Integrating agroecology into National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans (NBSAPs) is an opportunity to address biodiversity while simultaneously advancing other international targets, including those related to climate change, desertification, disaster risk reduction, combating hunger, reducing poverty, health and nutrition.
Discover our Guidance for integrating agroecology and food systems into the development and implementation of NBSAPs in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Context
A crucial approach to comprehensively meet KMGBF targets
This is a critical moment for biodiversity. With the planet’s ecosystems under extreme pressure, particularly from industrial food systems, the world’s attention has been drawn to the alarming crisis of biodiversity and extinction that we face today. To address this challenge, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) was adopted during United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in 2022 to serve as a global blueprint for biodiversity action.
Article 6 of the Convention calls for countries to “develop national strategies, plans or programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”. These National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) are the main strategic planning documents that identify and prioritize national biodiversity conservation objectives and the strategies and actions needed to achieve them.
Our work
Peer-to-peer exchanges on integration of a food systems approach through agroecology into NBSAPs
On March 12 2024, an online dialogue was organized with 50 decisionmakers and shapers from 18 countries to support decision-makers in the integration of agroecology and agroecosystems approaches in the development of their respective NBSAPs. It facilitated the exchange of good practices, expertise and resources among the national focal points and other relevant actors leading the development of national policies on biodiversity and/or agroecology. Read more here!
Later, on 9-10 May 2024 a field visit and peer-to-peer exchange was organised with 25 NBSAP focal points, food system and agroecology focal points and CSO representatives from Colombia, Cambodia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The activity took place in Kiambu county and Nairobi (Kenya) with the goal to understand (1) where countries stand with the integration of a food systems approach through agroecology, (2) how and where to integrate agroecology in the NBSAPs developing blueprints following this approach and (3) concrete next steps for country focal points.
A guidance for decision-makers summarizing learnings from these engagements will be published in October 2024 on the margin of COP16 in Cali (Colombia). Stay tuned for more updates to come soon!
The substantial interlinkages between agroecology and the KMGBF targets
Agroecology as a systems approach offers a comprehensive approach for countries to holistically fulfil their commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Putting agroecology at the center of KMGBF implementation can help countries achieve targets related to the reduction of threats to biodiversity and to meeting people needs. The adoption of agroecology also contributes to targets related to tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming KMGBF. At the same time, supporting the implementation of this last set of targets contributes to the upscaling of agroecology.
There is a broad alignment between the targets set by the KMGBF and the 13 agroecological principles. This correspondence underscores the potential of agroecology to contribute to a majority of KMGBF targets if integrated by countries within their NBSAPs.
