Meeting of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions strengthens joint action to protect plant health and biodiversity

Executive heads of biodiversity-related conventions (L-R): Enrico Perotti- IPPC Secretary, Martha Rojas Urrego, Executive Secretary, International Whaling Commission; Jyoti Hosagrahar, Deputy Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention, Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, Convention on Migratory Species, Astrid Schomarker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); Jihyun Lee, CBD Deputy Executive Secretary; Haruko Okusu, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Kent Nnadozie, Secretary, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and Musonda Mumba (on screen), Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands /Ramsar Convention. ©FAO/ Anita Tibasaaga

Rome, 20 February 2026 — The executive heads of the world’s major biodiversity-related conventions gathered last week at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, for the 2026 meeting of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Convention (BLG). The session, chaired by Enrico Perotti, Secretary of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), underscored a renewed commitment to coordinated global action on biodiversity, plant health and sustainable development at a time when environmental pressures continue to intensify.

The BLG, established to strengthen cooperation, promote synergies and enhance the effectiveness of biodiversity-related conventions, serves as a platform for regular information exchange, capacity development, strategic alignment and joint initiatives, while fully respecting the distinct mandates and governance structures of each convention. This year’s high-level meeting highlighted the growing recognition that safeguarding biodiversity requires not only political will but also operational collaboration across sectors. The meeting also highlighted the importance of increased advocacy and focused resourcing for biodiversity protection.

Participants included senior representatives from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); Convention on Migratory Species (CMS); International Whaling Commission (IWC); International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGFA); Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention (WHC).

Plant health at the center of biological diversity protection

The high-level BLG meeting provided an opportunity for the IPPC Secretariat to raise awareness about the centrality of plant health for a better environment, healthier ecosystems and robust biodiversity protection. With plant pests costing about USD 220 billion annually in economic losses globally, Perotti affirmed the IPPC’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the environment, forests and biodiversity and to strengthening ecosystem resilience through its standards setting and implementation work. Countries adopt the IPPC’s standards, such as those on pest reporting requirements, maintaining pest free areas of production and setting up national surveillance systems to prevent the spread of pests that could affect the environment and biodiversity.

The meeting also enabled the IPPC and CBD to reinforce their shared commitment to environmental stewardship, as both conventions are legally bound to protecting the world’s plant resources from pests. Through its International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), the IPPC provides operational and practical tools that help countries advance the CBD’s goals, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. With invasive pests among the top five drivers of global biodiversity loss, the IPPC’s support is essential to strengthening countries’ capacity to protect plant health and ecosystems.

Effective implementation of the ISPMs also supports achievement of FAO’s Four Betters by safeguarding plant health in ways that strengthen sustainable production, protect nutrition, preserve the environment and improve livelihoods.

"The reality is that invasive species don’t stop at borders, and don’t respect administrative lines between departments. To truly protect our natural heritage, we need a common language and real, daily coordination at the national and international level - ensuring that environment, agriculture and trade authorities are truly working from the same playbook," said Perotti.

The IPPC is committed to providing practical tools that help countries bridge these gaps. “When we align our policies and work as a unified front, we aren't just managing pests; we are protecting the biological diversity that sustains our planet," he added.

Going forward

The BLG members identified a shared strategic direction aimed at translating high-level dialogue into more cohesive international action. They noted that the current complex environmental pressures require more integrated policymaking, where biodiversity conservation and plant health are treated as interconnected priorities rather than isolated sectors.

The meeting agreed to enhance operational synergies among the various conventions, aligning global targets with national implementation strategies. By fostering regular information exchange and mutually beneficial capacity-development initiatives, the group aims to provide countries with a more streamlined approach to environmental stewardship, while strengthening the technical and administrative linkages.