Panamá City, 17th October 2025
From 20th to 24th October in Panamá City, the Government of Panamá will host the 27th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-27) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
At SBSTTA-27 experts, government representatives, and stakeholders will come together to guide global biodiversity policy, addressing some key elements of the CBD’s work programme and providing evidence-based recommendations to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
One of the important items for discussion on the agenda is the CBD’s work on biodiversity and health, including options for supporting the implementation of the Global Acton Plan on Biodiversity and Health, which was adopted by the majority of the world’s governments at the CBD’s 16th Conference of the Parties in Cali, Colombia, in 2024.
The Cohab Initiative Secretariat is attending SBSTTA-27, where it will provide scientific and technical support to attending delegations and the Secretariat of the CBD, assisting in the interpretation of evidence, and providing recommendations for more effective partnerships between countries and stakeholders. Our delegation will also participate in side events such as seminars and discussion panels to share knowledge and experience with other organisations and national representatives.
As part of our efforts to support the involvement of indigenous and local communities at multi-lateral meetings like the CBD, Cohab is pleased to be partnering with Proyecto VASI, a partnership of nine rural communities, students and scientists in the Peruvian Amazon established to address issues of poverty and systemic marginalisation of local peoples whilst also promoting sustainable development. VASI’s work includes a focus on conservation of biodiversity especially the species and ecosystems that are essential to the livelihoods and well-being of indigenous peoples.
Members of VASI’s leadership team will join Cohab’s delegation to SBSTTA-27 which will provide an opportunity to increase their engagement with the CBD process and to share perspectives from VASI’s communities with other attendees. This will also support Cohab’s outreach and knowledge exchange activities during the week.
Delegations to SBSTTA can submit statements on the main agenda items for consideration at the meeting, to set out their national or organisational positions on the scientific and technical issues under consideration. Cohab has submitted a statement on the Biodiversity and Health agenda item, the full text of which can be found here.
Cohab is advocating for the Parties to the CBD to be provided with support to help them interpret and implement the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health in the context of their own national circumstances, and for the work of the CBD Secretariat on biodiversity and health to be sustained and strengthened over the coming years. Cohab is also recommending greater integration of the CBD with other major global agreements on biodiversity, health and related topics, to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, Cohab is recommending to SBSTTA that the CBD be further supported to continue and expand its engagement with relevant organisations on issues linking health and biodiversity, including the Quadripartite Alliance for One Health.
SBSTTA-27 will be followed by the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) under the CBD, also in Panamá. Article 8(j) requires Parties to the CBD to “respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge innovations and practices.”
This new Subsidiary Body was established by landmark decision taken at CBD COP16 in Cali to strengthen the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in all processes of the Convention and to support and enhance their contributions to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. SB8J-1, as the meeting is officially titled, will run from 27th to 30th October.
Cohab will be represented at SB8J-1 by its colleagues from VASI, building our capacity to work with national delegations and other organisations on aspects of the CBD that are of critical importance to the health and well-being of indigenous peoples and local communities.