IUFRO's Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) participated in the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16), held from 21 October to 1 November 2024 in Cali, Colombia. Under the slogan "Peace with Nature" this COP called for a reflection on our relationship with the environment, and for rethinking an economic model that does not prioritize the extraction, overexploitation and pollution of nature. It also served as an opportunity to take stock of progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) since its adoption in 2022.

While there was no specific agenda point on forests, SciPol contributed to two agenda points relevant to forests:

• Under the agenda point "Sustainable Wildlife Management", Parties agreed on the need for additional guidance, indicators and research concerning sustainable wildlife management. As a member of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), IUFRO supported various preparatory activities, as well as side events and interventions during COP16. Via CPW, SciPol will continue to be involved in various follow-up actions including the development of indicators for monitoring the status and trends in the use of wild species.
   
• Under the agenda point "Biodiversity and Health", Parties approved a Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health designed to help curb the emergence of diseases and promote sustainable ecosystems. The Action Plan calls for a holistic "One Health" approach that recognizes the health of ecosystems, animals, and humans as interconnected and invites nations to designate national focal points for biodiversity and health. The CPW segment during Biodiversity and Health Day on 24 October 2024 provided a great opportunity to share the findings of the recently published Global Forest Expert Panel (GFEP) assessment on "Forests and Trees for Human Health:  Pathways, Impacts, Challenges and Response Options", highlighting the important health benefits of forests and green spaces and the need for integrative and cross-sectoral approaches to improve the forest-health link.

In its role as a member of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), IUFRO also participated in activities around Forest and Water Day on 25 October 2024. The day-long event also featured the publication of the CBD-CPF report "The Forest Factor. The role of protection, restoration and sustainable management of forests for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework".

Report by Viola Belohrad, IUFRO SciPol Project Manager