States participating in the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, have agreed on a measure to establish a permanent indigenous peoples’ body to consult on the international organisation’s decisions on nature conservation.

The formation of this advisory body recognises the role indigenous peoples play in conserving nature globally, including in some of the most biodiverse areas of the planet, according to indigenous and environmental advocates.

Around 200 countries gathered in Cali to implement the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Framework Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to halt the rapid degradation of nature by 2030.

The advisory body, which will also extend to local communities, will help integrate traditional knowledge and practices into conservation efforts.