Biodiversity Conservation Begins with Protecting People’s Rights and Livelihoods: Insights from a COP 17 Press Conference

Food security, the rights of farmers and Indigenous Peoples, and the protection of their livelihoods are central to biodiversity conservation.

SEARICE underscored this message during the press conference titled “How Can the Philippines Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) Be Implemented Across the Biodiversity–Climate–Agri-food and Human Rights Nexus? Outcomes of the Multi-Actor Dialogue” on October 23, 2026, during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17) in Yerevan, Armenia. The press conference was held in collaboration with SwedBio, PIKP, and the Tebtebba Foundation.

In her talk, SEARICE Executive Director Normita Ignacio shared the outcomes of the Multi-Actor Dialogue in the Philippines last June 30–July 1, 2026, in Tagaytay City, Philippines. She emphasized that biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable agri-food systems, and human rights cannot be addressed in isolation.

The dialogue highlighted that protecting biodiversity also means recognizing the rights of smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. In connection, Ignacio further emphasized the importance of recognizing people as rights-holders and the state as a duty-bearer.

“SEARICE works with smallholder farmers, including farmers from Indigenous communities, to advance agroecology and strengthen local seed systems.

Through agroecology, farmers are broadening on-farm genetic diversity and strengthening their agri-food systems.

At the dialogue, farmers shared these experiences and showed they are not merely beneficiaries of biodiversity policies. They are essential partners, innovators, and custodians of agricultural biodiversity.”

Furthermore, it was also emphasized that effective implementation of the PBSAP requires stronger partnerships, more coherent policies, and sustained collaboration across institutions to break down sectoral silos. Such collaboration is essential to ensure that biodiversity conservation efforts are inclusive and responsive to the needs and rights of local communities.

At SEARICE, we believe that acknowledging farmers’ vital contributions to biodiversity conservation is a huge step towards an effective implementation of the PBSAP. Upholding farmers’ rights, supporting farmer-led agri-food systems, and conserving agrobiodiversity are a vital foundation in building resilient and sustainable food systems.