[IYRPsupportgroup] Open Letter to COP 16 - Tropical Open Ecosystems

[Susanne Vetter]

Dear members of the IYRP support group

You may want to add your signature to an open letter arguing for better
recognition and protection of open ecosystems (in this case referring
mainly to tropical and subtropical savannas and grasslands). While not
identical to our focus on rangelands and pastoralists, there is
considerable overlap in interest, particularly with the work of the
afforestation working group. Please see the email below and if you agree
with the message and wish to support it, consider signing their open letter
by November 11th (links in the forwarded message).

All the best
Susi
***************************************************************
Dear Members of the Open Ecosystem Network (OpEN) and research colleagues,

As you may know, the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the
Convention on Biological Diversity is about to begin in Cali, Colombia.
This year, we have a unique opportunity to highlight tropical and
subtropical open ecosystems in the discussions.

The Brazilian Association of State Environmental Entities (ABEMA) is
organizing an event to emphasize the importance of restoring and conserving
these ecosystems. They offered us (Dr. Durigan, Dr. Oliveira and I) space
to present a scientific perspective. We see this as an excellent
opportunity not only to share Brazil’s viewpoint on the significance of
these ecosystems but also to demonstrate that this issue resonates with
scientists and citizens around the globe.

We are reaching out to you because we have organized an open letter
underscoring the urgent need to prioritize the conservation of the
remaining open vegetation, while science works to find ways to restore what
has already been lost. We invite you to sign the letter with us,
strengthening the effort to bring these crucial ecosystems into the global
biodiversity and climate change discussions. This letter's success can also
help us put Open Ecosystems on the spot in the next COP on Climate Change,
which will happen in Brazil next year.

If you agree to the content and to sign this letter
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IUHQ-OI0fJN0J1Hc25FTpDD3_wPG6o2ybB8_qISXLCA/edit?tab=t.0>,
please add your email, name, country and affiliation in the following
form: https://forms.gle/htGF4dJbV3w2HffB7
(please click the link or copy and paste it into your browser)

The letter will be presented next week, so we cordially ask you to sign it
by November 11th.

We hope to count on your support and that we can contribute with concrete
actions to conserve these incredible ecosystems!


All the best,


Dr. Natashi Pilon
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal (DBV) - Instituto de Biologia
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)
RG  Lattes GoogleScholar




Susanne Vetter

Associate Professor

Department of Botany

Rhodes University

t:+27 (0) 46 603 8593 c: +27 (0) 76 103 3682

Schonland Building, Lucas Ave, Makhanda,  6139

PO Box 94, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
www.ru.ac.za
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