The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17)
ILRI at CBD COP17: Conserve diversity. Sustain its landscapes and custodians. Enable Africa to use it and share its benefits fairly.
Biodiversity isn’t only wildlife and forests. It also lives in Africa’s cattle, goats, sheep and chickens, which have adapted over generations to heat, drought and disease. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework already commits countries to protecting the genetic diversity of domesticated species. COP17 doesn’t need a new agenda for livestock. It needs to put the commitments that exist into practice.
Africa’s biological insurance. A trait that looks unimportant today may be what a herd needs in a hotter, drier future. Yet the risk status of almost half the world’s local breeds is still unknown.
A huge conservation gap. Enough genetic material is stored for only about 1% of African local breeds. If we don’t know a breed’s risk status, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. It means nobody has checked.
Custodians, not beneficiaries. Pastoralists and livestock keepers maintain this diversity, and they produce 75% of Africa’s milk. Protecting a breed means protecting the landscape and the people that sustain it.
Science led by Africa. Benefit-sharing should build African capability, so that Africa leads the science on its own livestock instead of only supplying samples. ILRI’s Genomic Reference Resource for African Cattle offers a starting point for how a country-led model could work.
One landscape, three conventions: well-managed rangelands restore land, conserve biodiversity and store carbon.
See our events below
| Date | Time (Yerevan / EAT) | Venue | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19–21 Oct | Full days | Biodiversity Technology and Innovation Expo (booth location TBC) | From Cells to Herds: A Biotechnological Platform for Conserving and Restoring Africa's Livestock and Aquatic Biodiversity |
| 23 Oct | 16:00–17:00 / 15:00–16:00 | Food & Agriculture Pavilion | Closing the Evidence–Policy Gap: Integrating Rangelands, Livestock, Land and Climate Action |
| 26 Oct | 11:00–12:00 / 10:00–11:00 | Food & Agriculture Pavilion | From Cells to Landscapes: Connecting Genetic Diversity, Resilience and Equitable Benefits |
| 28 Oct | 11:30–13:00 / 10:30–12:00 | To confirm: listed by CGIAR but not on ILRI's list. Vayk, Side-event Room 3 (CGIAR, ACBA, Biflores) | From Invasion to Resilience: Integrated Biosecurity, Invasive Species Management and Ecosystem Restoration |
| 29 Oct | 16:00–17:00 / 15:00–16:00 | Food & Agriculture Pavilion | Livestock in Living Landscapes: Connecting Genetic Diversity, Soil Health and Food Systems (proposed revised title) |
| 30 Oct | 13:15 start / 12:15 | Official COP17 side event: Komitas, Business and Industry Organizations Group Room, Block 2, 3rd Floor | The Missing Multiplier: Unlocking Biodiversity, Climate and Development Dividends through Livestock Biodiversity and NBSAP Implementation |
