(Photo, above) H.E. Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment of Colombia and President of CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia, celebrates several wins for people and nature upon suspension of UN biodiversity meeting on Nov. 2, 2024. Photo credit: Mary Dixon ©WCS.   CALI, COLOMBIA, Nov. 2, 2024 – The following assessment of CBD COP16 was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society upon the suspension of this 12-day United Nations Biodiversity Conference. The UN Bio...

Cali, Colombia, November 1, 2024 – On October 31, the penultimate day of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), WCS Brazil and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) officially launched a Protocol of Intent to strengthen biodiversity conservation in Brazil. The document was signed by the National Secretary of Biodiversity, Forests, and Animal Rights, Rita Mesquita, and the Executive Director of WCS Brazil, Marcos Amend....

Cali, Colombia, Oct. 31, 2024 – It is imperative that governments meeting here at the UN’s Biodiversity Conference take action ensuring an alignment of the world’s biodiversity and climate agendas. More than 190 governments are working toward a consensus-based COP decision to reaffirm the interlinkages between the crises of biodiversity loss and climate change and call for greater action from governments. This could include greater cooperation between UN policy fora des...

Cali, Colombia (October 30, 2024) – After 16 years of grassroots efforts, local communities in northern Puerto Rico are celebrating the creation of a new marine protected area (MPA) – Jardines Submarinos de Vega Baja y Manatí. The newly-established MPA encompasses 202.7 km² (77 square miles) of coastal coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds home to more than 14 endangered species, including the Greater Caribbean Manatee. The area also hosts vibrant small-scale fisheries an...

CALI, COLOMBIA, OCTOBER 29, 2024—Today, at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Re:wild, The Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund in the US announced the formation of a coalition to scale climate and conservation outcomes through the use of sovereign debt conversions. Robb Menzi, Interim President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society, said: “Sovereign debt conversions are...

Cali, Colombia, Oct. 28, 2024 – Governments at the United Nations biodiversity meeting are poised to take an important step to integrate health and conservation and lessen the chances of future deadly pandemics of zoonotic origin, with the adoption of the Global Action Plan for Biodiversity and Health at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16). At CBD COP16, WCS, which has provided scientific and technical input throughout the process, is urging Parties to adopt a stron...

CALI, COLOMBIA, Oct. 22, 2024 -- The following statement was issued by the Wildlife Conservation Society from CBD COP16 on the importance of this international meeting to helping save the jaguar: Said Dr. Esteban Payán, Senior Species Lead of WCS‘s Big Cat Program: “The CBD CoP16 in Cali, Colombia is important for the future of jaguars. This magnificent spotted neotropical big cat has already lost more than 50% of its original distribution and the trend in the species’ po...

CALI, COLOMBIA — October 22, 2024 — The effective management of Colombia’s National Natural Parks, with the participation of communities, the private sector, and society at large, is essential to ensuring peace with nature. This was the main recommendation of the 2024 report presented by the civil society initiative Parques Nacionales Cómo Vamos (PNCV) today in Cali. The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which discusses ac...

Cali, Colombia, Oct. 21, 2024 – Countries from across the globe have gathered in Cali at a pivotal time to push forward an ambitious agenda to save all life on Earth. The Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16) is taking place here Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. A WCS delegation from across the globe is advocating for countries to adopt policies to halt the world’s existential crises: the staggering loss of biodiversity, a...

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — October 17, 2024 — Two female southern sea otters are debuting at the New York Aquarium. Both adults were rescued off the coast of California at young ages and were deemed non-releasable as pups. They have been cared for at other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited aquariums prior to arriving at the New York Aquarium, where they now reside in the Sea Cliffs exhibit. The New York Aquarium has provided a home for 11 rescued sea otters since 1991. Sout...