Third IAM Science-Policy Meeting: Promoting the Integration of Biodiversity and Climate Change in Mountains

Background

The Andean Mountain Initiative continues to contribute to the science-policy dialogue, this time focusing on the links between biodiversity and climate change, and the need to create synergies to address both problems from a mountain perspective. The meeting focused on the importance of connecting efforts to preserve biodiversity with actions to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, highlighting that both challenges are intrinsically linked, and addressing them separately can undermine the effectiveness of interventions.

Mountains, as fragile ecosystems with high biodiversity, are highly sensitive to climate change. They are an ideal space to analyze this connection and explore how these issues can be integrated into international forums, such as the United Nations Conferences of the Parties (COP).

Summary

On March 13, the Technical Secretariat of the Andean Mountain Initiative (AMI), led by CONDESAN with support from the Adaptation at Altitude program (funded by SDC), convened the third AMI Science-Policy Meeting: Integrating Biodiversity and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Adaptation and International Cooperation.

This virtual event brought together 50 participants from the Andes and other mountain ranges around the world, consolidating the AMI Science-Policy Meeting series as key spaces for exchange between scientists and decision-makers.

The event began with a welcome address by Abigaíl Castillo, representative of the AMI Governance Working Group, who highlighted the importance of these dialogues in fostering international cooperation and adaptation to climate change in mountain regions.

The link between Biodiversity and Climate Change: The first part was dedicated to delving deeper into the relationship between biodiversity and climate change. Experts analyzed how these two issues are interconnected and what initiatives are being implemented to address them in an integrated manner.

• Lohengrim Cavieres (University of Concepción, Chile) presented a regional analysis of the impacts of land use, climate change, and invasive species on Andean ecosystems. He emphasized the importance of adopting a multi-focus monitoring approach that encompasses biodiversity and socio-environmental factors, and of building long-term, sustainable research networks.
• Elena Fischer (United Nations Environment Programme Carpathian Convention) shared actions for biodiversity preservation in the Carpathians, highlighting the implementation of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework.
• Babar Khan (ICIMOD) presented the challenges of climate change adaptation in the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas, and the inherent complexity of understanding its relationship with biodiversity, in a densely populated region.

Adaptation Experiences in the Mountains: The second part focused on adaptation initiatives and experiences implemented in different mountainous regions, with a focus on nature-based solutions.

• María Andreina Salas-Bourgoin (Universidad de los Andes, Venezuela) presented an analysis of 40 adaptation solutions in the Andes, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and key recommendations.
• Stefan Marzelli (Alpine Convention) shared a similar study in the Alps, where 40 projects were analyzed and 8 were selected for in-depth review.

Both the Andean and Alpine studies highlighted the importance of public participation in the implementation of adaptation solutions, and the need to address problems from the ground up with an integrated approach that includes both environmental and socioeconomic benefits.

Influencing International Forums: In the third section, participants provided an update on progress, gaps, and opportunities at the COPs to enhance the synergy between biodiversity and climate change.

• Adriá Verges Aleix (Mountain Partnership) referred to the working group of 23 countries that coordinates the Alliance within the five-year period of Mountain Action, highlighting among other actions the Expert Dialogue on mountains organized during SBSTA60 in 2024. He referred to the joint proposal of several mountain platforms in the world, with the impetus of the Andean Mountain Initiative and other actors of the Adaptation at Altitude program, to link Biodiversity and Climate Change, and pointed out the importance of incorporating synergies between the three thematic areas of the Rio conventions: the UNFCC, the CBD and the UNCCD.
• Jerson Gonzáles Umaña (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia), representative of the Regional Coordination of the IAM, presented the actions of the Initiative to position the dialogue on mountains in the COPs, highlighting the need for a roadmap between the COP16 on Biodiversity in Bogotá and the COP30 on Climate Change in Belém do Pará. He referred to the proposals made at COP16 by various mountain platforms around the world, on the CBD decisions that impact mountains, and on the next steps with an eye toward COP30.
• César Aréstegui (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru) closed the section with an analysis of the progress and opportunities in the climate negotiations to strengthen the management of Andean mountains.

The event concluded with a discussion about the challenges ahead in integrating scientific information into decision-making at various levels, and the joint strategies countries must develop to position mountains on global agendas.

With this third Meeting, the IAM contributes to reinforcing the importance of strengthening international cooperation and integrating biodiversity and climate change into global agendas through dialogue and exchange between scientists and decision-makers in mountain regions.

The full video of the event is available below (in Spanish).