Colombia’s "Peace with Nature" global biodiversity conference can point to successful peacebuilding collaborations with CGIAR

When a peace agreement was reached in 2016 after 62 years of Colombia’s brutal conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), there was much to celebrate. Guerillas laid down arms, citizens celebrated the optimistic onset of a new era of history, and both sides took action to ensure peace endured, including integrating ex-combatants into society and politics.

The post-peace process has, of course, faced obstacles. From the environmental perspective, the most alarming was an increase in deforestation in areas that were once off-limits to everyone but fighters. While deforestation is slowing, more work is needed to protect and restore Colombia’s conflict-affected biodiversity hotspots, and to support the communities that depend on them.

As host of the United Nations’ (COP16), Colombia made ‘Peace with Nature’ the event’s theme. Armed conflict and the collateral damage it causes to nature is a key component of the call to action.