About the event

🦌 Taking place at Mt. Kilimanjaro, UN Wellness Centre 

🪸 Livestreamed on UNEP’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/unenvironmentprogramme 

Connecting global partnerships with science and the knowledge of Indigenous People has positive impacts and delivers results to support decision-making across cultures, sectors and continents. This event focuses on two at risk ecosystems, peatlands and coral reefs, highlighting the work, approaches and lessons from UNEP and our partners to restore, conserve and sustainably manage these vital ecosystems. Bringing together ministers, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and representatives from global partnerships, the event will feature some of our flagship collaborations from across Asia, Africa and Latin America. 

The opening segment highlights how UNEP and the Global Peatlands Initiative are advancing policy relevant science and action by linking Indigenous and local knowledge with global research. A video message from the Venice Agreement Community shares how a collective of artists, scientists, activists and indigenous People are working to protect global peatlands locally. The next segment organised as a “lavvu dialoogue” will spotlight the wisdom of the Sámi and Dukha herders of the Arctic and Mongolia in restoring degraded lands and strengthening climate resilience through traditional pastoralist practices. The closing segment then moves from freshwater to the seas, celebrating Indigenous leadership in protecting coral reefs, including an inspiring video message from Jason Mamoa, UNEP’s advocate for Life Below Water.