The official symbol of COP16 draws inspiration from the Inírida flower, also known as the ‘Eternal Flower’, endemic to Colombia. Representing this year’s most significant biodiversity event, to be held in Cali, it features 36 petals, each symbolizing 23 global targets and 13 Colombian ecoregions.
Global Biodiversity Goals
The 23 global targets stem from commitments made at the 2022 Biodiversity Summit in Kunming-Montreal, slated for achievement by 2030. Some of these objectives include:
- Effective conservation and management: Protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine surfaces through a network of protected areas.
- Climate change mitigation: Minimizing climate change impacts on biodiversity through adaptation, mitigation, and nature-based disaster risk reduction.
- Species preservation: Preventing any extinction of threatened species due to human causes.
- Pollution reduction: Combating pollution, including high-risk pesticide use, and minimizing nutrient loss to the environment.
- Biodiversity integration: Integrating biodiversity into high-impact sector policies like agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and aquaculture.
Colombian Ecoregion Diversity
Colombia boasts 13 distinctive ecoregions, each contributing to the country’s unique biodiversity:
- Amazon: Vast plains extending eastward to borders with Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
- Insular Region: Encompassing the Archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia in the Caribbean Sea, and the islands of Malpelo and Gorgona in the Pacific Ocean.
- La Mojana: Eleven municipalities across four departments, characterized by diverse aquatic ecosystems.
- Ciénaga Grande-Sierra Nevada de Cartagena: Coastal region rich in marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
- Catatumbo: Encompassing municipalities in Santander, renowned for their diverse flora and fauna.
- Biogeographic Pacific: Colombia’s second most biodiverse region, spanning Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and Nariño departments.
- And many more: Each Colombian ecoregion, such as Ciénagas de Zapatosa-Perijá, Páramos, Macizo colombiano, and Sabana de Bogotá, contributes to the country’s natural wealth.
COP16 in Cali
COP16 will take place in Cali from October 21 to November 2, 2024. This global event, supported by the Valle del Cauca Governorate, presents a significant opportunity to showcase the department’s environmental richness and diversity, promote sustainable development, boost its economy, and enhance community well-being.
Colombia Unveils COP16’s Image: What It Is and What It Signifies
On the morning of Wednesday, February 28, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, María Susana Muhamad, unveiled alongside David Cooper, Interim Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, before the United Nations Environment Assembly, the image that will represent Colombia during COP16.
Message for Environmental Care
During the address by the Environment Ministry’s director, a message was conveyed to the world to care for the environment: “We are launching the official logo of COP16 in Cali, which is the Inírida flower, representing the message of ‘Peace with Nature’, symbolizing the unique themes brought by biodiversity.”
Hope for the Future
The uniqueness of this flower lies in its endemism to Guainía and its eternal nature; its petals never wither. “We hope that COP16 in Colombia can help the world make peace with nature so that we can sustain and maintain life on the planet forever.”
Emblem of Representation
This flower served as inspiration for creating the image, which now becomes the emblem representing the country. It comprises the 23 global targets from the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework and Colombia’s 13 ecoregions.
Global Engagement
In turn, David Cooper, Interim Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, congratulated the minister, the government, and the capital of Valle for their vigorous mobilization to carry out COP16:
“The eloquent logo featuring the Inírida flower symbolizes Colombia’s beauty and diversity. Under the theme of Peace with Nature, COP16 will bring the world together to promote and support the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan – the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.”
Teasing for COP16 Biodiversity 2024
This Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty adopted at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 and entered into force in 1993, aiming to conserve biological diversity, ensure sustainable use, and guarantee fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.
The Biodiversity Conference is held every two years and brings together representatives from 196 party members of the convention, as well as intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society, indigenous peoples, and local communities, among other relevant actors.
This is a space to set agendas, commitments, and actions related to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. This year, the event will be held in Colombia, in the capital of Valle, from October 21 to November 1, 2024.
