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Smithsonian at COP16

Smithsonian Under Secretary for Science and Research, Ellen Stofan, will lead a group of scientists to COP16 in Cali, Columbia, reflecting the Institution’s ongoing commitment to Life on a Sustainable Planet.

Dedicated to strengthening the connection between humanity and nature, the Smithsonian collaborates with communities worldwide to expand understanding and promote nature-based solutions that support Earth’s sustainability. Through these partnerships, we work to advance efforts that balance human needs with preserving natural ecosystems.

Our team has been leading these efforts globally, and at COP16, we’ll continue advocating for the full implementation of the GBF’s targets. Our focus will be on: 

  • Assessing and Safeguarding Biodiversity through Innovative Technology 
  • Empowering Communities to Reimagine the Sustainable Use of Land and Seascapes 
  • Exploring the Interplay of Human, Animal, and Ecosystem Health
  • Nurturing Strong Partnerships and Valued Collaborations 

Explore these key focus areas in more depth and discover what makes them so impactful.

 

Assessing and Safeguarding Biodiversity through Innovative Technology 

Leading the charge in biodiversity conservation, the Smithsonian employs state-of-the-art technology to decode the complexities of ecosystems and safeguard species across the globe. We are advancing the frontiers of species protection through satellite tracking, AI, and groundbreaking monitoring methods.

Explore our Programs

  • Movement of Life Advancing conservation through the science of animal tracking.
  • Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO): A global network of scientists and forest research sites dedicated to advancing the long-term study of the world’s forests.
  • GEO-TREES High-accuracy ground data for satellite-derived biomass mapping.
  • MarineGEO A growing network of partner observatories worldwide working to reveal how and why coastal marine life and habitats are changing, globally and locally, to inform evidence-based solutions.

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Empowering Communities to Reimagine the Sustainable Use of Land and Seascapes

The Smithsonian promotes sustainable use of land and seascapes, ensuring ecosystems and communities thrive ecologically and economically. Partnering with local communities, we balance conservation with economic opportunity, prioritizing species and habitat protection across agroforestry, fisheries, and more.

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Exploring the Interplay of Human, Animal, and Ecosystem Health

The Smithsonian’s “Shared Health” program takes a holistic approach to global health, uniting human, animal, and environmental wellbeing. By addressing the interconnected effects of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, this innovative initiative creates impactful solutions that stabilize wildlife populations, preserve ecosystems, and improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities worldwide.

Explore our Programs

  • Global Health Program Researching bats to track viruses, tracking marabou storks to understand how pathogens move between rural and urban spaces, and working with pastoralists to understand how diseases move from wild to domestic hoofstock.  
  • Breathe Baltimore A pilot project launched will deploy a network of air sensors across Baltimore City to track air pollution.
  • Mosquitoes: A National Resource. The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit is a unique national resource—a partnership between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History—focused on identifying key arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks and understanding their role in disease transmission, using both traditional taxonomy and modern genetics. The U.S. National Mosquito Collection is the world’s largest taxonomically and geographically comprehensive collection of over 1.7 million specimens.

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Nurturing Strong Partnerships and Valued Collaborations 

The Smithsonian uses its world-class collections of specimens, artifacts, and genomic data to enhance understanding of biodiversity while promoting sustainable solutions. Through global education and community engagement, we empower informed decision-making for climate action. By partnering with advocates, governments, and conservation leaders, we share knowledge, amplify efforts, and create lasting change for a sustainable future.

Explore our Programs

  • Smithsonian Science for Global Goals Project A series of freely available community research guides aligned to the UN Sustainable Development goals that allow young people to discover, understand, and act by engineering solutions to locally relevant sustainability issues.
  • Unlocking the Power of a Global Collection. A group of natural history museums, led by the National Museum of Natural History, has mapped the total collections from 73 of the world’s largest natural history museums in 28 countries. This is the first step of an ambitious effort to inventory global holdings that can help scientists and decision-makers find solutions to urgent, wide-ranging issues such as climate change, food insecurity, human health, pandemic preparedness, and wildlife conservation.

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