 16, VToujours strengthened its relationships with those organisations.
The CBD Women’s Caucus serves as the recognised platform under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for all women and girls to advocate for their rights in biodiversity-related decision-making processes at all levels. On October 20th, we had the opportunity to meet Sara Leon Carrillo, 8 years old, who has been dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity since she was 3 years old. Her powerful message underscored the crucial role of everyone in the conservation of Nature and the importance of youth in its preservation.
The opening ceremony of the COP 16 was composed by a beautiful displaying of arts, traditions and the splendour of Nature, followed by the remarks from government delegates from around the world.
Throughout the COP 16, VToujours participated at negotiations focused on key areas, including: the transformation of economies and businesses as part of the implementation of the KMGBF; the diverse values of biodiversity; biodiversity and health; mainstreaming; biodiversity and climate change; scientific and technical needs to support implementation of the Framework; multi-year program of work; capacity building; among others.
In addition to our participation in the negotiations, VToujours was involved in over 100 sessions and networking events on a wide range of topics, incluiding: businesses and biodiversity; finance and sustainable solutions, wellbeing economy, nature positive economy; leadership of communities in conservation; valuation of ecosystems; National biodiversity strategies and action plans; transitions of agriculture for food security and nature protection; biodiversity based economies for conservation and equity; education and biodiversity; biodiversity for Food and nutrition; circular economy; bioeconomy and resilience; values of nature and business decision-making; inclusive strategies for biodiversity conservation; food systems, health and biodiversity; women forum; restoration; forest; community leadership for conservation; ecosystem restoration and local perspectives, Water Forum, dolphin’s habitats and biodiversity, etc.
On October 29th, VToujours and MacAgro offered a space to discuss about the risks of nature loss for businesses and People showcasing solutions, progress and means to address challenges of efficient Nature Resource Management platforms that contribute to the successful implementation of the KMGBF focusing on Targets 1, 10, 19 and 22.
The event contributed:
1.To demonstrate the importance of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSP) and inclusivity for Natural Resource Management (NRM) and its critical relevance for food security.
2.To leverage partnerships that strengthen NRM and enhance food security.
3. To show case real solutions to MSP that respond to biodiversity conservation challenges in West Africa
4. To discuss challenges and opportunities that foster collaborations among businesses, communities and other stateholders aiming to develop holistic sustainable solutions.
Together, VToujours and MacAgro showcased their work on Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs), underscoring both the opportunities and challenges in coordinated land restoration efforts and biodiversity protection. By emphasizing the importance of incluiding business, community and women in the design and implementation of these platforms, the two enterprises demonstrated the potential for community-driven Natural Resource Management (NRM), stressing the need for targeted investment and capacity building to support indigenous peoples, and local groups.
This interactive exchange enabled the audience to gain insight into the challenges and the critical role of adapted and impactful collaborations. In a collaborative effort to expand sustainable projects, VToujours and MacAgro announced their partnership that focuses on delivering impactful and community-centred solutions. The partnership aims to leverage expertise in agroecological practices, market systems, and dietary diversity, to address problems of land degradation, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity, with the aim of fostering sustainable agriculture and food diversification solutions, sustainable business and job creation.
On October 30th, VToujours was invited to be part of a panel on the topic Together for tomorrow: Building cross-constituency collaboration. Moderated by Gopal Patel, the panel was constituted by four leaders: Sandra Sanchez, founder and director of VToujours; Jocabed Solano Miselis, director of Indigenous memory; Daniela Arredondo Munguia, Youth representative; Neddy Astudillo, coordinator of the Spanish climate justice at the Pacific Lutheran Theologian seminary.
Daniela mentioned the importance to place biodiversity and people at the center of global conversations to restore and build relationships.
Jocabed shared different perspectives to cultivate collaborations, integrating values, supporting common goals, learning and implementing traditional practices.
Neddy highlighted the necessity of climate justice mobilization and stressed the importance of coordinated action by informed actors.
Sandra Sanchez mentioned that VToujours is member of the CBD Women’s Caucus. She explained the mission of the Caucus, the role of Women and girls as defenders of biodiversity and key actors in the implementation of solutions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Sandra proposed:
1. To put human and environmental rights at the center of organisations, aligning with Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action including them as part of the main priorities of strategic plans to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework;
2. To integrate a gender analysis based on the Gender Plan of Action as essential component of organizational development;
3. To mobilise expertise and resources developing adapted partnerships;
4. To rethink the investment strategy of organizations fostering innovations in sustainable solutions.
To create and nourish meaningful collaborations, Sandra emphasized the values and principles that are critical: being respectful, honest and true, open and transparent, humble and brave.
During COP 16, VToujours had the opportunity to engage with many participants, some of them decided to share their ideas, capured in videos:
Jocabed is working in Latin America with different groups of Indigenous Peoples. She learns and facilitates dialogues and processes based on the narratives of the memories of indigenous peoples.
This video describes her experience at COP 16 and some recommendations. (The video is available in English)
He shared his experience at COP 16, the work of People in Need and a reflection about the inclusion of the French language during negotiations and events at COP 16. (The video is available in French).
This video shows wisdom and intergenerational exchange. Mrs. Alicia Pai and her granddaughter Mss. Yudiana Merchan from the People of the mountain of the big tree (iNkal Awà Katsa Ti. They described their experience at COP 16 and the work and commitment of Mrs. Alicia in favor of biodiversity. And Yudiana explained the definition of knowledge systems, her work in the negotiations regarding the Article 8J and the contribution of intergenerational dialogue during COP16. (The video is available in Spanish).
Ndiaga shared his experience at COP 16, the importance of negotiations about Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as his admiration for the beauty of the landscape and biodiversity. (The video is available in French).
In conclusion, COP 16 was full of negotiations, sessions and events related to the urgency to act, to take decisions and to implement concerted strategies to sustain all that makes LIFE possible, as well as the critical role of holistic approaches for the successful implementation of the KMGBF. Negotiations were possible on some items of the agenda: progress was made about commitments on nature and climate, biodiversity and health, the commitment on the integration of Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ knowledge on the implementation of the KMGBF.
However, pending negotiations need to be addressed for: the biodiversity finance and resource mobilization mechanism, monitoring framework of the KMGBF; and the mechanism for planning ,monitoring, reporting; and the integrated inclusion of the gender action plan for the delivery of the KMGBF.
VToujours is committed to the full implementation of the KMGBF. We continue to prioritize efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, to achieve water security, build climate resilience, strengthening livelihoods and increasing the wellbeing of ALL.
We invite you to connect with us and collaborate together in this ambitious mission to drive transformations for both People and Nature!
