The Match of Our Lives: Amplifying Indigenous Guardianship at COP16

A soccer match during COP16 highlighted the vital role that Indigenous Peoples play in protecting nature.

On Sunday, October 27, the city of Cali, Colombia – which has been the setting for the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – played host to another kind of event. Instead of conference rooms and panels, world leaders and professional athletes met with Indigenous Peoples from around the world at a local soccer field to amplify and celebrate the fundamental role that Indigenous Peoples play in biodiversity conservation and climate action.

The event, titled "The Match of Our Lives," was a friendly soccer match between Indigenous Peoples and women soccer players from Colombian national teams to call attention to Indigenous Peoples’ vital contributions to environmental stewardship and the need for recognition of Indigenous rights and sovereignty in global conservation efforts. The event aligns with COP 16's overarching theme, "Peace with Nature," emphasizing a human rights-based approach to biodiversity protection. 

Before the match started, players shared the message, “Score a Goal for Nature. Support Indigenous Peoples.” They then joined the crowd to watch a short film raising awareness about Indigenous Peoples' critical role in protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. The film, which is part of the “Promise” campaign, amplified the message that respecting Indigenous Peoples' rights and sovereignty is critical to fulfilling the promise of protecting 30% of Earth's lands and waters by 2030.

Formalities were set aside when COP16 President Susana Muhamad, who is also the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, greeted and engaged with the Indigenous players, joining them in the match's festivities. She was responsible for the match’s kick-off, with a symbolic kick into the goal. In her speech, she recognized Indigenous Peoples’ vital contributions to environmental stewardship, sharing, “Today, the goal is for nature. We cannot have peace with nature without Indigenous Peoples. Their cultures and knowledge systems protect [...] nature because, for them, nature is not just a resource, it is a relationship with life.”

The Solomons Islands Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Disaster Management, Hon. Trevor Mahaga (Bugotu People), watched the match alongside Colombia’s Environmental Minister and representatives of organizations that support Indigenous Peoples. The Solomon Islands, located in the Southwest Pacific, are engaging in efforts to protect their forests while also strengthening community forest protection through monitoring systems that combine Indigenous knowledge with satellite data. “Nature cannot speak for itself, but Indigenous Peoples speak for nature. [At CO16], we are talking about making peace with nature, and Indigenous Peoples are representing nature,” he said.

Indigenous Peoples are the most important defenders of our planet's future. Their knowledge systems help to sustain approximately 40% of our planet’s intact ecosystems and landscapes. It is not by chance that deforestation rates are significantly lower in Indigenous territories. Indigenous Peoples safeguard 3.8 billion hectares of land and water.

Viviana Figueroa (Omaguaca People, Argentina), Global Technical Coordinator of the International Indigenous Forum of Biodiversity (IIFB), which represents Indigenous Peoples at COP16, participated in the match and commented about the importance of diversity and unity among Indigenous Peoples. “[At the match], we are Indigenous Peoples from around the world, and we can be one team with the same goal. And this is also what IIFB always says. We are [representatives] from different regions of the world, but we have one goal,” said Viviana.

Agustin Tentets (Achuar Nation, Ecuador) was also one of the Indigenous players participating in the match. He noted the importance of uniting Indigenous Peoples from around the world to call attention to the urgent need to protect biodiversity, and for all of humanity to join them in this fight. “Soccer gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and share experiences, and also to try to form a team to defend our territories,” he said. “The future depends on all of us. The protection of the Amazon, the biodiversity, all of this depends on what we do now for future generations. We [Indigenous People] cannot solve the problem alone; the responsibility lies with everyone.”

"Soccer brings people together across the globe, and we believe in the power of athletes and fans to effectively raise awareness about biodiversity loss around the world and the indispensable role of Indigenous Peoples’ Guardianship to protect ecosystems," said Margarita Mora, Nia Tero’s Senior Managing Director of Partnerships. "This initiative promotes Indigenous voices and fosters a deeper understanding of the interconnected challenges we face regarding climate change and biodiversity loss."

At the end of the match, the score was 7-1 for the professional players from Colombia. During the celebrations, Michelle Vásquez, a player at the Deportivo Cali, shared a message in support of Indigenous Peoples: “This award is not for us. It is for you. For the fight you do to defend your territories.”

The Match of Our Lives was organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Nia Tero in collaboration with the Dimayor (División Mayor del Fútbol Colombiano), the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, the National Commission of Indigenous Territories of Colombia, If Not Us Then Who?, The Tenure Facility and other allies. The event was supported by the COP16 Participation and Mobilization team of the Colombia Ministry of the Environment.

Negotiators at COP16 must ensure that relevant indicators for Indigenous Peoples, including land tenure security, Indigenous Peoples’ participation in decision-making, planning, and monitoring of biodiversity conservation efforts, and the protection of traditional knowledge, among others, are included in the Conference's outcomes.