The world’s biggest nature protection conference opened in Colombia yesterday with the UN secretary-general calling for nations to “convert words into action” and fatten a fund seeking to address biodiversity loss.

With some 23,000 pre-registered delegates representing almost every country on Earth, today's opening of the 16th Conference of the Parties under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16) marks the arrival of a critical moment for biodiversity.

Even though we’re planning on a state level, we’re part of a global ecosystem,” said UVM senior lecturer Walter Poleman, one of four representatives observing the summit on behalf of the Vermont Biodiversity Alliance,