Boosting biodiversity and strengthening national plans through agroecology
«Through agroecology, we can link biodiversity conservation and restoration to people and ensure we achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s (KMGBF) targets by working hand-in-hand with local communities.» This inspiring message emerged from the peer-to-peer exchange «Boosting National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) through Agroecology» held on 9-10 May in Kenya with 25 NBSAP focal points, food system and agroecology focal points and CSO representatives from Colombia, Cambodia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
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Through agroecology, we can link biodiversity conservation and restoration to people and ensure we achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s (KMGBF) targets by working hand-in-hand with local communities.” This inspiring message emerged from the peer-to-peer exchange «Boosting National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) through Agroecology» held on 9-10 May in Kenya with 25 NBSAP focal points, food system and agroecology focal points and CSO representatives from Colombia, Cambodia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Through a field visit to agroecological farms in Kiambu county (Kenya) participants experienced firsthand how agroecology contributes to biodiversity through practices that conserve water, enhance soil health, and support community income and solidarity. Additionally, participants reflected on where countries stand with the integration of a food systems approach through agroecology, how and where to integrate agroecology in the NBSAPs developing blueprints following this approach and concrete next steps for country focal points.
Key messages:
- To integrate a food systems approach through agroecology in the NBSAPs, it should be included along the entire NBSAP structure (e.g. problem statement, national objectives, interventions and implementation)
- Food system actors need to engage with- and should be consulted in formal NBSAP processes.
- Once agroecology is mainstreamed in existing policy frameworks such as national development plans and other international commitments (e.g. NDCs on climate change adaptation and mitigation), NBSAPs should take these into consideration to ensure policy coherence.
What’s next? The initiative «Boosting NBSAPs through Agroecology» by Biovision, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, WWF, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and the Agroecology Coalition supports the integration of agroecology in updating and developing NBSAPs under the new KMGBF. A handbook summarizing these engagements will be published in fall 2024.