Engaging rightsholders, communities and stakeholders is paramount to ensuring the relevance, appropriateness, and ethical integrity of scientific processes. Check out our poster at the CHM Knowledge Fair at #COP17Armenia, presenting an example of collaborative, culturally appropriate dialogue between gene drive researchers and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. @IIFB_indigenous Explore the poster➡️ s3.amazonaws.com/km.document… Learn more about this work➡️ genedrivenetwork.org/blog/bu… @UNBiodiversity #KMGBF

Invasive species are one of the main drivers of #biodiversityloss. Today is #InvasiveSpecies Half Day at #COP17Armenia. Check out our new policy brief exploring why new tools are needed to address this challenge and conservation cases where #genedrive technologies could make a difference. ➡️ genedrivenetwork.org/wp-cont… @UNBiodiversity #BiodiversityAction #KMGBF

“By prioritizing and investing in capacity-building, policymakers can create an enabling environment for research, development, and potential application of gene drive technologies as well as other innovative tools.” Check out our policy brief highlighting the importance of capacity-building to ensure countries can responsibly research, develop and benefit from #genedrive research and its potential applications. ➡️ genedrivenetwork.org/blog/ca… @UNBiodiversity #COP17Armenia

Biodiversity loss and #climatechange can increase the risk of infectious diseases, such as zoonoses and vector-borne diseases. At #COP17Armenia, discussions on the interlinkages between #biodiversity and #health in the implementation of the #KMGBF will continue. 📷:@UNBiodiversity #BiodiversityAction

How are CBD Parties using the new IUCN Policy on Synthetic Biology in relation to Nature Conservation? This was the question at the heart of today’s side event at #COP17Armenia, co-hosted by IUCN, ICGEB, and UN Biodiversity Parties Canada, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, and Seychelles. The event supported mutual learning and exchange on how the policy is being, is planned to be, and could be most usefully applied in support of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (#KMGBF). - Nicholas Macfarlane, @IUCN, introduced the Policy, why it matters and what it says. He highlighted the inclusive and participatory process that led to its development and noted that it presents a framework allowing to evaluate both the potential benefits and risks of synthetic biology for nature conservation, on a case-by-case basis. - Indira Gamatis, @SeychellesMACCE, described the Policy as a framework that can adapted to national contexts, underscoring the value of case-by-case assessment and the importance of building capacity for national actors to understand and be able to assess synthetic biology applications effectively. - Abisabo Adamu, @BiosafetyNig, shared lessons learned and insights from the Nigerian context, also highlighting capacity building as key to help ensure countries can effectively assess and potentially benefit from these technologies. - Ju Seok Lee, Republic of Korea, explored how the policy could work in practice by walking through the risk assessment of a synthetic biology product. - Yannick Wurm, Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), underlined the scale of the biodiversity crisis, with 2 million species at risk of extinction within the next 100 years, and presented synthetic biology applications being researched at ARIA that could complement existing conservation efforts. - Austein McLoughlin, @UNBiodiversity, explored where biosafety and synthetic biology fit within the KMGBF, providing an overview of recent work on synthetic biology under the Convetion, the potential benefits of synthetic biology in relation to KMGBF targets and mentioning the Kunming Biodiversity Fund project. #BiodiversityAction