The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) participated in two side events held during the Twenty-Seventh Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-27), from 20 October to 24, 2025. These activities provided opportunities for dialogue and scientific cooperation to strengthen the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health (GAPBH).
Integrating biodiversity restoration, animal welfare, and the One Health initiative: from guidelines to action and evaluation
At this event organized by the IAI in conjunction with the World Federation for Animals, Born Free, the Smithsonian Institution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the IAI Executive Directorate presented experiences and results from its transdisciplinary program on Climate, Environment, and Health, with multilateral projects implemented in 15 countries in the Americas. It also announced a new project aimed at promoting scientific and technical cooperation in the region to develop harmonized environmental indicators that link human health and biodiversity under a One Health approach. This project included the use of satellite image analysis to support the application of the GAPBH.
The Born Free Foundation and the World Federation for Animals presented a practical tool under development to guide governments in the application of the GAPBH. This guide combined policy recommendations, case studies, and best practices that demonstrated the joint benefits for biodiversity conservation, food systems, and the prevention of zoonotic diseases.
The Smithsonian Institution and IUCN highlighted the contribution of wildlife translocations to KMGBF Targets 2 and 4 and how these actions were integrated with One Health and restoration objectives. Examples of ongoing initiatives were shared, such as collaborative work in Kenya that translated wildlife data into national indicators, strengthening the links between science and public policy.
Aligning sectoral priorities towards policy coherence, science and financing for sustainability
At this event, the IAI brought together governments, international organizations, and local actors to discuss how to align multilateral and territorial priorities in the implementation of the KMGBF. The session proposed a moderated conversation on how global policies translated into inclusive actions consistent with local realities, especially in contexts where biodiversity, agriculture, and climate resilience priorities converged.
The IAI presented the results of high-level dialogues held during its 2025 Conference of the Parties and scientific programs developed with local and indigenous communities. FONPLATA, as a regional development bank, shared its experience in incorporating the KMGBF into its sustainable development agenda; the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) addressed synergies between international conventions; and the Belmont Forum presented collaborative financing mechanisms that promoted applied science and coherence between science and policy.
Finally, examples were discussed on the application of integrated landscape and marine-coastal approaches, which promoted the coexistence of multiple ecological, economic, and sociocultural priorities through inclusive and context-sensitive governance.
Both events reflect the IAI’s commitment to strengthening the links between science, policy, and society, and to promoting integrated approaches that connect biodiversity, climate, and health in order to advance toward sustainable and inclusive development in the Americas.
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