IIASA researchers will contribute to multiple side-events at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity – an international meeting bringing together governments, researchers, and policymakers from around the world.
This year, the event will focus on:
- Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), including 2030 targets
- Biodiversity finance and closing the global funding gap
- Monitoring and accountability mechanisms
- Ecosystem restoration and expansion of protected areas
- Equitable benefit‑sharing from genetic resources
- Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ leadership
- Integration of biodiversity with climate and sustainable development agendas
IIASA participation
Tuesday, 20 October, 12:45, Data to Action Pavillion
Using National Spatial Planning to Take Action Across the KMGBF
Piero Visconti will present, together with representatives from the European Environment Agency, the NaturaConnect project that provide knowledge, tools and capacity building for European Countries to establish a coherent and resilient network of conservation areas for Nature and People.
Wednesday, 21 October, 18:15, Eastern European States meeting room
Expanding Science Horizons: Ongoing Work Of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Piero Visconti will attend in quality of Coordinating Lead Author of one of the ongoing IPBES Assessment, on Integrated Spatial Planning and Ecological connectivity.
Friday, 23 October, 18:15, Data to Action Pavillion
Interactive Marketplace on Spatial Tools & Platforms
Piero Visconti will demonstrate NaturaConnect data and tools, including spatial maps of where priority areas for protected areas, restoration areas and ecological corridors could be placed to achieve Goals A, B and Targets 1, 2, 3 of the GBF in Europe.
EU Science for Biodiversity Booth
Piero Visconti will represent the NaturaConnect projects at the booth, talking to delegates about IIASA’s research and policy support on integrated spatial planning for Nature and People during regular slots in the first week
Gerald Steindlegger will engage with key stakeholders as part of the SITCA strategy, focusing on building bridges between international organizations, NGOs, governments, the private sector, and forest owners through dialogue, interactive discussions, and the exchange of scientific findings.
On 22 October, Steindlegger will participate in a side event with the Building for Forests Alliance (FAO, BbN, UN-Habitat, IUFRO, and other partners), where he will deliver a presentation and participate in a panel discussion. The objective is to address and discuss key biodiversity-related issues relevant to SITCA from a scientific perspective, including the relationship between sustainable forest management, timber construction, climate protection, and biodiversity. Meetings and discussions with key environmental NGOs are also planned at the Nature Positive Pavilion, with the aim of understanding different perspectives, addressing critical questions, and strengthening dialogue between the relevant stakeholder groups.
Ian McCallum will also be involved at the following three events together with the European Space Agency (ESA) via the world ecosystems project WEED:
- Earth Observation for GBF Headline Indicator A.2: Enabling Countries to Monitor and Report on the Extent of Natural Ecosystems
- ESA side event: Scaling up KMGBF monitoring: Earth Observation and digital platforms as enablers for NBSAP development, monitoring and reporting
- Geo-Atlas events where World Ecosystems is a technology provider contributor:
About the event
COP17 is the next major global biodiversity summit under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It will gather 196 Parties to assess progress on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and accelerate implementation. Armenia was elected host and COP president due to its ecological significance and regional leadership.
The participation in CBD COP17 forms an important component of the roadmap towards UNFCCC COP31, particularly in terms of aligning climate, biodiversity, forests, and sustainable construction agendas and engaging relevant international stakeholders.
A further objective is to raise awareness and inform decision-makers by providing an evidence-based perspective on sustainable forest management and timber construction, including their economic viability, technical performance, and potential contribution to climate protection.
Upcoming Events
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Training workshop: Demographic analysis with applications to aging, health, and education
Austrian Academy of Sciences, Festsaal Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2 1010 Wien
More than just climate: Austria's path to a resilient future
Austrian Academy of Sciences, Festive Hall, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna
On a Collision Course in Orbit: Who Bears Responsibility for Space Debris?
Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Seminar Room 1, Bäckerstraße 13, 1010 Vienna, Austria