Indigenous peoples have secured a historic win at the U.N. COP16 nature summit in Colombia, with the approval of a permanent body for them to consult on United Nations decisions on nature conservation.

This consultative body, also extending to local communities, is a significant recognition of the crucial role Indigenous peoples play in global nature conservation, particularly in safeguarding biodiverse areas.

Nearly 200 countries gathered in Cali, Colombia, for the summit, aiming to implement the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement. This agreement targets halting the rapid decline of nature by 2030.

The new body will facilitate the integration of traditional knowledge and practices into conservation efforts. This recognition of Indigenous and local communities' contributions is considered a breakthrough, according to Indigenous and environmental advocates.

In addition, countries agreed to adopt a measure acknowledging the role of people of African descent in nature conservation. This recognition, championed by COP16 host Colombia, aims to provide these communities with better access to resources for biodiversity projects and participation in global environmental discussions.