Rio Conventions Pavilion (RCP)

The Rio Conventions Pavilion (RCP) commenced on Tuesday, 1 December 2015, at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP21) in Paris, France. It convened under the theme “Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Meeting the Climate Challenge,” hosted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat. Seven sessions were held throughout the day followed by a summary of key messages in closing.

In the morning, participants’ addressed synergies between the Rio Conventions - CBD, UNFCCC, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) - and how they can help address climate change. Participants also discussed the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration, achieving land degradation neutrality and the outcomes of the XIV World Forestry Congress, held in September 2015.

The remainder of the sessions took place in the afternoon. On the session regarding forest and landscape restoration in REDD+, participants heard presentations on forest restoration in Brazil and Indonesia, respectively, and on mitigation through enhancing forest carbon stocks. A session on land-based climate mitigation also took place, addressing, inter alia, the contribution of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets’ to land-based climate change mitigation. This was followed by Global Environment Facility (GEF)-organized Leaders’ Dialogue entitled “Cooperation, A Valuable Commodity.”

The following two sessions addressed: afforestation and agricultural conversion of naturally non-forest ecosystems; and experiences on the implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change. Under these session themes, participants heard presentations on: grass biomes; non-forest ecosystems’ potential contributions to climate change mitigation; blue carbon’s role in providing ecosystem services and mitigation; ecosystem-based approaches to climate change mitigation in peatlands; experiences of South Africa and their land-based policies; and drivers of biodiversity loss and incentives for restoration.

Key messages from the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration Day, highlighted during the final session, included the importance of ecosystems in climate change mitigation and adaptation and balancing competing land use pressures for delivery of multiple benefits.