(1st Session) First meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity Related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (SB8J)

Distinguished delegates, I would like to welcome you to the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j and other provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to indigenous peoples and local communities. To open this session of SSPHJ8, I am very pleased to invite Ms. Iglesias of the Kuna peoples to offer an indigenous traditional opening to guide our work this week. Following this Opening, we will be honored with the traditional Kuna dance called Nungapoi, which means the lament of the grandmothers, and it will be performed by the Uska Lu group. This dance is a tribute to knowledge, culture, and strength of grandmothers who continue to inspire traditional territories.

Yeah. Very good morning.

On behalf of the great creator and the great mother, brothers and sisters from different parts of the world. We are all brothers and sisters. Our creator and our mother. has conferred on us this heritage and has brought us together to protect our rivers, mountains, and our air, and has called on us all together to admire the great beauty left to us by the mother and father. We are on this earth thanks to them. and we must all be brothers and sisters and protect our great Mother Earth. The great Creator has brought each of us here to use our efforts and qualities to protect our planet. Brothers and sisters from around the world, the great Creator of knowledge and strength, is guiding us in our work together so that we can move forward in defending our heritage. We ask the great mother and the great father, and we also ask for an apology. We ask for forgiveness in not carrying out our mandate of keeping this planet healthy and protecting the species that you placed on Earth. It is our duty to defend them. And it is thanks to the Great Mother Earth that gives us our food. And every morning we call on Great Mother Earth to feed us and protect us. Every night, the Great Mother also protects us. and cares for us. The great sun, our brother, also cares for and depends us. This morning, we would like to call down this energy and the strength and the spirit to continue working together today. Thank you very much.

Thank.

You very much, Ms. Brizelda Iglesias, representative of the Kuna ethnicity and to the Ustalo group for sharing this beautiful dance. We are deeply grateful for such an inspiring opening that brings us together with the traditional and ethnic knowledge.

Secretary Executive Astrid Schomaker, Bureau.

Thank you for being with us here today. And I thank all of the distinguished delegates and representatives of indigenous peoples, representatives of local communities, Afro descendant communities, civil society organizations, members of academia, colleagues. It is a great honor for me to open this first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8 of the Convention on Biodiversity. As you know, the establishment of this body, which used to be a working group, is an unprecedented step toward greater environmental democracy within the United Nations. Among the more than 500 treaties and multilateral conventions, This is the first that guarantees the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in a subsidiary body as the foremost forum for indigenous representation. Almost one year after COP16 in Cali, Colombia, I am delighted to share with you the status of our main implementation tasks. The first and most important is to finalize the draft modus operandi of this new permanent subsidiary body so that it can be adopted by COP17 in Armenia next year. After more than 20 years of meetings of the Working Group on Article 8J. The creation of this subsidiary body incorporates formally the contributions and concerns of indigenous peoples and local communities in the core of the CDB's work. I encourage you to have constructive discussions throughout this week on this modus operandi. so that we can ensure good environmental governance. And we want to make this modus operandi operational as of the next session. In Cali, the parties also adopted a new work program, which incorporates the rights, contributions, and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities. in the global biodiversity agenda. The guidelines that you will be discussing this week are fundamental for implementation of tasks two and three of the framework. are expected to support the practices of protection and restoration led by indigenous peoples and local communities around the world. In this work program, let us identify best practices to ensure land tenure and governance by indigenous peoples and local communities. If we are able to draft clear guidelines, we will have more say in how the traditional lands and the use by peoples and communities of resources are duly considered in spatial planning and environmental impact assessments around the world. For example, in Colombia, we fully guarantee free prior informed consent within the national licensing entity for the environment. And before any project is approved, we ensure that the users that is, the owners of the project must guarantee the ethnic communities that they will have a real control over the impacts and alternatives in their territories. In this way we are ensuring effective participation and deepening environmental democracy. Dear delegates, the agenda this week will be intense and I know that I will have all of your support to make best use of available time. I invite you not to forget the fundamental purpose of this gathering, which is to strengthen the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the work of the convention, but above all, in caring for nature. We should demonstrate to the world that this subsidiary body can do what it was created to do. Let's be pioneers and show the example and move multilateralism toward a democracy that is more far-reaching, deeper, more rooted, and more effective. I invite Ms. Astrid Schumacher, Executive Secretary of the Convention, to address the meeting.

Colleagues, before I begin my opening remarks, I would like to take a moment to express, I think on behalf of all of us, our solidarity with the people of Haiti and Jamaica, including one of our Bureau members, who are being affected by the severe and devastating weather threat linked to Hurricane Melissa. Our thoughts are with you and with your families. Your Excellency, Madam Secretary General, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and COP16 President, and Your Excellency Juan Carlos Maroul, Minister of the Environment of Panama, distinguished delegates, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, I warmly welcome you all to this inaugural meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j. It is an exciting moment. I would like to thank also Ms. Precida Iglesias Cuna, Indigenous Peoples of Panama, for the indigenous opening of our gathering today, and the Uscaru Group for the Muga and Boy dance that we could all just enjoy. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the COP16 Presidency's leadership. Last year in Cali, as we've heard from the Minister, Colombia delivered a memorable COP de la Gente. and then went the extra mile to finish it in Rome. COP16 fulfilled its promise to the world, adopting historic decisions, including the one on the implementation of Article 8j, which gave birth to this very subsidiary body. And I would also like to thank, of course, our generous host, the government of Panama. Thanks to Panamanian hospitality, we were able to gather here in person from all corners of the world for two meetings. that both constitute important milestones on the road to COP17 in Armenia. I also wish to acknowledge with deep appreciation the donor countries whose financial contributions have made it possible for delegates from developing countries to participate in this meeting. And I would like to thank the governments of Australia, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland for their generous contributions to the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples and Local Community which has enabled the participation of 14 representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities in this important meeting, where those voices must be heard on matters that concern them the most. And I want to specifically appreciate the effort of indigenous peoples and local communities themselves to raise funds to enable participation. And so here I also reiterate my call to donors, including new donors, to step forward to support these efforts to enable their participation. Excellencies, distinguished delegates and representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, we have truly reached a watershed moment in the journey of the Convention on Biological Diversity. For the first time since the inception of the CBD, a permanent subsidiary body has been established to specifically address issues of direct relevance to indigenous peoples and local communities. This is an eloquent expression of the party's recognition of your unique role and contributions as custodians of biodiversity. And I want to acknowledge the hard work of the ad hoc open-ended intersessional working group on Article 8 and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It's been a long time of hard work, 20 years in coming, but your efforts have made the establishment of this subsidiary body possible. For 20 years, the working group has actively promoted the recognition of indigenous peoples and local community as well as their traditional knowledge. So, as requested in the decision to establish the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j, one of our initial tasks is to further develop the modus operandi of this Subsidiary Body for consideration at COP17 in Armenia next year. The discussion will outline the operational procedures of SB8j, ensuring the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities. When parties adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the KMGBF, just under three years ago at COP15, they acknowledged the vital roles and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity, but also as partners in its conservation, restoration and sustainable use on our pathway towards living in harmony with nature. And I think it is about making this partnership become a reality as also The Minister has already spoken about that this meeting will be measured as a sort of criterion for success. Are we able to work in partnership? At COP16, partners adopted a new programme of work in Article 8j, setting out specific tasks to ensure the meaningful contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities in the implementation of our framework. At this meeting, We will aim to advance three crucial tasks outlined in this programme, including developing a set of guidelines to support the implementation of spatial planning, restoration and conservation in tasks 1.1 and 1.2 of the work programme, and also developing a process to review and update the voluntary glossary in the context of Article 8 and task 5.4 of the work programme. These sound like procedural issues, but really they're not. I want to stress the importance of the task before us. It is a historic moment to translate Article 8 and related provisions into an effective elevation of the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in the work under the convention. Success here in Panama City means that in a year from now, we can go to COP17 in Yerevan ready for further progress. Now, in doing so, I would like to call on all of you that we collectively make sure that this subsidiary body's recommendations to COP17 are clear, actionable, and above all conducive to the accelerated implementation of the framework. May the spirit of solidarity and collaboration that has brought us here endure and guide us throughout this meeting. May it guide the deliberations so that the voices of indigenous peoples and local populations can be fully integrated into our efforts to accelerate the implementation of our framework. Thank you so much.

I thank you. Astrid Schomaker for your opening remarks to this meeting. I would like to reiterate my thanks to you for the outstanding work that you and all your team have done in supporting us throughout the negotiation process toward adoption of the subsidiary body on Article 8j. And of course, I'm grateful for all the hard work done to prepare for this meeting. Now, I have the honour to invite the representative of our host country, Panama, His Excellency Mr. Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of the Environment, to address the meeting. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, Minister, colleagues.

Again to Panama.

It is a great pleasure to have you all here, your excellencies who are at the podium, delegates, and Briselda, my longtime friend, Briselda Iglesias. Thank you for your blessing in the Guna language to start our day. Briselda. Thank you for your words. My friends, it is a great source of pride to welcome you for the second week to our country today to open the first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8. Today, we are making history. We find ourselves in the ancestral lands and waters of the indigenous peoples of Panama, the Embera people, the Wounan, the Guna. All of our ancestral peoples, including the Nobe peoples in the western part of the country, the Bribe, the Naso, and all of those who make up this very diverse multi-ethnic country that you know as Panama. All of the people are guardians of thousand-year cultures and ecosystems that connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. the mangroves, the forests, the mountains, the rivers and waterways that connect us, and the sea, the ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean on either side of the isthmus. The Gunadule language has a word called Mobili, the grandmother ocean. And this reminds us what we often forget, that All forms of life are interconnected. Humanity and nature are indivisible because we are part of the same family and the same entity. And this is a vision that should guide our decisions here. We should cooperate on the basis of respect, reciprocity, and immediate effective action that is shared in order to protect, to conserve biodiversity and nature at all levels, everywhere, all the time. For the first time, traditional knowledge, community practices, and governance practices of our indigenous peoples and local communities are being implemented, our farmers, our producers, our Afro-Panamanian communities, all of us are formally incorporating our efforts into the Convention on Biodiversity. This is not just a symbol. This is a policy decision that must be upheld. the world has finally understood what we in Panama have understood for a long time, and that is that there is no conservation without rights. There is no sustainability without justice. All parties need to love, conserve, protect nature and biodiversity that is all around us. This new body must serve to pay down a historic debt and ensure that those who have always protected nature for generations be recognized as full partners in the conservation and in the decision making and in sustainable management of our natural resources. For a long time, the global response to the environmental crisis has been fragmented. When it comes to climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation, plastics in the oceans, they were each treated as separate problems, but they're not. The fact is, these are manifestations of the same imbalance, destruction of life on planet Earth. Nature doesn't understand institutional division. For this reason, Our new body must become a forum for real synergy between science, modern science, and ancestral knowledge, between national governments and local governments and local communities, between the conventions and financial mechanisms and the generations that inherit this planet and have the power to change it. There are four tasks. Conserve, conserve, conserve biodiversity. Protect, protect, protect nature. Love, love, love creation. Respect, respect, respect nature that surrounds us and the natural resources that it's made-up of. It's not a question of fighting over who's right. It's about compiling knowledge, incorporating capabilities, and joining forces to achieve results, with concrete results. To conserve nature, there have to be real actions on the ground. And for that, we have to work together and reach a broad consensus. That is the great challenge before you today here. Consensus, unity, maturity, intelligence, flexibility to reach agreements. This is our job, and each and every one of you has to do that job. And our success depends on you, because Article 8j cannot just be a theoretical commitment. It has to translate into real policies, accessible funding, visible results to conserve biodiversity. AJ has to drive actions on the ground, support to local actions, protect ancestral lands, create sustainable opportunities that enhance the well-being of communities, and at the same time, ensure the health and well-being of the ecosystems. Traditional knowledge is not just a memory or an object in a museum that's interesting to look at. It's a living science that combines observation, adaptation, and wisdom. And all of that is cumulative. We must work hard and be strong and have the capability and depth of thinking and see the value in both of these things. And we must mainstream biodiversity in conventions and multilateral agreements. Biodiversity and cultural diversity are inseparable. To defend one without defending the other will result in failure for both. We have to ensure effective and immediate conservation of nature and biodiversity. This is absolutely essential to the future well-being of indigenous peoples. These tasks, these realities facing our communities and peoples are intended to protect biodiversity, but the indigenous peoples are strategic allies in implementation. They have a vision of coherence and must guide our policies. And we are strengthening this commitment. We must ensure access to information and environmental justice as the pillars of transparent, equitable governance. For this reason, Panama hopes that this new body will be a living manifestation of unity and respect, where immediate, effective conservation of biodiversity on the ground where the principles of free, prior, informed consent prevail and where equitable sharing of benefits and non-withdrawal of rights become a fact. The decisions should lead to concrete actions in our territories and genuine cooperation between states and communities. This is how it should be. My friends, colleagues, global action begins with national responsibility. And each national delegation here today has that responsibility. And there's also individual responsibility of each citizen, each human being. each traditional people, each citizen of Panama and the world. It's up to us, each of us as individuals, as officials, as countries, indigenous peoples. We are the ones who have to ensure that the rights of our peoples are respected, incorporated, and applied. We can't keep talking about environmental justice when the decisions are taken remotely and continue destroying everything that lives around us. We can't talk about inclusion when the benefits are concentrated in other seats of power. We can't talk about environmental or social justice without acting today to halt deforestation, pollution, destruction of our nature. which is going on around the world and in some of our regions, and in some cases funded by drug trafficking, by individuals who harm our communities and all of us. The success of this body, which is kicking off its work today, will not be measured in resolutions that are adopted, but by what actually happens. once the resolutions are approved. It will be measured in real projects implemented on the ground that are effective. It will be measured in strengthened communities and ecosystems that are restored and conserved and protected. That is the foundation of sustainable development over time for peoples and nations. No more empty statements. Let's change the way we work. Let's go from isolation to integration. We have to recognize our shared responsibility and our commitment to results. In Panama, we have one, two, three steps for environmental action. We conserve and protect nature on the ground, not just on paper, but in actual fact. The Panama Natural Fund is being created, thanks to President Jose Molina, announced at the UN, will be an ongoing trust fund for permanent environmental funding for actions to conserve biodiversity over time. And finally, We have the Panama commitment to nature, Panama nature pledge, as it's called. At the international level, this will strengthen the ecosystems under agreements related to the CBD and the other conventions on desertification, oceans, and plastics. in one single negotiation forum because it's one earth and I urge you to do the same in your own countries friends the conservation of life cannot be achieved through speeches but in joint actions by people who have always defended it thank you once very much for your attention and welcome to Panama once again.

All of you again to Panama.

Thank you very much, Minister, colleague, for your words of welcome. This concludes the opening session, and we will continue to item two of the agenda, organizational matters. I would now like to invite Secretariat to give us some information on logistics and housekeeping matters, including the website, and to help us in our meeting. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair, and good morning, distinguished delegates. It's a pleasure to see you all again. First of all, please note that this meeting is being held in person only. There's no online participation available. All plenary sessions will, however, be streamed on UN Web TV in all six official UN languages. Let me now begin with information on how to use the microphones. To request the floor, press the button once and the lights will turn green. When the chairs give you the floor, The technician will activate your microphone, the light will turn red, and you can start speaking. Each microphone in the seat allocated to the United Nations organization and other intergovernmental organization has been assigned to three organizations. We ask you to identify your organizations before commencing your intervention so that your statement can be properly attributed. In the case of indigenous peoples and local communities and major groups, your microphones are numbered and when you are given the floor, the number will be announced accordingly. We likewise ask you to identify your organization before commencing your intervention so that the statement can be also properly attributed. Delegates are requested to keep within the assigned time when taking the floor. and to speak at a reasonable speed to facilitate the work of the interpreters. I will explain shortly in detail the assigned time for intervention. Secondly, regarding headsets, delegates who are not seated at a table will need to pick up a headset on their way into the plenary. Please remember to return the headset on your way out after each session so that it can be recharged for the next session. Those assigned a seat at a table do not need to pick up a headset as one is already provided for you. Third, regarding statements, delegates are requested to upload their written statements using the online applications on the meeting webpage, which is at www.cbd.int/conferencepanama2025/sba-j1/documents. In case of any difficulty in using the online system, delegates may send the statements by e-mail to statements@cbd.int. It greatly facilitates the work of the interpreters if you upload your statement prior to you being given the floor, however they will be posted on the website only after delivery. In any case, statements must be submitted within one hour after the close of the session in which the agenda item was considered. In your submission, please make sure to include the name of your country or organization and the agenda item on the first page of the document that is uploaded. Uploading instructions were included in your priority pass mail. along with your dedicated link which leads you directly to the upload page. Kindly note that for reasons of transparency, all statements will be made public. There is no option for private submissions. In the event that a party observer has submitted more than one version of their statement, we will only consider the most recently uploaded version. In view of the heavy agenda for this meeting, the Chair will be limiting interventions to five minutes on behalf of regions, three minutes for individual parties, four minutes for indigenous people and local communities and major groups, and two minutes for non-parties and other observers as time allows. A clock is provided for you on the screen to help you to manage your time, but please do not speed up your reading. Next, regarding scheduling, In line with the usual practice, a typical day will comprise a morning session from 10 to 1 p.m., and an afternoon session from 3 to 6 p.m., and as necessary, an evening session from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The schedule is, however, subject to change. The most up-to-date information will be made available on the conference webpage and at the CBD events application and will be displayed on the monitors. This scheduling takes into account decision 16/25 of the Conference of the Parties, which recognized the need to limit evening negotiation sessions to reasonable hours to preserve the health of delegates. Therefore, unless otherwise agreed, the schedule will be arranged so that the day does not extend beyond 13 hours from the start of the first open-ended meeting of the day. Next, regarding the meeting rooms, All the plenary sessions will take place in this room where seating is fixed. Parties and observers should ensure that they are sitting at the correct nameplate so that when they are requesting the floor, they will be identified correctly by the Co-Chair. Please note that the contact group one is located on this floor while contact group two is located upstairs. Seating is not assigned in this room. Next, regarding side events. Side events will take place at 1:15 p.m. each day of the meeting, starting today. In addition, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening, side events will also be held at 6:15 p.m. Please consult the online schedule, as well as the monitors and the CBD events app for the event title, location, and time. In addition to the schedule of side event, the CBD event app provides easy access to the meeting schedule and documents. It's available for Apple and Android devices and can be downloaded at the link you see on the screen. Next, regarding share content, link to the meeting web portal. You'll note a share your content tab located on the meeting webpage. Using this link, parties and observers are invited to share publication, information material and event flyers that are relevant to the issue being addressed by the subsidiary body. Now let me offer a few words about the meeting venue. The entrance to the venue is open from 7 a.m. to the end of the last session of the day. The on-site restaurant will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Please note that food is not allowed in the meeting rooms. Drinks may be brought in if they are in a container with a lid. To reduce our environmental footprint, we ask all the delegates to refill their water bottles at the designated water stations. Finally, dear delegates, as we come together again, I take this opportunity to remind participants of the code of conduct in place to prevent harassment at UN system events. Based on this code of conduct, all UN system events are guided by ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards everyone involved here at the first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8j. We look forward to your kind cooperation. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Secretariat. Looking at item two, I invite delegates to consider the election of officers for this meeting. Following the practice of the working group on article 8a and related provisions, the Bureau of the COP will serve as the Bureau to this Conference. In accordance with Article 21, paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure, the Bureau agreed to ask Jonas Comeante, member of the COP Bureau, to act as rapporteur of this meeting. Can I take it that this is acceptable? I see no objections, so it is so decided. And I invite Mr. Jonas to take his seat at the podium.

In.

Decision 16/5, paragraph four, the Conference of the Parties decided by consensus and I quote, "to apply mutatis mutandis the modus operandi of the Substa and the established procedures and practices of the ad hoc open-ended working group on Article 8 and related provisions of the convention on an interim basis until such time as the Conference of the Parties adopts the modus operandi of the subsidiary body on Article 8 and other provisions relating to indigenous communities and indigenous populations and local communities at its 17th meeting, in accordance with the practice of the open-ended working group on Article 8 at the sixth meeting of the meeting until its last meeting in 2023. The working conditions are set out in paragraphs 10, 14, 16 of the rules of procedure. In this context, the representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities are invited to serve as Friends of the Bureau, seven representatives, one from each socio-cultural region recognized by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. One of those representatives may serve as co-chair as necessary. In accordance with the practices and procedures that have been established and applied mutatis mutandis to this session, which was adopted by the Parties by consensus, I am informed that the Caucus of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities has nominated the following representatives as Friends of the Bureau: First, Ms. Lucy Mulenke from the Africa region; second, Ms. Jennifer Corpuz from the Asia region. Third, Mr. Ramiro Batsin from the Central and South America and Caribbean region. Fourth, Mr. Alexey Tsikarev from the Central and Eastern Europe region, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and the Transcaucasian region. Fifth, Ms. Rochelle Diver from the North America region. 6. Ms. Gun-Britt Retter from the Arctic Region. 7. Ms. Christine Theresa Grant from the Pacific Region. Ms. Gun-Britt Retter is identified as co-chair. May I take it that the nominated representatives are acceptable to the subsidiary body? I see no objection. It is so decided. I congratulate the seven friends of the Bureau and look forward to working with them to ensure the success of this meeting. And of course, I would like to invite the co-chair, Ms. Gun-Britt Retter, to join me on the podium. so we can get started. Thank you.

Welcome, Madam Rete, to this table and to co-sharing the session with me.

Before going into the agenda, I would like you to give us some words to the whole assembly.

Thank you.

Madam President, I will join, first of all, others in expressing that this is indeed a historic moment now when we have gathered here in Panama City for the very first meeting of the subsidiary body of ICA. a high-level body dedicated specifically to Article 8 and related provisions. The creation of this body marks an important step in elevating indigenous peoples and local communities issues within the CBD process and at the same time ensures stronger participation and contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities towards the implementation of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity framework. I am honored to be trusted by my indigenous brothers and sisters to serve as a co-chair this week. I encourage everyone to take the words in the opening prayer to our hearts, accompanied by the heart beating rhythm provided by the traditional dancers. In the deliberations this week and in meetings to come, I am driven by the idea that the land is different when you have lived there, wandered, sweated, frozen, seen the sun set, rise, disappear, return. The land is different when you know here are roots, ancestors these are the words of the Sami poet Ailohash Nils Aslak Valkeapa I offer these words for you to keep in mind as we get to the various agenda items I will keep my Mr. President Madam President I will keep my remarks short to demonstrate a practice I encourage everyone to keep their interventions within the allotted time frame, ensure good discussions and enable us to hear everyone that wishes to speak. Thank you.

Thank you, co-chair. And thank you very much for setting a good example. Now, I would like to suggest that in order to make efficient use of time and to allow more time for discussions for all the representatives participating, to ask the rapporteur to make a statement of thanks on behalf of all the participants, the co-chairs and the host country and the secretariat. Mr. Ante, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

Madam President, dear delegates, on behalf of all the participants in this historic first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8j, I, as a rapporteur, would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you, the co-chairs, the members of the Bureau and the friends of the Bureau of the subsidiary body. Thank you for your hard work in preparing for and during SBH J1. I wish you the best of success for this meeting. On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank the Executive Secretary and her team for the timely preparation, their exceptional work in organizing the work of this body, the subsidiary body. on SB 8J. Thank you for preparing such high quality documentation and for the excellent logistical arrangements. Thank you so much. I would also like to express my deep appreciation on behalf of all of us to the government and people of Panama for their warm hospitality. and for all of the efforts made to welcome us so warmly to this wonderful city, Panama City. Thank you to the donor parties that have provided generous support to enable the participation of representatives from developing countries and indigenous peoples and local communities.

The floor to express this on behalf of all participants here.

I'm confident that our deliberation will be fruitful.

I wish you the best of success for this meeting. Thank you very much.

Thank you. I believe that the Russian Federation has asked for the floor. You have the floor.

Dear co-chairs, on behalf of the delegation of the Russian Federation, I welcome all participants to the first meeting of this subsidiary body. We attach great importance to the work of this body, its role in promoting the traditional knowledge of the indigenous peoples and their full and effective participation in the implementation of the objectives of the convention. We agree with the proposed agenda, program of meetings, and organization of the work. We believe that the proposed format will allow us to effectively consider all issues and achieve constructive results. We support the need to elect two co-chairs, one from the parties to the convention and one from legitimate organizations of indigenous peoples and local communities, while ensuring gender balance and representation of developing countries. It is also desirable that the co-chairs represent different regions of the United Nations. We would like to note that paragraph six of the annotated agenda uses unacceptable wording that should not be used in the work going forward. Representatives of organizations of indigenous peoples and local communities can only participate in the work of the subsidiary body as friends of the bureau without becoming members of the bureau and without the right to make decisions. We note with satisfaction that this has been corrected in paragraph 5 of the meeting scenario. We accept the possibility of electing representatives from seven socio-cultural regions as friends of the Bureau, as was previously agreed upon in the open-ended working group. However, this is only for this meeting and until such time as the modus operandi is adopted. A new body means new rules. We would like to remind you that only five UN regions are recognized under the convention, which will need to be addressed during subsequent discussions of the modus operandi. When introducing each of the friends of the Bureau, please also indicate the name of the organization of indigenous peoples and local communities that they represent. In addition, we would like to note the inadmissibility of discrimination regarding the participation of representatives of indigenous peoples organizations in official meetings held under the convention. We formally request that the executive secretary of the convention ensure conditions under which the state hosting official meetings guarantees in the issuance of visas to official participants. We consider it unacceptable to refuse to issue a visa, as was done by Germany in relation to the representative of the Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Russia on the Steering Committee of the Kali Fund at the official meeting of that committee in September 2025 in Bonn. This also applies to delays in issuing visas to another member of the Steering Committee of the Kali Fund. These provisions should also be reflected in the modus operandi. The co-chairs of the subsidiary body for the period after the 17th Conference of the Parties should be elected at the Conference of the Parties in Yerevan in accordance with the provisions of the modus operandi of the subsidiary body. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much to the Russian Federation for those comments and observations, we take note, in particular, as regards the importance of ensuring a visa, which, of course, is the right to participation for indigenous peoples and local communities. Now we ask that we consider document CBD/SB/H

Thank you, President. Dear colleagues, the topic for this in-depth dialogue, as decided by COP16, is strategies for mobilizing resources to ensure the availability of and access to financial resources and funding, as well as other means of implementation, including capacity building, development and technical support for indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth, to support the full implementation of the coming Montreal global biodiversity framework. Success relies on ambition, commitment and providing indigenous peoples and local communities with tools, resources, capacity building, technical support and supportive institutions. The panel speakers offer practical experience and strategies to bridge resource gaps, strengthen institutions and create inclusive, effective implementation mechanisms. They will share insights on how parties, donors, indigenous organizations and partners can work together to ensure that the means of implementation are accessible, accountable and responsive to the needs and priorities of indigenous peoples and local communities. So I think we have to reorganize the podium here and I extend while I extend a warm welcome to our esteemed speakers and invite them to take the podium. So we call up then Mr. Jurgis Sapinskas, who is a senior biodiversity specialist in Global Environmental Facility. and Mr. Terence Hay Eddy, Program Manager in the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program and Project Manager in UNDP, Mr. Dario Mejia, Secretary of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, and Ms. Anita Tsech, Senior Program Manager, Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative of the IUCN and IAFP, and Ms. Mariam Walid Abu Bakr, Co-Principal Investigator of the ARAMAT project and President of Association Tin Hinan. So where do I need to go? We thank you all for joining us today and sharing your valuable experiences. And now I invite our first speaker, Mr. Sapianskas, for your presentation. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to address the first meeting of this new subsidiary body. It's a true honor for the JEF Secretariat. The JEF has long recognized that indigenous peoples and local communities play a key role in addressing the world's environmental and developmental challenges. Today, I will discuss and focus on three key points that illustrate the lessons learned and the evolution of the GEF support to indigenous peoples and local communities, IPLCs. First point, support for IPLCs is not a safeguards issue. Obviously, the GEF has strong environmental and social safeguards standards, which all GEF projects must adhere to. This includes upholding the right to free, prior and informed consent. an obvious baseline requirement. But what we're discussing today is not how to avoid doing harm, it's how to support IPLCs to empower them to play their full role in the implementation of the coming Montreal global biodiversity framework. Second point is that supporting IPLCs effectively requires a range of complementary modalities. Over the past three decades, The GEF has provided financial support to IPLCs through the small grants programs, which will be presented by our colleague from UNDP, my neighbor here, in a minute. The GEF has also funded numerous country-driven projects where governments have decided to support IPLCs with their GEF allocation. These projects have led to policy and legal changes that no other funding modality would have enabled. These include Brazil's Indigenous Peoples Policy or the legal recognition of Indigenous Peoples and local communities conserved areas as part of the national protected area system in the Philippines. We are working to mainstream support to IPLCs in this larger portfolio of country-driven projects. The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, the new fund we established to respond to the request of COP15, which we call the GBFF, includes engagement with and support to IPLCs as one of its seven project selection criteria. The GBFF Council has also decided to set a target that 20% of the entire GBFF funding should go to actions to support actions by IPLCs for biodiversity. We are proud today to share that countries and implementing agencies have responded to this call. Out of the more than 200 million US dollars already programmed under the GBFF, 32% is to support actions by IPLCs, which is far exceeding the target that was set. But the GEF recognizes at the same time the systemic barriers that limit access for IPLCs in purely country-driven projects. The GEF has thus decided in 2018 to create a dedicated budget line and mechanism for support to IPLCs. This led to the launch in 2022 of the US$25 million Inclusive Conservation Initiative, which is managed by IUCN and Conservation International. The Heart of Conservation Initiative led by WWF will provide an additional tranche of US$20 million of funding dedicated to IPLCs. It will be presented in a side event taking place at lunch break today in this very plenary hall. And finally, my third and last point, it is not just about the volume of financing, modality matters, including directness of access and self-determination of priorities. The GEF strives for a partnership approach that fully recognizes IPLCs as agents of change. That is why IPLCs have gained an enhanced role in the governance of the GEF itself. This includes the GBFF Council, which has two formal observer seats for IPLCs. It also includes the GEF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group, which provides advice to the GEF Council and to the replenishment process. At the program level, the governance of both the Inclusive Conservation Initiative and the Art of Conservation Initiative is composed primarily of indigenous leaders. Together with the small grants program, these initiatives are meant to simplify access, reduce intermediaries, and support projects that are conceived, led, and managed by indigenous peoples and local communities themselves, including women and youth. The GBFF also emphasizes IPLC-led stewardship and governance of lands, territories, and waters. It is the first multilateral fund to track financial flows that supports actions by IPLCs. This is very different from assessing support where IPLCs are mere beneficiaries, and this is not easy to do consistently across countries and partners. That is why we're currently holding open discussions for guidelines on how to do this in practice. We will greatly welcome open discussion and input from participants here at this meeting, including by joining us for our side event or session on this matter on Wednesday at lunch break in the Africa room. In closing, Much remains to be done to improve the scale, accessibility and directness of funding for indigenous peoples and local communities. The GEF is committed to progress guided by and in partnership with indigenous peoples and local communities. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Sapijanskas. I now invite Mr. Haye Edie to take the floor, please.

Esteemed co-chairs, distinguished delegates, UNDP welcomes the opportunity to address the first session of the subsidiary body on Article 8j on the subject of indigenous peoples and local communities access to finance. UNDP implements a wide range of programs pertaining to planetary health, climate change, nature and indigenous peoples rights. These range from the UNDP Climate Promise, which supports states to increase the ambition of their nationally determined contributions in over 120 countries, support to the update of NBSAPs, assessment and implementation of national biodiversity finance plans, access to finance by indigenous peoples as part of the Jeff Small Grants Programme, the UN-REDD Programme, the UNDP Equator Initiative and related local action partnerships. UNDP recognizes that the global architecture for nature finance is complex, changeable and uneven. Nature and climate finance comprise a wide range of financial flows, investments and incentives to address the causes and effects of planetary health, conservation of forests, mangroves, peatlands, grasslands and oceans. The need for a fair and just energy transition, mechanisms to implement loss and damage, as well as locally led adaptation. The sources of nature and climate finance are both public and private and can be channeled through a wide variety of national, bilateral, multilateral and other funding arrangements, and increasingly through indigenous led funds. At the UN Permanent Forum in 2024, UNDP welcomed the report prepared by the former Permanent Forum Chair, Ms. Hindu Umaru Ibrahim, on the nexus between indigenous peoples and finance. UNDP further recognizes the work conducted by Charapa Consult on developing a set of common reporting parameters for direct access to finance by indigenous peoples. currently being beta tested by various philanthropic foundations, as well as engagement with the OECD DAC, which is mentioned in the background paper on a proposed set of policy markers, as well as the efforts by the former permanent forum chair, Dario Mejia, who is also on the panel, with whom we co-organized a session at the high level finance summit convened by President Macron in 2023. As mentioned by the GEF Secretariat, on this panel, over the last 32 years UNDP has implemented the Jeff Small Grants Program, progressively expanding the SGP to more than 137 participating countries with a cumulative delivery of over 29,000 community-based projects worth over $850 million. In this context, in 2018, the GEF Independent Evaluation Office prepared an analysis of the GEF's provision of finance to indigenous peoples, noting the primary importance of the SGP. The following year, in 2019, lessons learned from SGP partnerships with indigenous peoples, including a detailed analysis of direct access to grants, were prepared at the request of the former UN Special Rapporteur, Ms. Vicky Tauli-Corpuz. Building on the SUP modality, UNDP has mobilized additional bilateral agreements to channel finance to indigenous peoples and local communities, including the global support initiative to territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities, now active in 55 countries for a total of $55 million financed by the government of Germany, which is in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal GBF targets 2021, 2022 and 2023. In conjunction with other international organizations and networks, UNDP is active in the Path to Scale Affinity Group convened after the COP26 to track the financial pledge of 1.7 billion in finance to indigenous peoples and local communities, which is expected to be renewed next month in Bellem with an increased commitment on direct access to climate finance, as well as a pledge on land tenure security. In conclusion, UNDP reaffirms its commitment to the objectives of the UN Inter-Agency Support Group Working Group on Finance for Indigenous Peoples, formed in 2024 with membership from the World Bank, the GEF, the Green Climate Fund, IFAD, and UNDP, which is focused on the need for renewed engagement towards the full and effective implementation of the system-wide action plan on indigenous peoples, the UN SWAP adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. We thank you for your attention.

Thank you, Mr. Hey Edir. And now I have the pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Dario Mejia. The floor is yours.

Thank you very much. I'd like to give a special welcome to all the parties, members of indigenous communities and other collectives, Afro-descendants, the secretariat team, my colleagues on the panel. Thank you to Sister Brucelda Iglesias and to the government of Panama and I commend the members of the Bureau and you yourself, Ms. Retter, on your nomination. Regarding the indigenous peoples, we can state that in recent decades there has been recognition of rights in terms of effectiveness and quality, and there has been a good degree of institutionalization of those rights. And with regard to financial resources, although they're still low, they have become more accessible as we see in the concept note to this dialogue. Even so, indigenous peoples are still working hard to protect biodiversity without the financial support that they need and at great risk and almost no mechanisms for protection in most cases. And we have to do something about that. Distinguished colleagues. There are three important areas of work. First, financing, public financing. Two, international and multilateral financing. And three, financial initiatives that come from the communities themselves. And we are moving into the second area of work. Now, what do we mean by direct funding? The answer generally varies depending on the stakeholders involved. Some governments may state that developing countries should get the money and invest it directly in indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples organizations, on the other hand, say that they have the knowledge to continue protecting biodiversity and so they should receive the resources directly, thus reducing the risk of lessening will and changing governments, among other risks. Some international operators, NGOs and other coalitions have said that in addition to having administrative experience, they have assisted indigenous communities at creating guidelines and work streams for them to receive direct funding. So what do we do in this situation? Indigenous knowledge tells us that to deal with a complex situation, we have to get down to basics and see the root of the problem. And I think there are two fundamental issues, trust and coordination. Just to give you one example, setting up this subsidiary body on Article 8 has occurred 33 years after the convention was adopted, and this is perfectly in line with the decision taken 33 years ago to create the fund for the development of indigenous peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, FELAC, which I represent. FELAC is a funding mechanism for indigenous initiatives, which is led by 22 governments, but they participate on a co-equal basis with indigenous representatives. And there's a work program based on development decisions that are in line with the Kunming-Montreal framework. Looking at item eight and funding mobilization, FELAC's experience could serve to dispel the concerns as to how to act quickly, effectively, transparently, and with the shared institutional support. I propose to the parties that in the next steps under the Kelly Fund, FELAC be taken into account as a stakeholder that implements a policy of prioritization to meet the urgent need to support indigenous peoples in their decision-making, especially in the region. We also propose that this model be replicated in other regions as appropriate. Finally, we should build concepts and metrics to enhance transparency with the full agreement of all involved. And this involves improving traceability of all budget allocations. For this reason, I commend all of you in your work to progress the CBD glossary, which will help us in our task. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Dario Mejia. And I now invite Ms. Anita Zech to take the floor, please.

Thank you, dear Sister Gunbritt. Good morning sisters, brothers, parties and fellow colleagues here on the table. For IUCN, it is an honor to be addressing you all in this important dialogue at the first meeting of the SBHJ. Today, I will share with you the shift that we have been leading in IUCN to ensure that indigenous peoples are front and center to the implementation and achievement of the GBF. Today, I will speak from practice. and how at IUCN we are walking the talk about scaling up inclusive, equitable, direct finance to support indigenous conservation actions on the ground through our Padang Indigenous Peoples Initiative. Next slide, please. Next slide. For us, Padang is not just an idea, it is already happening, it is already moving. I think the slide is not shifting, but I will continue. Padong means basket. You may be asking yourself, where does this name come from? It means basket in the Marmar language. The Marmar people of Bangladesh who are members of IUCN. It means abundance. care for Mother Earth and especially it highlights the role of indigenous women as guardians of life and holders of traditional knowledge it recognizes the support and contributions of indigenous peoples to biodiversity conservation through their knowledge systems is here to ensure that their full and effective leadership and access to adequate resources for the implementation and achievement of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is possible. Also, it responds to the IUCN Global Indigenous Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the many resolutions that we have as a union referring to Indigenous peoples. Next slide, please. Why Podong? I am sure that most of you were in the Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework historic improvement in 2022 when it was formally recognized that Indigenous Peoples are key actors in halting biodiversity loss and that we are key in delivering climate solutions. We also know up to now that at least 80% of the planet's biodiversity is being protected by Indigenous Peoples. but that the funds that currently exist and the financial architecture that has been in place has been failing indigenous peoples because these funds are slow, inaccessible, controlled externally, and preventing communities from acting at the speed the crisis demands. So based on this, in 2023, a cohort of indigenous leaders called upon IUCN to formally request a new indigenous-designed, indigenous-governed and led mechanism and not another top-down program approach to dealing with scaling up financial access for biodiversity conservation. It was then that the cohort of 40 leaders made-up from IUCN, Indigenous Peoples Organizations who are members of our union and the IAFB decided to fund to launch the Podong Indigenous Initiative. Next slide, please. The idea is that Podong comes to respond specifically to the achievement of the GBF and up to now we are working and responding and achieving seven of the 23 targets. The key areas that Podong is focusing on is the first area on reducing threats to biodiversity, responding to target one on inclusive spatial planning, target three on 30 by 30, focusing on the recognition of indigenous territories, target six on invasive alien species. PODONG is already also contributing to the key area of work three, tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming, focusing on achievements on target 19 for resource mobilization, which for the first phase of PODONG, we received seven million Canadian dollars from the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada, our first brave donor who placed these resources into our basket. Target 21 on traditional knowledge, target 22 on full and effective participation, and target 23 on gender. Next slide, please. The foundational partners of PODONG have been IUCN IPO members and on the ground our executing partners are indigenous organizations, Ujamaa in Tanzania, Sozil in Mesoamerica, Nefin in Nepal, and Fundacion para la Promocion del Conocimiento Indigena in Panama. Next slide, please. Podong was taught from an indigenous view and principle of integrity and holistic embodiment of how we indigenous peoples see, relate and deal with nature. And based on that, four key pillars were identified. And these pillars are this strengthening of and building of capacities of indigenous organizations, which is one of the targets of the GBF. We also are working towards scaling up direct investments on the ground and supporting the scaling up of conservation action that indigenous communities are already doing. The third pillar is looking at the establishment of an indigenous designed, indigenous empowered and led financial mechanism and supporting indigenous leaders participation to continue influencing the CBD and UNFCCC. at the national, regional, and international levels. Next slide, please. These are some of the data that you can see in terms of achievements. PODONG has been in execution one year. Last year in October is when we started execution on the ground. We've worked in four different countries, three different regions. It has an indigenous led governance body. IUCN plays the role of technical secretariat. We have also engaged over 40 communities and especially we highlight the 117,532 hectares of lands which we have contributed to improve land tenure security and improve management. This is specifically in Tanzania and of course contributing to the resolution of land conflicts in the communities that we work. Now remember, sorry, please go back. Remember that we have built upon experience in the last six years we have worked on implementing the inclusive conservation initiative that is financed by the GF, which was mentioned. And so we have been scaling this up through the actors who are working with, who are indigenous organizations on the ground. We also have a global impact. You can see the numbers there in terms of supporting the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in both the CBD and climate spaces. So out of the 7 million that we received from Canada, 6.2 million is going in direct access financing, looking at both on the ground and global investments. Next slide, please. For this dialogue, we want to share the key lessons learned. First of all, IUCN recognizes indigenous peoples as equal partners in this process. We also recognize that indigenous peoples must be governing these initiatives and they must be at the center and front of these initiatives. The co-design, co-development approach that we have used working hand in hand with indigenous peoples upholds the rights of indigenous peoples in the full process. Also, effective investment is possible when it responds to the priorities on the ground, which is the Podong approach. Our institutions and include IUCN, we must open up the bottlenecks that our very own financial systems have established. And this is a process we are already going through in IUCN. We also provide constant technical support from the onset of the idea, and capacity building is a two-way learning process. It is no longer acceptable that capacity building is only seen as a need from indigenous peoples and indigenous organizations. The donor community, parties, governments also need to listen and learn from us what works, what doesn't work, and how we can jointly implement what works. With that, I will say thank you and that IUCN is open to continue contributing to this process hand in hand with our indigenous leaders and scaling up actions on the ground nationally, regionally, and globally. Thank you.

Thank you, Sister Anita. And now I invite Ms. Mariam Vallet Abu Bakr to take the floor.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, indigenous sisters and brothers and leaders, colleagues and friends. I would like first to really thank the Kuna people for the blessing and the warm welcome with the dance and the elder also for the prayer. I also would like to thank the government of Panama and the co-chairs for the hard work they did in organizing this meeting and all the caucuses and groups that took great time in going in depth in this work for great deliberation, hopefully. Thank you, co-chairs, and congratulations again, Sister Gudrun, sorry for the mispronunciation. I would like to thank really for the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue, which we join with enthusiasm as this is the first subsidiary body on Article 8 over provision of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to IPLCs. and in recognition also to all the indigenous delegates and advocates who tirelessly has been working for a life in harmony and within the three Rio conventions. I speak today on behalf of the ARAMAT project, a global indigenous-led research initiative aiming to support more than 146 indigenous-led place-based projects by 2025. 2027 in more than 30 countries and 276 ecosystems around the world, and some of them are present here in the room. Our shared goal is to strengthen capacity and build evidence about the interconnections between biodiversity, health and indigenous well-being. through research that is self-determined, ethical, and inclusive, meaning really elevating Mother Earth and indigenous peoples. Today, we face an undeniable truth. Biodiversity loss has come and become a crisis, one that is deeply intertwined with human health and justice. Indigenous peoples who have contributed least to this crisis, we heard some data with our sister Anita, are among those most severely impacted. Across many regions, we experience it and we continue to experience environmental consequences as the executive secretary has reminded us with the current hurricane that crossing the neighboring region of Caribbean. environmental degradation, contaminated food and water, the loss of sacred species and landscapes, growing food insecurity, and a rise in illnesses linked to environmental and cultural disruption, and for which our traditional medicines, like the one I have in this basket, cannot be sufficient. At the same time, They are more than just losses. They are ecological losses. They are also violations of fundamental relationships between people and Mother Earth. At the same time, indigenous leadership and knowledge bring solutions. We heard from the Minister of Environment of Panama this morning that we are the true allies as indigenous peoples. And the Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework acknowledges that indigenous peoples are custodians of biodiversity and partners in its conservation. Yet recognition alone is not sufficient. We need operational models that ensure indigenous self-determination, equitable access to research funding, and inclusion in decision-making are ensured. The ARAMIT model offers one such example built around three foundations. First, indigenous leadership. The Aramat project is indigenous-led at every level, from the design to implementation and reporting. There was no back offices where the design was made. This leadership approach rejects deficit-based narrative and instead affirms indigenous strength, responsibility, and authority in shaping biodiversity solutions. Second, elevating indigenous knowledge systems. Our project creates ethical spaces where indigenous knowledge and science meet as equals, each guided by its own laws, languages, and world views. This approach enables new transdisciplinary innovations, bridging spirituality, ecology, health, and law to inform conservation policies that truly reflect Indigenous realities. Third, equitable access to research funding. Indigenous peoples have long been excluded from research systems that control knowledge and resources, and so the policy. Through the funding that we got from the new Research Frontier Fund, which is a Canadian national funding, we established a mechanism that directs research funds to indigenous governments, organizations and communities, ensuring they are not merely participants in research, but its rights leaders. And this initiative don't stand only in Canadian frontiers because we acknowledge that the issue of biodiversity laws is beyond our borders there. Through this model, the Aramit project supports capacity building, intergenerational learning, and respect for gender diversity and different abilities. Over 60% of our leadership team are women or gender diverse people, persons, or people living with different capacities. Indigenous youth, elders and knowledge holders guide every aspect of our work. This is what equity and inclusion look like in practice. Our approach is also ecological and ethically sustainable. We need to give true examples and to walk the path. By funding research in place rather than sending academics from distant institutions, we reduce the project's carbon footprint and enhance the cultural relevance and precision of data at the right time. The work is carried out in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and guided by the principles like the free, prior and informed consent, ethical space and indigenous data sovereignty, including the core principles of collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility and ethic. As we contribute to this first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8, I would like to highlight three recommendations emerging from the ARAMIT experience. First, operationalize indigenous leadership in the implementation of the global biodiversity framework by ensuring direct funding and decision-making powers to indigenous leadership initiatives. Second, Recognize indigenous-led research as equally valid evidence for CBD monitoring and reporting, honoring distinct epistemologies, place-based expertise, and production of knowledge. Third, strengthen ethical partnership between indigenous peoples, states, and institutions by embedding the principles of ethical space and co-learning into all CBD programs of work. Excellencies, dear sisters and brothers, indigenous delegates, the path forward must be built on trust, and I heard trust here several times on the panel, equity and reciprocity. transformative change is about shaping relationship between people themselves and people with Mother Earth. Let us move forward guided by the Tuareg, my people, concept of Aramat, which has similar meaning in many other indigenous world views. We must live in balance where the land, the people, and all being thrive together in harmony. Thank you. And I look forward to engage after this session and during the session.

Thank you, Sister Mariam. And thank you to our speakers for your thoughtful and meaningful reflections brought into this space. Your contributions have enhanced our understanding of the pathways and practical steps needed to mobilise resources and ensure access to financial support, capacity building and technical assistance for indigenous peoples and local communities. I now invite your contributions regarding the theme of the dialogue and the proposed recommendations in document CBD/SBAJ/1/2. To speak, please press the button on your microphone. As agreed on agenda item two on organizational matters, the caucus of the indigenous peoples and local communities will make the first intervention, followed by parties and observers. So I now invite indigenous peoples and local communities to take the floor.

Thank you, co-chair. I speak on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. We pay our respect to the Guna, Embera, Wounaan, Nubbe, Bugle, Bri Bri and Naso indigenous peoples of Panama and their traditional territories. We want to thank the government of Panama and its people for their kind hospitality and to the CBD Secretariat. We thank governments We thank governments for the contribution of the CBD Voluntary Fund to facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as other donors who have supported our participation. Indigenous peoples and local communities manage most of Earth's biodiversity and yet receive an insignificant amount of financial resources. Despite the lack of support, we have continued to voluntarily offer our cultural governance and knowledge systems to effectively manage and sustainably use biodiversity in our territories, and we will continue to do so. Given the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss and mitigating climate change, resources must be provided directly to indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly women and girls from indigenous peoples and local communities, to enable us to meet our obligations to our current and future generations. In line with Article 8, resource mobilization must strengthen indigenous peoples and local communities' traditional knowledge systems, ensuring revitalization, intergenerational transmission, and application in conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. Investing in these systems is not only a cultural imperative but a strategic condition for the success of the CMGBF's 2050 vision. We encourage existing and established financial mechanisms to improve transparency in resource flows to indigenous peoples and local communities, to create dedicated indigenous managed funding opportunities within multilateral funds, and to identify pathways for technical support, capacity building, and partnership. Additionally, we ask that assessments be conducted on the impacts of financial programs on biodiversity conservation to include cultural impact on indigenous peoples and local communities. We therefore propose the following textual changes. At the end of the third paragraph, preamble para, after human rights-based approach, add, and safeguards in section C of the CUMEN Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In the first operative para after mechanisms, add strategies. After direct, add and adequate, add equitable. At the end of the indigenous, at the end after indigenous peoples and local communities to add to achieve to the strategies of the KMGBF. Finally, we call on a human rights-based approach in resource mobilization. We therefore also support operative para two that decides that the theme of the next in-depth dialogue be focused on the strategies and tools to support a human rights-based approach in the implementation of the program of work and the KMGBF. The IAFB requests parties to support our statement. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, IAFB. And thank you also for your proposals. So do any of the parties provide support to those proposals? Yeah, I see one, Canada. Thank you again. I will take the interventions from the statements from the regional groups. Please state the name of the group you are speaking on behalf of. I first give the floor to the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed by Brazil and then Djibouti.

Thank you. for the floor, Madam Co-Chair. The Democratic Republic of Congo is making this statement on behalf of the African group. Africa is here in Panama City with a feeling of hope that mobilization of resources will make it possible for efficacy and efficiency and accessibility to the Indigenous peoples and local communities of funding and capacity building and sustainable development, as well as technology transfer, in order to contribute effectively to achieving the objectives of the convention and the implementation of the global biodiversity framework. The mobilization resource -- resource mobilization strategy adopted at COP16 is very explicit and is the result of a rational roadmap. Biodiversity -- the biodiversity framework deserves an in-depth assessment in order to see what the level of progress actually is. in the use of the $20 billion per year up to 2025, the parties, the developed parties, should demonstrate that they have mobilized $60 billion additional dollars, US dollars, The fund put in place must also be fully operational with the participation and the contribution of the private sector. 50% of the mobilized funds through the fund are to be used to support the indigenous peoples and local communities. But these must have the necessary financial framework in order to access. effectively and directly these funds and to manage them efficiently and sustainably. Moreover, the fund supports the framework's implementation opened by the -- by 20 percent of the of funding being channeled to the indigenous peoples and local communities. We want to be sure that the indigenous peoples and the local communities are able to be are able to achieve their tasks. And also make. Effective their work on a to J allowing them to contribute to the implementation of the global biodiversity framework. And the same goes for funding of biodiversity. We need to have robust proof that the sources of funding that are innovative and effective are going to be accessible and that additional funding will also be accessible in an efficient and effective and transparent way. The indicators must allow us to verify the inclusivity, accountability, respect of rights and other measures of an environmental and social nature. Thank you very much. That is our statement.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Brazil, followed by Djibouti and then Malaysia. Brazil, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. This statement is in the name of Brazil, only Brazil. Brazil welcomes the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j as a historic step to ensure fuller and more effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, IPLCs. across the work of the Convention. This is not abstract to us. According to new data of Brazil's most recent census released last week, our country is home of nearly 1.7 million indigenous persons belonging to 391 peoples and speaking 295 languages. Brazil It has more than 700 indigenous lands covering close to 14% of our territory and over 100 million hectares. At the same time, Brazil is a nation whose population is predominantly of African descent and Afro-descended communities such as quilombolas, traditional African matrix communities and povos de terreiro. are vital custodians of biodiversity and sustainable use practices throughout our territory. Brazil supports the in-depth dialogue proposed in the document CBD/SB/A/1/2. We agree that scaling up resource mobilization and diversifying financing pathways is essential so that IPLCs, women and youth included, can continue and contribute decisively to the KMGBF. In this context, We underline the importance of strengthening the robustness, predictability and accessibility of existing sources of finance, including options for direct access aligned with national policies, plans and systems, and accompanied by capacity building and clear accountability arrangements. Additionally, we support the role and voice of IPLCs in the governance of these funds to safeguard democratic approaches at all levels. In the same spirit of innovation and country-led solutions, Brazil is pleased to announce the launch during the climate summit of Belem at COP30 of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, TFFF, an innovative results-based mechanism designed to provide predictable multi-year payments for standing tropical forests. The TFF will dedicate at least 20% of forest related payments to IPLCs with modalities that include direct access tracks for IPLCs while fully respecting social and environmental safeguards and national frameworks. We encourage that the TFF be reflected on an illustrative basis alongside the existing examples in the technical overview of initiatives that provide for direct payments to IPLCs. We wish everyone a productive deliberations in the coming days and stand ready to collaborate constructively. Thank you.

Thank you, Brazil. I now give the floor to Djibouti, followed by Malaysia. Djibouti, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, co-chair. The Republic of Djibouti firstly supports the statement made by the DRC on behalf of the African group on this item. We welcome item three on strategies for mobilization of resources for indigenous peoples and local communities. However, co-chair, We have many questions about this resource mobilization strategy. It is an established strategy. It is a statement of fact that challenges us all. Is it still necessary to recall the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in the conservation and protection of biodiversity and the implementation of the global biodiversity framework? Is it also necessary to emphasize that no entity can speak on behalf of indigenous peoples and local communities. The answer is yes to awareness raising, capacity building and technology transfer for indigenous peoples and local communities, but the answer is no to carrying out programs and projects for indigenous peoples and local communities. Indigenous peoples and local communities must carry out their own biodiversity programs and projects. The term capacity mentioned in this strategy should not constitute a barrier to access to funding for Indigenous peoples and local communities. On paragraph one of recommendation CBD/SB/8j/1/2, we are in favour of direct, flexible and facilitated access to funding and to all funds for indigenous peoples and local communities around the world. And also, my delegation proposes adding the word accessible after for the mobilization of financial resources in paragraph one of the recommendation. So the text will then read as follows, for the mobilization of accessible financial resources for indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth. And until the end of the sentence, as is. We have already submitted our proposals in writing to the secretariat. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

Now we can go to Malaysia, followed by Bolivia and.

Direct access to funding may be premature, as collaboration with government agencies remains essential to ensure accountability and alignment with national priorities. Malaysia also observed that institutional capacity and awareness among IPLCs, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, remain limited for managing indigenous-led financing mechanism independently. In this regard, and in line with target 19 of the GBF, Malaysia supports fully efforts to mobilise financing for full and effective participation of IPAs in implementing SB8A. Also, Malaysia emphasises that any human rights-based approach must respect national legal and administrative frameworks, Customary land matters also fall under state jurisdiction and action must reflect national context. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Malaysia. I now give the floor to Denmark. Denmark, please.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. The EU and its Member States wish to thank the Secretariat for preparing this important in-depth dialogue and the panellists for their contributions. The EU and its Member States reiterate the critical role of indigenous peoples and local communities in achieving the objectives of the Convention and the goals and targets of the Framework. Strengthening access to adequate finance from all sources for indigenous peoples and local communities is essential for inclusive and effective implementation of the framework. The EU and its member states acknowledge the need for comprehensive, fair, inclusive and equitable access to financing resources by parties, stakeholders and rights holders, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth. We welcome that the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, the Jeff Trust Fund, the Carly Fund, and others provide valuable opportunities for biodiversity finance that can support the priorities of indigenous peoples and local communities. We particularly acknowledge the GBFF's aspirational programming share of 20% at the portfolio level by 2030 for this purpose, and the Carly Fund's commitment to allocate at least 50% of resources to support the self-identified needs where appropriate and according to national circumstances. The EU and its Member States, however, also recognise that despite the important role of indigenous peoples and local communities in the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols and in the achievement of the framework, they continue to lack adequate access to funding, including direct access for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity. The EU and its member states reaffirm their commitment to enhancing indigenous peoples and local communities' access to biodiversity finance and the call upon parties and other relevant actors to improve access to and increase financial resources for indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth from all sources, and to prioritise sustained capacity building as a key enabler for indigenous peoples and local communities to access, manage and implement funding effectively. to support the implementation of the framework. The EU and its Member States support the draft recommendation, including the proposed theme of strategies and tools to support the application of a human rights-based approach. We will submit an amendment in writing on adding a preamble text referring to decision 16/34. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

Thank you, Denmark. On behalf of EU, may I also remind delegates to keep in mind the pace when speaking as there are interpretation. I now give the floor to Jordan. Jordan, please. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan appreciates the efforts exerted to prepare this important document and highlights the importance of the enhanced access of local communities to financial and technical resources for the implementation of Kunming-Montreal GBF. Jordan emphasizes the necessity to have access to funding in line with national circumstances and implemented national mechanisms. Like a number of other CBD party states, Jordan does not have indigenous peoples as defined in pertinent international literature. All the population is considered local communities that largely contribute to the protection of biodiversity and natural resources management. Therefore, Jordan calls for full flexibility to be given to states in determining the suitable mechanisms to provide funding to targeted local communities on national scale. This would promote transparency, liability and enhance the integration of biodiversity and sustainable development national plans.

Jordan emphasizes the importance of investment in building national capacities and local communities technical know-how.

Thus permitting them to actively participate.

In the management of environmental and development projects. We also recommend to give special attention to arid and semi-arid.

Regions that face increasing environmental challenges and also to support projects combining biodiversity conservation, the improvement of local communities livelihood. Jordan reiterates that achieving the international goals of biodiversity requires a flexible approach that respects national specificities and strengthens the veritable partnership between states and local communities within this framework based on justice and common responsibilities. The statement is uploaded.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

I'll give the floor to Canada. Canada, please.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. As this is the first time we're taking the floor, we'd just like to quickly thank the government of Panama for having us here this week. And we acknowledge that Panama is the traditional territory of the Guna, Naso-Tire, Di-Ngagbe, Bugle, Bri-Bri, Embera, and Wounan indigenous peoples. And we thank you for welcoming us here so warmly. Canada is very supportive of increasing access of indigenous peoples to funding for biodiversity, as highlighted by a couple of our panelists here this morning. And I could go on here and highlight Canada's ongoing support for related efforts domestically, including the first project for permanence project in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest. It's led by indigenous communities, environmental groups, and philanthropic organizations together in partnership. It covers 6.4 million hectares on British Columbia's north and central coast. It's equivalent to the size of Ireland. It includes $120 million in funding from all of these organizations, including the government of Canada and British Columbia. And we think it's a great example that can be learned from. With that said, we'd be more interested in continuing this in-depth dialogue and hearing more from our partners from indigenous peoples and local communities in particular the key questions that were posted in the document rather than focusing so much on draft recommendations and decisions. And so we would like to invite our partners from indigenous peoples and local community organizations to take the floor to hear their views and also our panelists here to spend a little bit more time learning from you. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Canada. I now give the floor to the Russian Federation.

Co-chairs, the Russian Federation welcomes the inclusion of representatives of indigenous peoples in the delegations and encourages other countries to follow suit. The Russian Federation agrees with the recommendation presented in paragraph 1, We consider it important and necessary to ensure the availability and accessibility of adequate financial resources and other means of implementation, including capacity building, development, and technical support for indigenous peoples and local communities, with a particular focus on women and youth. This is a key factor for the successful implementation of the global framework. We have no objection to the subject matter of the next dialogue if it is conducted in strict accordance with paragraph 7.1 of the program of work for the implementation of article AJ as decided in decision 16/4. We therefore believe that paragraph two should be reworded in accordance with paragraph 7.1. We consider it important to ensure the preservation of human rights, including in the context of conservation and use of biodiversity. At the same time, we propose that these issues be considered and discussed in the relevant bodies and processes of the United Nations. These issues go beyond the mandate of the Convention on Biological Diversity and should not be considered under the convention. Furthermore, we believe that this draft decision should not be used to determine the future agenda. of the convention on biological diversity such decisions will be taken at the 17th conference of the parties under a different agenda item in line with the above we propose to amend the wording of paragraph two of the recommendation the text will be submitted in writing to the secretariat together with this statement thank you chair.

Thank you, Russian Federation. Now I give the floor to Colombia. Colombia, you have the floor, please.

Madam Chair, Colombia welcomes the parties to the convention, the Secretariat, indigenous peoples, local communities, Afro-descendants, this historic first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8J, which was created by consensus in Cali. We also thank the government of Panama and the indigenous peoples of this country for their hospitality in hosting this important meeting. The implementation of the subsidiary body will orient implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework with an intercultural, participative and territorial focus, strengthening local governance of biodiversity. Colombia highlights the importance of decision 16/6 adopted in Cali, recognizing the role of Afro-descendant peoples in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and expanding the inclusive scope of the Convention. Colombia reiterates its commitment to effective implementation of this decision in accordance with the principles of equity, recognition and participation. The country reaffirms that access to financing is a right related to self-determination. Financial mechanisms must recognize the plurinationality and autonomy of the systems of the indigenous peoples in accordance with their life systems and to reinforce territorial governance. We propose that resources be channeled directly to communities and peoples and respect their free, prior and informed consent and ensure traceability, cultural relevance and transparency of the funds. Colombia is driving mechanisms of direct access for indigenous peoples and specific funds for women, youth on the basis of parity and complementarity. Colombia suggests creating a global South-South mechanism for indigenous funding led by peoples for sharing experiences and in accordance with the Kali Fund. The strengthening of capacity should focus on revitalizing indigenous led environmental protection systems and promote social traditions and peer learning. There should be a two way street and indigenous communities should create their own systems and there should be accountability in funding. We invite all parties to see the Cali Fund as a light of hope which will lead to a future of harmony and peace with nature. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Colombia. And I will give the floor to Panama, followed by Egypt and Indonesia. Panama, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, Since this is the first time that my delegation is taking the floor, we would like to reiterate our warmest welcome to everyone to Panama. And in my language, welcome to our beautiful region. We are on ancestral lands of seven indigenous peoples, including the Kuna Dulae people. The evidence is clear, we need direct funding And this is the only way to achieve justice and environmental results by recognizing indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth, as holders of rights, and that can reduce transactional frictions and control by intermediaries and promote self-governance. mechanisms for direct access to protect funding, demonstrate that legal co-design and co-development are a condition for effectiveness and efficiency, free of mandatory mediation and filters. The obstacles are not just technical, they're structural. And these criteria must not clash with customary rights and procedures. And intermediaries must be accountable to the peoples. We must prevent fragmentation. And to correct these problems, we need structural solutions anchored in traditional right holders And we need accountability. It's important to have ex ante and ex post monitoring. Panama is proposing that there be a two-way strengthening in which indigenous peoples and local communities, youth and women, are not just receivers of knowledge, but where they can come to the table and offer their valuable experiences. They're not just preparing the meals, they are helping create the menu. And we would like to express our thanks in your support to ensure that direct funding is a reality and our rights are ancestral. Millions of indigenous peoples are living in the places where the earth's heart beats. Thank you.

Thank you, Panama. May I also remind the delegates that we are aiming the co chairs are aiming to conclude this item by lunch, but we have a very long speaking list, just to remind you of that. But now I give the floor to Egypt, followed by Indonesia and then Saudi Arabia. Egypt, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, Egypt supports the statement given by the DRC on behalf of Africa. There are several things that we need to understand. How the indigenous people and local communities survived for millennia by having sustainable use of the natural resources. For me, I think it is the ethics that kept them surviving. Now, in the recent years, I would say, recent civilizations have caused biodiversity crisis, not only biodiversity, but climate change and pollution, blah, blah, blah. For 30 years, Madam Chair, we keep talking about very interesting things that I like very much, like environmental justice, like the mainstreaming, like importance of indigenous and local communities, and all of this for 30 years, what happened? Very little has been achieved. Two questions that we should ask ourselves, Madam Chair. Number one, how much is spent already now on local communities and indigenous people and local communities to protect almost 80% of the biodiversity? The second question should be how much is needed. We are not talking about $20 billion or $60 billion. We are talking about the need for at least $500 billion for indigenous people and local communities to be able to do the job properly. So please stop talking all of these nice words and get into proper action. Thank you.

Thank you, Egypt. I now give the floor to Indonesia, followed by Saudi Arabia and then China. Indonesia, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Panama and the people and the and also to the delegates for their constructive engagements. Indonesia reaffirms the strong commitments to the objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity and to the timely and effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We fully support collective efforts to strengthen inclusion, partnership, and respect for national circumstances in achieving our shared global biodiversity goals. Indonesia recognizes the important roles, customary practices, and as appropriate, customary governance traditions of indigenous people and local communities in conserving and restoring biodiversity. Their knowledge and stewardship are valuable, complementary contributions that enrich national implementations. At the same time, states hold the primary responsibility for the stewardship of biodiversity within their territories and cooperation must therefore be conducted within the framework of national legislation and the policies to ensure coherence and sustainability. Indonesia support enhance and more predictable access, including direct access to funding for collective action by IPLCs, especially those led by women and youth. To be effective, such access should be accompanied by capacity building on financial management, monitoring and reporting. We encourage Parties and partners to strengthen national anchor modalities such as IPLC-led funding windows within existing mechanisms, for example, the GB. the GBFF, the Cali funds of the small grants programs, ensuring transparency and complementary with the national frameworks. Any direct access scheme should be consistent with national legislation and fiduciary framework. Clear accountability for intermediaries and shift towards long-term investment models are essential. for sustainable results. Indonesia supports a party-led subsidiary body that guarantees full and effective participation of PLC while maintaining decision-making authority with parties. We emphasize the importance of budget neutrality and propose that additional activities be supported through voluntary contribution and partnership. Indonesia stands ready to work constructively with all delegation to deliver practical and inclusive outcomes that empower communities, strengthen national implementation and ensure that biodiversity governance remains both participatory and effective. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Indonesia. Now I give the floor to Saudi Arabia, followed by China and Malawi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would like to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Secretariat of CBD, as well as the government of Panama, for organizing this important meeting, which is held for the first time in a permanent institutional framework for indigenous people and local communities. It embodies inclusiveness and complementarity that underpins the coming Montreal CBD framework. Madam President, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms its firm commitment the protection and development of biodiversity as one of the pillars of the Kingdom Vision 2030, which has made environmental sustainability a key focus in the national development. The Kingdom's implementation of its national environmental strategy and a comprehensive national framework for biodiversity is a confirmation of this commitment in line with the objectives of the global framework and relevant resolutions adopted by COP16. The Kingdom has been keen to enhance community participation in the protection of biodiversity through the launch of national programs to partner with local communities in the management of natural reserves. along with highlighting traditional knowledge of local communities and environmental volunteering and community monitoring programs, as well as empowering youth and women to participate in conservation and rehabilitation. These are excellent examples that reflect Article 8 of the Convention that talks about the local knowledge Madam President, the Kingdom emphasizes the importance of highlighting traditional and local knowledge in monitoring, in national reporting, in response to the recommendations by the subsidiary body on scientific, technical, and technological advice, and in support of the global report on the progress of the framework. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urges the importance of exchanging experiences and successful practices in engaging local communities in natural resource management and biodiversity protection in order to contribute to the achievement of the common goals of the global framework. In conclusion, the Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to continue cooperation and constructive work towards a future where nature and humanity thrive together. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

I now refer to China, followed by Myanmar and South Africa.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. China wants to thank Panama, the host country, for its hospitality, feeling at home, providing hot tea, coffee, and hot water here. We would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing this document. We want to share some general observations and proposals. First, as regards to direct access to funding mechanism, we recognize this as an important direction for mobilizing resources, but we need to recognize at the same time indigenous people, local communities, acts from different countries have different capabilities in terms of governance structure, legal status, and institutional capacity. capacities. So, while fully respecting national sovereignty, we support the parties to develop nationally appropriate, context-specific approaches for facilitating access to finance. Externally imposed mechanism will be counterproductive. We advise against a one-size-fits-all model. A country with rich local community practices, China deeply understand the importance of adapting anything to local conditions. So we recommend this principle to be reflected in relevant paragraphs, emphasizing national ownership and local capabilities in the design of such mechanism, will support contextual proposal in due time. Secondly, in terms of operational principles, GBFF, calling fund should be fair, transparent, inclusive, and recognize the importance of leadership of the parties. Allocation use of resources should be open, transparent, ensuring effective participation. And this principle should be reflected and it should be a COP led and contribute to effective implementation objectives of the convention. Thirdly, China supports the strengthening of capacity of indigenous people and local community, but the efforts must be aligned with national legal frameworks and governance structure. Capacity building should not be limited to financial administrative skills and capabilities. It should include support for community governance, traditional knowledge and cultural practices and should be within the framework of national policy and strategies in a coordinated and orderly manner. As to future dialogues, we recommend that the process should fully respect and reflect the principle of national leadership, respect the priorities be identified by each party.

Thank you, China. I now give the floor to Malawi, followed by South Africa and India. So Malawi, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Malawi supports the statement read by DRSC on behalf of Africa, and also we support the statement by China. We also recognize the great need to mobilize resources to support activities on indigenous and indigenous people and local communities. We are happy to indicate that Malawi has directed some of its GEF-SAR allocation to the GEF Small Grants Program as additional resources to support activities of local communities. In addition, A portion of Malawi's carbon level resources support activities that contribute to activities of local communities. Malawi considers the Kali Fund as an innovative options for financing the self-identified needs of indigenous people and local communities, including women and youth, as has been highlighted in the report and hence, for governments to put in measure that ensures contributions to the fund is encouraged. Madam co-chair, one additional action that can support the mobilization of resources is to invite the BioFIN initiative to support identification and implementation of finances solution. that support mobilization of our resources to support indigenous and local communities, including the development of our methods and guidance materials to support implementation of the finance solution identified. On the issue of direct access to funds, we would like to highlight that this should be in line with national circumstances. as it poses a risk to excluding indigenous people and local communities that have limited capacity to navigate administrative and procedural requirements of funding bodies. So we call for continued review of such approaches to ensure that there is fairness and equity where direct access to funds is concerned. Thank you.

Thank you, Malawi. And then I give the floor to South Africa, followed by India. South Africa, please.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. This is the first time South Africa takes the floor, and we wish to express our appreciation for the warm welcome extended by Panama. South Africa aligns itself with the statement made by DRC on behalf of Africa. Indigenous people and local communities in South Africa, like in many other countries, face challenges in accessing funding due to complex modalities and requirements for accessing these funds. Many of existing financial mechanism remain complex and inaccessible with limited pathways for direct access to PLC institutions. In addition, limited institutional capacity, inadequate information flow and language barriers make it difficult for IPLCs to engage effectively in funding mechanisms. Funding that is available is often short term and project-specific, providing little support for long-term institutional strengthening. Moreover, IPLCs are now always adequately, always not adequately represented in national biodiversity finance strategies and decision-making processes, resulting in limited consideration for their priorities. Addressing these challenges requires deliberate action to create enabling legal and policy frameworks, strengthen institutional capacities, and establish direct access financing mechanisms that empower APLCs to participate fully in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. To address some of these challenges that I highlighted, South Africa has adopted a number of good practices, where IPLCs are capacitated through project proposals and report writing. Further to that, support that is provided through collaborative means with academic institutions, municipalities and government institutions, including NGOs, to help IPLCs to meet reporting obligations have been one of the support that South Africa has been implementing. The close working relationship with traditional leaders and community leaders to ensure that information reaches all communities, including those in remote areas, have been one of the mechanisms that South Africa employed to ensure IPLC's participation. In conclusion, South Africa believes that the funding processes that are transparent, simplified and inclusive of women, youth and persons with disabilities Enhancement of outreach efforts as well as capacity building at local level are key to improving direct access to funding of IPLCs. Strengthening partnerships and ensuring culturally appropriate support mechanisms are essential for empowering LPs to contribute effectively. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Sorry, thank you, South Africa. I now give the floor to India.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is the first meeting after the establishment of subsidiary body, especially for Article 8J pursuant to decision 16/5 of the Conference of Parties. On this occasion, India warmly welcomes this initiative as a valuable platform to facilitate in-depth dialogue on matters concerning indigenous peoples and local communities. In this context, India expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of Panama for its gracious hospitality in hosting this meeting. We also extend our congratulations to the Chairs of COP16 and the elected Co-Chairs. India appreciates the Secretariat's comprehensive note and welcomes this in-depth dialogue on strategies for mobilizing resources and strengthening access to financial, technical and capacity building support for the indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth, in the full implementation of KMGBF. We recognize that indigenous people and local communities are vital custodians of biodiversity. Strengthening their capacities and ensuring sustained financial support are critical to achieving the goals of the framework. India's own experience under the Biological Diversity Act, through the establishment of more than 2,77,000 biodiversity management committees and the preparation of people's biodiversity registers demonstrates the value of community participation in biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing. The People Biodiversity Registers and Traditional Knowledge Digital Library initiative of India is helping safeguarding the community knowledge and prevents its misappropriation. India notes the growing emphasis on inclusive financial mechanisms such as the GBFF, Jeff Small Grants Program, Cali Fund. and appreciate their efforts to enhance accessibility for indigenous peoples and local communities. However, India would like to reiterate that funding for indigenous peoples and local communities must be channeled through national governments in accordance with national laws, priorities and institutional frameworks. This approach ensures consistency with national biodiversity strategies and action plans, transparency in fund utilization and respect for sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction of parties. Direct access mechanisms, if implemented outside national systems, risk creating parallel structures that may undermine nationally determined processes and accountability. In this regard, India supports the views expressed by Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Jordan, and other parties. India reaffirms its commitment to empowering communities within the national framework, ensuring that financial resources, capacity building and technical support reach the grassroots effectively and equitably while respecting national sovereignty and legislative provisions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, India. We are soon reaching lunch break, but with some consultation here, we I think we can extend the session a little bit into the lunch break and hope to get well almost through the speaking list. But so now I give the floor to Japan, followed by Zimbabwe.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. On behalf of Japan, we would like to extend our appreciation to the government of Panama for hosting this meeting. In response to the presentations made by the distinguished experts, Japan would like to highlight the importance of prioritizing needs of IPLCs to fill the gaps effectively, which was articulated in several presentations. Japan believes that in identifying funding needs and gaps, it is important to ensure evidence-based approach to be taken with a view to maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of resource use. Knowing what one needs for what purpose itself is a great challenge and should be on the basis of facts. From this perspective, I'd like to highlight an initiative by IPBES. IPBES has developed the Nature Futures Framework, a flexible tool designed to support development of scenarios and models of desirable future for people and nature on a scientific basis. This evidence-based approach enables us to clarify what is lacking, what is needed, and what kind of access to resources is required to achieve the desired future. When considering resource access for IPLCs, we believe it is crucial to pursue such a steady approach. For example, an IPES workshop was held in the Philippines this year with the objective of reflecting on scenarios and models on the basis of this framework that better account for diverse knowledge systems. Through this workshop, participants explored ways to articulate future scenarios envisioned by IPLCs themselves, drawing on indigenous and local knowledge. When considering resource access for IPLCs, Japan believes it is crucial to pursue such an evidence-based approach. Thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you, Japan. And I'll give the floor to Zimbabwe, followed by Haiti. Zimbabwe, please.

Chair, Zimbabwe aligns itself to the statement made by the Democratic Republic of the Congo on behalf of Africa. Chair, we are quite appreciative that this in-depth dialogue as per COP decision 16/7 has come to fruition to share insights and perspectives on the availability and access to financial resources and funding, as well as other means of implementation, including capacity building, development and technical support for indigenous peoples and local communities, including women, youths, to support the full implementation of the upcoming Montreal global biodiversity framework. Chair, emphasis over years has been on the need for funding mechanisms that are accessible, available, and transparent. And great work on this front is a must in order to support the work of IPLCs, women, and youths. We support this initiative of a dialogue on a given thematic area, in this particular case, with a focus on resource mobilization. There is need to be practical, to be as practical and as realistic as is possible to live up to expectation and move from dialogue to action. I hope a critical analysis has been done on the IPLC's funding requirements. and the available funding, which should therefore guide strategies to improve the level and scale of support to IPLCs for a meaningful implementation of the GBF. Chair, the direct access component to funds by IPLCs requires further discussion to enhance accountability. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Zimbabwe. And now I give the floor to Haiti, followed by New Zealand and Tanzania. Haiti, please.

Thank you, Chair. Haiti welcomes the first meeting of the subsidiary body on Article 8 and other provisions of the Biodiversity Convention. It is an important step towards effective implementation of the global biodiversity framework. We recognize the contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities for the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. We believe it crucial for the indigenous peoples and the local communities to have an equitable access to international funding. Without accessibility of funding, the objectives of the global framework by 2030 will not be achieved. We would like to remind you that indigenous peoples and local communities are the first guardians of biodiversity, and so We support a mechanism that will allow access to multilateral funds, the Cali Fund and Jeff, among others. These mechanisms should be simplified, transparent, and adapted to the needs of the indigenous peoples and local communities. Haiti would like to also emphasize the importance of capacity building for indigenous peoples and local communities. and their national institutions in that they need to be able to fully participate in the creation of policy in the area of biodiversity. Organizational infrastructures necessary for effective management of natural resources and to ensure the possibility of complete implementation of initiatives on biodiversity. Access to funding for biodiversity should be managed and contributed to by the indigenous peoples and local communities. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you, Haiti, and I will give the floor to New Zealand, followed by Tanzania and Cameroon, and I'm also now closing the speakers list. Who did I say? New Zealand, please.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. We thank the Government of Panama for the hosting of this historic meeting and acknowledge the indigenous people of Panama. We congratulate the Co-Chairs on their appointment. New Zealand thanks the Secretariat for the background paper, which is a very helpful overview of current mechanisms and barriers to access by indigenous peoples and local communities to biodiversity finance. We also thank the panellists very sincerely for their insights into what is working well and what can be improved with respect to direct and indirect funding to IPLCs. This dialogue will be of valuable assistance not only to the work of this subsidiary body, given its mandate, but will also inform the work of SBI, which leads on biodiversity finance issues. In that regard, New Zealand supports rights-based, locally-led approaches that align funding with indigenous government systems and priorities and ensure that funding mechanisms are accessible and transparent. We should draw on practical lessons, examples and actions to improve direct access, simplify and streamline processes and to strengthen transparency. We should reflect on this dialogue when identifying best practice or barriers that could inform our future guidance to the financial mechanisms such as the GFF, the GBFF or the Kali Fund to help facilitate access and to ensure finance reaches IPLCs, including women and youth. The conclusions of this dialogue, we hope, will therefore complement rather than duplicate SBI's work on resource mobilization and financial mechanisms. Thank you very much.

Thank you, New Zealand. Then Tanzania, followed by Cameroon. Tanzania, please.

I thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Since this is the first time Tanzania takes the floor this morning, I want to thank the government of Panama and its good people for hosting us in their beautiful city, and to my fellow delegates for such insightful statements. This statement is made on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania while aligning ourselves with Congo's statement on behalf of the African group on this agenda item. Tanzania also notes with appreciation the positive experiences from community-based initiatives such as the Ujamaa Community Resources Team in the northern Tanzania, which has supported local and indigenous communities to secure land and resource rights, contributing directly to biodiversity conservation and improved livelihoods. With reference to this agenda item, Tanzania commend the focus on strategies for mobilizing resources and enhancing access to financial and technical support for indigenous peoples and local community, including women and youth, to advance the implementation of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Tanzania emphasises the importance of ensuring financial resources and other means of implementation are effectively mobilised and made directly accessible to these communities. In this regard, we commend the parties to strengthen mechanism for direct access funding, promote good practices and enhance coordination with financial institutions and develop partners to support IPLC-led initiatives aligned with national priorities. Tanzania requests the Executive Secretary in collaboration with relevant partners to facilitate capacity building for parties, particularly Africa, on integrating human rights-based approaches approaches into biodiversity related programs and to prepare a summary of good practices in promoting access to funding by indigenous people and local communities. In light of that, we also propose a paragraph one base that states further encourages the global environmental facility and other multilateral funds and bilateral donors to consider establishing or enhancing simplified procedures and dedicated funding windows to facilitate direct access by indigenous people and local communities, including those led by women and youth to financial resources in support of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Finally, Tanzania supports the proposed theme for the next in-depth dialogue and encourages a focus on practical tools and capacity building with full inputs kept in writing and will be submitted. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

Thank you, Tanzania. Now we have Cameroon, and thereafter I aim to take two more speakers, women and youth, but still I want to conclude by quarter past, so you can calculate yourself. Thank you. Cameroon, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Cameroon supports the statement made by the DRC on behalf of the African Group. As this is the first time that we are taking the floor as well, we would like to thank the government of Panama for its warm welcome. With a climate that reminds us of our country, and we feel like we are in Ayunde. The role of indigenous peoples and local communities is obvious. and the idea to create a subsidiary body representing them is absolutely founded. The objectives of the convention are clear and the needs for the implementation of the framework are also clear, especially for the indigenous peoples and local communities. The rural population depends 100% for health, for leisure, for food. These populations require access to funding. And when we see the new communications technologies, we understand that Indigenous peoples and local communities need access to these new means of communication and new technologies. in order to allow them to fully participate in achieving the results that we require of the framework. The indigenous peoples and local communities require facilitation to the existing funds and means of financing. Thank you.

Thank you, Cameroon. We have now exhausted the list of parties and we have only a few minutes left before we have to close this session. So I now invite first women and thereafter youth. So please also be short. Thank you. Women first.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the CBD Women's Caucus. We celebrate this historic meeting and support the efforts of indigenous peoples and local communities to exercise their rights. Regarding item three, we consider biodiversity finance must prioritize direct, flexible, gender responsive, rights-based and long-term funding for indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth.

In this regard, we suggest the following amendments to the document CBDSB-2022.

SBAG-1-2 under section four subsection B on possible elements for discussion paragraph 52 BBs at what particular challenges do women and girl from indigenous peoples and local communities have to access funding including direct access and one can be what can be done to address those challenges Under section 4, subsection B, on possible elements, paragraph 52C, delete in terms of capacity building and add ensure the enabling conditions for after can be done, including women and youth after local communities. and under the recommendations section, paragraph one, at request instead of invite, and to support and strengthen the self-determining priorities after women and youth among them. And finally, under recommendations section, paragraph two, that ensure instead of support and add and equity gender equality and after the application of we would like to ask parties for their support thank you.

Thank you. I understand we now received a proposal for additions or changes to the text. We can only accept changes to the recommendation part and not the other text, but I also need to ask if there are any parties that are supporting the proposal that we heard. I see hands up there. Do I need to mention them? Colombia, Panama, Yes, there is enough. Thank you. Okay, I respect the time is quarter past, but I still want to hear from the youth. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. I may speak on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. We want to contribute with an intergenerational land to this dialogue as disaggregated financial data remains scare when it comes to youth, specifically for indigenous youth. This year, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network launched a global survey to access the youth biodiversity finance landscape, collecting over 350 submissions from different regions. Among them, more than 50 responses self-identified as members of indigenous peoples. For these responses, rights-related activities ranked at the most challenging category to secure funding among the 10 assessed areas. 85% of respondents reported needing financial support, but having none or insufficient funding for their activities. Among those who did receive support, the average grant amounted to less than US$10,000 per year for the period of the past three years. Despite scarce resources, the qualitative aspect highlighted trustful and flexible relationship with some of the funders, showing that good practices exist but needs to be multiplied. GIBBEN supports the intervention made by International Indigenous Forums on Biodiversity, IIFB, and stands an ally for progress on the agenda. In alignment, we would like to emphasize three key points. the urgency of advancing direct access mechanism for indigenous-led organizations or their choosing organizations, ensuring human rights-based finance approach while strengthening social and environmental safeguards and advancing and access financial mechanisms impact on community, and reforming the Biodiversity Finance Act to ensure meaningful participation in decision-making. We recommend adding a new preamble paragraph that reads, Recalling decision 16/34 and its annex, which recognizes that indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth face significant barriers in accessing biodiversity finance, urges relevant actors to put in place and enforce social and environmental safeguards and apply a human rights based approach in developing or scaling up biodiversity finance. and calls to improve access to and increase financial resources for these groups for the implementation of the framework. We kindly ask parties to support this inclusion. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you from the youth. Are there any parties that are supporting, I see Uruguay and Belgium. I see several hands, so thank you for that. We have now We have now reached lunchtime. I would like to thank speakers and participants for their valuable contributions. As we have run out of time, I would not have the opportunity to give time to the panelists to respond, but I encourage everyone to speak with them in the corridors during this week. But with respect to the in-depth dialogue, a summary of the discussions will be prepared, capturing the key elements raised and will be annexed to the procedural report of this meeting. Regarding the recommendations for COP17, a conference room paper will be prepared with the assistance of the Secretariat for your review and consideration in plenary. Your contributions will be carefully reflected in this CRP document and I invite you to submit any written inputs to the Secretariat as soon as possible to support the timely preparation of the CRP. I see no objection, so that is decided. So distinguished delegates, we have completed item three of our agenda. I thank you once again for the constructive discussion under agenda item three. We conclude our consideration of the in-depth dialogue and SB8J will reconvene at 3:00 PM this afternoon. At that time, the representative of the COP Presidency will guide us in our first reading of agenda item four on the modus operandi on the subsidiary body. I also invite all participants to take part in the side events scheduled during the lunch break, actually started maybe five minutes ago, which offer opportunities for technical discussions on matters closely related to our agenda. The session is now adjourned. We will resume at 3.00 p.m.