By Monti Aguirre, Director, Latin America Program
Returning to Colombia, my birthplace, for the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali was both deeply nostalgic and profoundly meaningful. The city’s warm weather and intermittent showers over the past few weeks mirrored the vibrant yet urgent tone of the conference. With its unparalleled biodiversity and mounting pressures on nature, Colombia provided a fitting backdrop—especially as the return of peace has opened new areas to development, presenting both opportunities and significant risks.
Representing International Rivers, my focus was on freshwater ecosystems, which took center stage in our agenda at COP15 in Montreal two years ago. Working alongside partners, we secured a significant milestone: the recognition of “inland waters” as a distinct category, separate from marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Yet the challenges remain stark.
Only 16% of inland waters are currently protected, and freshwater species populations have plummeted by 85% since 1970.
And yet, freshwater did not feature prominently on COP16’s official agenda, and indeed this COP revealed a concerning truth: not enough attention was given to the protection of continental and freshwater ecosystems, despite their crucial role in the global biodiversity agenda. Still, I was encouraged by the passionate advocacy from civil society organizations across the globe. Their voices championed meaningful targets, robust monitoring, and increased resources to protect some of the planet’s most biodiverse habitats. This focus was particularly relevant given that Colombia hosts the headwaters of several of the region’s most ecologically rich rivers, including major tributaries of the Amazon.
From global conservation groups to grassroots river defenders, there was a palpable sense of collective power, even in the face of resistance from skeptical governments and corporate sponsors. The conference also marked a historic moment for Indigenous Peoples, who, for the first time, had a formal seat at the negotiating table. Their leadership was pivotal, pushing for the protection of their traditional knowledge and the ecosystems they’ve stewarded for generations.
Progress on critical issues—setting measurable targets, establishing mechanisms to monitor and report progress, and securing the necessary funding to protect 30% of the world’s biodiversity by 2030—was predictably slow. Yet, there were moments of true celebration.
One of the most powerful was the unexpected announcement of a legal victory for the Marañón River in Peru. Together with Mariluz Canaquiri, a Kukama leader and long-time advocate for the Marañón, we celebrated this historic decision. Now recognized as a legal entity, the Marañón River has the right to flow, remain free from pollution, and be restored. Importantly, the ruling formalized Indigenous communities as its guardians, setting a global precedent for river protection. This victory was a tangible example of what many at COP16 are fighting for—the recognition of rivers as living entities with rights.
We also had the opportunity to visit the Pance River near Cali, a rights-bearing river safeguarded by local communities and supported by Earth Law Center. It served as an inspiring example of how legal recognition and community stewardship can restore and sustain freshwater ecosystems.
Other promising river protection initiatives were on display as well. Delegates from Ríos Protegidos Chile shared progress on their Law for the Protection of Rivers, advancing innovative mechanisms for conservation. Similarly, Brazil’s River Protection Coalition brought their advocacy to the global stage, emphasizing the urgent need to protect the Amazon’s tributaries and the Pantanal’s rivers.
As I left Cali, I carried a renewed sense of both urgency and hope. From the thriving Pance River to the groundbreaking legal victory for the Marañón, the global movement for freshwater protection is gaining critical momentum. But the time to act is now. As climate change accelerates and development pressures intensify, safeguarding freshwater systems is not just a conservation priority—it is essential to securing the future of life on Earth.
Let’s rise to the challenge. Long live the rivers!
Featured Photo: Monti Aguirre, Latin America Director of International Rivers (Rios Protegidos)