Guatemala hosts the First In-Person Meeting of the Ibero-American Network of Biodiversity Directors – IberBio

Guatemala hosted the first in-person meeting of the Ibero-American Network of Biodiversity Directors – IberBio – in Antigua (Guatemala). The event was aimed at environmental authorities from across the region with a view to strengthening dialogue and cooperation, and consolidating strategic partnerships to advance the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in Ibero-America.

The meeting was attended by the Spanish Ambassador to Guatemala, María Clara Girbau Ronda; the Executive Secretary of CONAP, Igor De la Roca; representatives from the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Foundation for the Internationalisation of Public Administrations (FIAP) as part of the European Union’s EUROCLIMA programme, and the European Union; as well as biodiversity directors from Ibero-American countries.

Ibero-America: the cradle of crops vital to humanity

Ibero-America is home to around 40 per cent of the world’s biodiversity and is the cradle of crops that have fed humanity for millennia, such as maize, potatoes, beans, cocoa and cassava. Furthermore, this natural wealth is closely linked to the cultural diversity of indigenous peoples and local communities, whose knowledge and practices have been key to its conservation over generations.

For millions of people in the region, biodiversity forms the basis of their identity, their livelihoods, food security and resilience to climate change. Strengthening Ibero-American cooperation in this area therefore means investing in their well-being and shared future.

The relaunch of IberBio aims to consolidate a regional agenda that addresses common challenges such as biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and climate change, with the aim of translating international commitments into concrete actions for conservation, sustainable use and restoration.

3 key takeaways from the first IberBio Network meeting

–To institutionally consolidate the IberBio Network by approving its rules of procedure, governance structure, visual identity and work programme for 2025–2027.

–To promote the exchange of regional experiences, particularly regarding the restoration of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems, which the countries have identified as the main shared priority for technical cooperation, and

–Strengthen technical and strategic capacities to integrate ecological restoration into public policies, National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), climate policies, and public and private financing mechanisms.

Guatemala, as the host country, has shared its national experiences of land management and restoration. In addition, the work being carried out in the Lake Atitlán Basin Multiple-Use Reserve and during a field visit to the Centre for Education on Rural Development and Adaptation to Climate Change (CEDRACC) has been highlighted as an example of nature-based solutions and the country’s commitment to the recovery of its ecosystems – work carried out by the National Council for Protected Areas – CONAP – alongside other government institutions and strategic partners for the protection and conservation of this protected area in the west of the country.

For Guatemala, biodiversity is one of its greatest natural assets. The National Council for Protected Areas (CONAP) is driving forward the strengthening of the Guatemalan System of Protected Areas (SIGAP), the conservation of strategic species and ecosystems, the restoration of landscapes, and collaboration with communities and partners to promote sustainable land management.

📹📹Our colleague Antonio Guerra reports from the scene.