COP 16: Smallholders are key to biodiversity data

28 October 2024 Event report

Data plays a crucial role in protecting biodiversity by providing the necessary information to understand, monitor, and manage ecosystems effectively.

Data is core to ultimately implement effective conservation strategies to protect our planet’s natural heritage.

But how do we get access to data, data that is accurate and appropriate? What are the challenges in having access to reliable and comprehensive biodiversity data?

These were questions discussed on Saturday at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) in Cali, Columbia.

“It is smallholders who often hold the data that we need. They are key to biodiversity data”, highlighted Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International.

He responded to remarks by a panel of data providers and financial institutions which emphasised the need to provide incentives – both negative and positive - for companies to transparently disclose nature related data.

“We need to keep in mind that ultimately requests for data will be passed down to those who can provide this data, the millions of smallholders who work with nature, for example by producing food or managing forests”, he continued.

“In addition to incentivising companies, it is therefore important to also discuss how we can enable smallholders to provide the data.”

PEFC provides a well-established framework to provide reliable and auditable data.

As the world’s largest forest certification systems, it certifies more than one million smallholders, largely through group certification, which provides an enabling environment for smallholders to obtain certification.

Join us at COP 16 on Wednesday

Join us on 30 October, 11:30 at The Netherlands Pavilion, and hear about the vital role of sustainable forest management for biodiversity from experts including Caitlin Clarke from BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, Patricia Machado from Ibá, Marina Negrisoli from Suzano, Bernard de Galembert from WBCSD, and our Head of Advocacy, Thorsten Arndt.

This side event, hosted by IBA, WBCSD, and PEFC, will spotlight successful practices, innovative projects, how they contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the challenges faced by forestry stakeholders worldwide in promoting biodiversity conservation.