Since this past Monday, Panama is hosting the first session of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a new permanent space created at COP16 to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the protection of biodiversity.

A decisive step towards inclusion in global environmental policy

This body aims to ensure that indigenous peoples:

•  Share the benefits derived from the use of their traditional knowledge
• See their ancestral knowledge respected, conserved, and maintained
• Are recognized as guardians of biodiversity and key actors in sustainability

“We have many responsibilities to turn this decision into concrete results,” expressed Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the CBD.

Objectives of the first session: structure, integration, and planning

The meeting, which extends until October 30, brings together representatives from 196 countries, indigenous peoples, civil organizations, and environmental experts. Among the central topics:

• Development of the modus operandi of the new body
• Integration of traditional knowledge in the review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework
• Strategies to mobilize resources and means of implementation for local communities

Multilateralism with peoples: towards effective environmental democracy

The Minister of Environment of Colombia and president of COP16, Irene Vélez, urged participants to work to make this body a model of inclusive environmental governance.

“COP17 can take that big step in the way of conceiving multilateralism beyond the States and with the peoples,” Vélez stated.

Territorial recognition and planning with an ancestral focus

During the session, guidelines will also be debated on:

• Recognition and valuation of indigenous and traditional territories
• Restoration and conservation led by local communities
• Incorporation of ancestral knowledge in spatial planning and environmental impact assessments

Panama as the epicenter of the global biodiversity agenda

In addition to 8(j), Panama has been hosting since October 20 the 27th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-27), with a focus on the COP30 in Belém (Brazil) and the COP17 in Armenia (2026).

Ancestral knowledge: key to addressing environmental crises

This new body reaffirms that there is no effective conservation without indigenous peoples. Their knowledge, practices, and spiritual connections with Mother Earth are fundamental to building a just, resilient, and sustainable future.

“Cultural and biological diversity cannot be separated. This body seeks to apply sustainability criteria without leaving anyone behind,” concluded Schomaker.

The establishment of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) represents a historic advancement in the democratization of environmental governance, recognizing that the protection of biodiversity requires solutions based on nature and the wisdom of those who have coexisted with it for millennia.