COP16 host country Colombia has put the inclusion of Indigenous and traditional communities at the center of its agenda in Cali.

Countries and companies meeting in Cali face tough questions over funding for biodiversity, indigenous rights and who pays for nature’s genetic bounty.

Countries are expected to submit those national biodiversity plans, known as NBSAPs, by the start of the Cali summit that runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. Delegates will use the submissions to gauge how much progress has been made since the COP15 summit in 2022 and what needs to be prioritized going forward.