Global Conservation Collaboration in Action!

November 1, 2024

Last week, we wrote about why we sent a team to Cali, Colombia for COP16, the 2024 UN Biodiversity COP. Now, after a whirlwind of participating in panel discussions, attending negotiating sessions, and meeting with conservationists from around the world, most of our COP16 team is back in California and we’re reflecting on everything that happened.

We put together a round up of quotes from the team to showcase what they felt were some of the most powerful lessons and memorable highlights from attending the largest biodiversity focused gathering in the world.

• “I am fortunate that this was my third time participating as a delegate at a UN global conference. Each one has been impactful in different ways, but this time what really stood out to me was the incredible power of coalitions and coordinated partnerships. Our extended California delegation consisted of more than 100 state leaders, state legislators, California Native American Tribal leaders, NGOs, scientists, advocates, and more. We were a powerful presence fanning out across the enormous conference venue and sharing the work we are doing together here in California with the world on multiple stages (often simultaneously), while building a multitude of important connections with our colleagues around the globe. We had the chance to share what we were learning not just with the world, but from the world. The multiplier effect from such an extensive group working together was impressive. Now we’re bringing that force home to California, and I am really looking forward to what we will build together looking toward the COP-17 in Armenia.”–Liz Chamberlin, Director of Innovation, Point Blue
• “Our work at Point Blue allows us to approach local, everyday actions that highlight the value of the context of each actor that contributes to the care of nature. These spaces, such as COP16, allow us to take these actions to another level, to put them in line with public agendas, with other realities and knowledge bases. It also fills me with optimism because there are so many of us behind a common cause, but also with the awareness of the great challenge of successfully taking action.” –Diana Eusse,  Program Coordinator, MSP+; South American Lead, Migratory Shorebird Project
• “Global biodiversity conservation, like migratory bird conservation, is not something that any one group or country can do alone but requires partners with a shared vision acting together. COP16 is an example of that critical collaboration at a scale I have never seen before and gives me hope that we can find solutions to the biodiversity crisis.”–Matt Reiter,  Program Officer, MSP+; Principal Investigator, Migratory Shorebird Project;  Research Director, Point Blue
• “Contributing to the global conservation movement by learning from and exchanging ideas with others working within their communities strengthens my commitment to preserving our natural world in ways that benefit both people and wildlife, while also connecting Point Blue’s efforts to global biodiversity goals.”–Debra Stein, Impact Strategist, Point Blue
• “This COP was about figuring out how to implement the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was designed to implement at a national level. However, in many of the talks and conversations I engaged in, it is clear that implementation starts at local (cities, counties) and aggregates to sub-national levels (states) with ultimate coordination occurring at national levels. This means that much of the work Point Blue is engaged in can contribute to meeting global goals if we structure our work to align with these global targets. This is taking, ‘Think globally, act locally’ to an actionable level in the connected conservation space.” Sam Veloz, Ecoinformatics and Climate Solutions Director

Our team ended our time at the COP incredibly inspired by time spent surrounded by people engaged in the common cause of conserving biodiversity across the planet. As of the time of this writing, the official negotiations are ongoing, with official country delegations from around the world struggling to resolve key issues, including questions around securing sufficient funding for global conservation needs. Despite this backdrop, we couldn’t have been prouder to be part of this coordinated effort to showcase California’s progress to the world (an effort noticed by the LA Times and New York Times). We know the Golden State will continue to be a global conservation leader and we’re excited to keep exchanging knowledge and practices across the state and around the world.