The First Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SB8J-1) was held in Panama following the Twenty-seventh Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-27). The meeting marked an important milestone in advancing the implementation of Article 8(j), which promotes the respect, preservation, and maintenance of the knowledge, innovations, and practices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) that are vital to biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The meeting provided a platform for Parties, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and other stakeholders to discuss future priorities for implementing Article 8(j) within the framework of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Key discussions focused on strengthening the protection of traditional knowledge, promoting the application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), enhancing the participation of IPLCs in biodiversity governance, and integrating Indigenous knowledge into biodiversity monitoring, reporting, and decision-making processes.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening rights-based approaches to biodiversity conservation and ensuring that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities remain central to achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Participants emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration, adequate support for Indigenous participation, and continued efforts to safeguard traditional knowledge while promoting inclusive and effective biodiversity governance.