Colombia has inaugurated its first-ever green zone for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), aimed at enhancing inclusion at the UN Biodiversity Summit.
COP16 opened in Colombia's southwestern city of Cali on Monday, with Colombia taking over the rotating presidency from China.
The Colombian government hopes that the summit will encourage citizens to connect with nature and advocate for its well-being, with the green zone allowing the hosting of parallel events for the participation of a wider audience.
"We firmly believe that it is society that propels change and that pushes governments to make political decisions that are not easy in this transition," said Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad.
The general public is invited to attend any of the 1,000 events , including panels, workshops and artistic performances to be held in the green zone, aimed at fostering a connection with the conference's mission.
According to surveys conducted by World Wildlife Fund Colombia, almost half of all Colombians are concerned about the state of natural resources. Seventy percent of respondents expressed a desire for "concrete action" to mitigate biodiversity loss.
However, this has proven to be a challenge, as the concept of biodiversity remains "remote and technical" for many.
In fact, some 70 percent people of those surveyed were unaware that this global biodiversity conference was being held in Colombia - one of the world's most biodiverse countries.
Moreover, despite Colombia hosting COP16, only 22 percent of respondents say they know about it, while 76 percent had not heard of it or were unfamiliar with it.
Nature Re, a company specializing in restoring land devastated by unsustainable ranching, set up a booth in the green zone to engage with citizens and involve them in conservation efforts.
"Society and common citizens are approaching us and asking, they are very interested. Wow, this is happening in this part of the world? How interesting I thought about that, but didn't know people are doing this. It is that connection between citizens and us who are making an effort for change," said Eliana Molina, head of the team.
Visitors are also encouraged to support sustainable regional businesses. Artisans such as Xamira Minota Rivas, who journeyed from Colombia's Pacific coast, are showcasing and selling their wares which are crafted from recycled materials.
"Our products are made by hand with materials from the region, primarily from recycled materials and high quality fibers found in our region, to weave together creations inspired by our landscapes, and our mangroves and the different ecosystems found near the oceans," she said.
While citizens might not be able to work in biodiversity conservation, places like this can help them to be more conscious of supporting local businesses.
COP16 is scheduled to gather more than 12,000 participants and will conclude on Nov 1.
Colombia inaugurates "green zone" at COP16 to promote biodiversity awareness
Columbia inaugurates "green zone" at COP16 to promote biodiversity awareness
