From 20-24 October 2025, governments gathered in Panama City for SBSTTA-27, the scientific body of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The meeting assessed progress on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and prepared recommendations for COP17 in Armenia next October.
WFA was present at the event with a clear message: animals are essential allies for resilient ecosystems, climate action, and global health. Their welfare deserves a place in biodiversity, climate, and health policy.
Wild animals recognised as climate allies
One of the most encouraging outcomes was increased acceptance and recognition for the role of wild animals in climate change mitigation and adaptation. SBSTTA drafted a CBDCOP17 resolution on biodiversity and climate change, which urges countries to “prioritise the conservation and restoration of ecological integrity and ecosystem functions, including those mediated or affected by wild animals.”
Discussions also advanced cooperation across the three Rio Conventions: on biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation. SBSTTA requested that the CBD Executive Secretary collaborate with counterparts in the organisation of technical information exchanges to enhance policy coherence. This will include reviving the Joint Liaison Group and developing a potential joint work programme that will be presented at CBD COP17 and UNFCCC COP31 next year.
Many countries acknowledged that protecting wild animals strengthens ecosystem function and resilience, a critical step towards ensuring animal welfare remains central to nature-based climate and land solutions.
Protecting animals, ecosystems, and human health
By Adeline Lerambert from Born Free Foundation
Health discussions also advanced significantly. Countries highlighted the importance of the IPBES Nexus Assessment, which looks at the links between biodiversity, food systems, and health.
Draft decision for CBD COP17 on biodiversity and health calls for stronger cooperation between biodiversity and health actors. This includes welcoming progress on the Pandemic Agreement, reactivating the WHO Inter-agency Liaison Group on Biodiversity and Health, and enhancing collaboration with the Quadripartite and other relevant stakeholders.
Crucially, the draft decision also urges countries to apply a One Health approach. This addresses interlinkages among humans, animals, and ecosystems in health challenges such as emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and food safety.
Operationalising the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health
Implementing the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health (GAPBH) remains a challenge. While governments show strong commitment, many face practical barriers such as limited capacity, technical support, and funding.
A key step for effective GAPBH implementation is setting up clear indicators to track progress. Delegates agreed to continue developing science-based indicators and monitoring tools, with proposals to be discussed at COP17 and finalised at COP18.This is a crucial opportunity to ensure animal welfare is integrated into the plan’s delivery, through policies that reduce intensive meat production, protect wildlife, curb wildlife trade and crime, and improve animal welfare to lower the risk of zoonotic disease. This is how One Health becomes real rather than just a concept.
Prevention at source
WFA and the Born Free Foundation co-hosted an event with IUCN, the Smithsonian Institute, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, and Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife: “Integrating Biodiversity Restoration, Animal Welfare, and One Health: From Guidelines to Action and Evaluation.”
The event focused on prevention at source: tackling the root causes of disease risk, such as biodiversity loss, wildlife exploitation, and poor animal welfare. When animals are captured, transported, farmed, or sold under stressful and unsanitary conditions, their immune systems weaken. This creates perfect conditions for pathogens to thrive and spread.
Speakers highlighted practical measures to support the Global Action Plan, whilst contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Pandemic Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals. These include tools like positive lists, which allow only species assessed as safe and suitable to be kept as pets, whilst all others are automatically excluded.
Road to Armenia
SBSTTA-27 delivered important progress for animals. As preparations begin for COP17 in Armenia, there are tangible opportunities to embed animal welfare in policy: Renewed collaboration across the Rio Conventions, evidence-based indicators for the Global Action Plan, and growing momentum for prevention at source and One Health.
The road to Armenia starts now. Let’s make sure animals are on it.
Read more insights about SBSTTA-27 in Born Free Foundation’s article.
