Image
Climate change is a multiplier of challenges, so how can we adapt in the high mountains of Colombia?
The Colombian high-mountain region is constantly affected by the advance of urban footprints and the expansion of the agricultural frontier, which significantly contribute to the loss of biodiversity and the ecosystem services provided by the páramos. Additionally, the impacts of climate…
Image
Supporting sustainable livestock value chains to restore large rangelands
Rangelands are critical for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of millions of pastoralists.These uncultivated grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and savannas play very important roles for both domestic and wild animals who use their native vegetation for grazing and…
Image
Unlocking climate action – the power of forest data transparency
In the battle against climate change, forests stand as stalwart allies. These green giants play a pivotal role in sequestering carbon dioxide, regulating the climate, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods. However, the fate of forests worldwide hangs in a precarious balance due to…
Image
Small Island Developing States can be nature-positive leaders for the world
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are scattered across the globe, dotting the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, the west and east coasts of Africa, and the Indian Ocean.These low-lying highly indebted countries are on the frontlines of climate change and natural resource scarcity, already facing…
Image
The Gustavo Fonseca Conference Room: Honoring a friend and mentor
On August 31, 2022, my friend and colleague Gustavo Fonseca, the Director of Programs at the Global Environment Facility, unexpectedly passed. In his honor, we have dedicated our main meeting room at the GEF offices in Washington, DC as the Gustavo Fonseca Conference Room.Gustavo loved the GEF and…
Image
The countdown to biodiversity COP16 in Cali has begun
In February, Gustavo Petro, the President of the Republic of Colombia announced that Cali will be the host city for the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) to be held from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, 2024.
“We bow to the most biodiverse…
Image
Building small island resilience through shared learning: insights from the Caribbean
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean face significant environmental challenges, compounded by their vulnerability to climate change impacts. Addressing wide-ranging challenges including biodiversity loss, land degradation, deforestation, water scarcity, food insecurity, and waste…
Image
Making water a source of peace with transboundary cooperation
On this World Water Day, we celebrate water as a resource that sustains life on Earth and provides the basis for economic development and prosperity.
World Water Day also reminds us that many people around the world face too much, too little, or too dirty water. Over-abstraction of water is…
Image
Nurturing landscapes, communities, and climate resilience in Kazakhstan
At the crossroads of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan, among high and rugged mountain ranges lies Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve - the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia and a part of UNESCO's World Network of Biospheres and World Heritage List. Established in 1926 for its rich…
Image
Feeding the world, protecting the environment
More than 820 million people in the world are affected by food insecurity and malnutrition. An additional 2 billion people globally suffer from “hidden hunger” - a lack of essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, and zinc.
Demand for animal protein products continues to grow, supported by…