At the occasion of the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16), Cali, Colombia, ICRI’s involvement was essential in advancing coral reef- focused conservation strategies within the global biodiversity agenda. Over 23,000 people from 196 countries, including more than 100 ministers, civil society representatives, Indigenous peoples, and local communities, gathered for COP16. This event marked a historic moment as the first biodiversity COP since the adoption of the GBF in 2022, with a strong focus on accelerating actions to protect both people and nature.
ICRI, alongside a coalition of sponsors hosted the #ForCoral Pavilion – a central hub for coral reef conservation efforts that attracted over 1,100 attendees, with over 40 events between 21st – 31st October 2024. The pavilion served as a dedicated space to explore and highlight the ecological and economic value of coral reefs while mobilising support for one of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems. Positioned at the intersection of global policy and science, the pavilion highlighted the urgent need for coral reef conservation and served as a beacon for collaboration, innovation, and action under the GBF.
The #ForCoral Pavilion events facilitated knowledge sharing, strengthened partnerships, and amplified the need for scalable and effective solutions to protect coral reefs. These efforts highlighted the global urgency of ensuring a future with healthy, vibrant coral reefs, especially in light of the Fourth Global Bleaching Event, the second in a decade, which, in May 2024 exceeded the spatial extent of the Third Global Bleaching Event (2014-2017), previously the most severe on record.
The #ForCoral Pavilion was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. Their contributions have enabled a dedicated space to foster collaboration, showcase innovative solutions, and amplify the global call to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems. We extend our deepest gratitude for their partnership in securing a resilient future for coral reefs.
This document outlines a summary of the events which took place throughout the #ForCoral Pavilion.