Celebrating Biodiversity: Vasundhara Festival 2024

As global leaders convened for COP16 in Cali, Colombia, and COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to tackle the mounting ecological crises, their proposed solutions remained entrenched in top-down, corporate-driven frameworks. These strategies—including biodiversity and carbon credits, so-called nature-based solutions, and the digitalization of nature—are part of a continuation of the colonial legacy of bioimperialism, as critically analyzed in our fact sheet Understanding Biodiversity Credits. Though presented as innovative pathways to conservation, these schemes commodify ecosystems and perpetuate exploitation under the guise of sustainability. As analyzed in our illustrated booklet, Biodiversity is Not for Sale, they obscure the deeper systemic causes of biodiversity loss and climate change, displace local communities, and degrade ecosystems. Our article, COP29: The Perpetuation of False Solutions to the Climate Crisis, highlights how these mechanisms often serve corporate greenwashing rather than genuine ecological restoration.

In stark contrast, on October 16th, World Food Day 2024, Navdanya hosted the Vasundhara Festival at its Biodiversity Conservation Farm in Dehradun, India, offering a living example of genuine biodiversity conservation. Indigenous peoples, small farmers, and community leaders from across the globe came together not only to celebrate biodiversity but to share what it truly means to them. For these custodians of life, biodiversity is not merely a scientific concept or marketable asset—it is a way of living, a profound relationship with nature that shapes their cultures, practices, and futures. Through their stories, songs, and regenerative farming practices, these communities demonstrated that protecting biodiversity means rejecting commodification and embracing community-led solutions rooted in care, reciprocity, and harmony with the Earth. Their collective wisdom illuminated a path forward: one where conservation is not a market-driven exercise but a deeply human endeavor to honor and sustain the intricate web of life.

Read more

Key Moments from the Festival:

·        Declarations for an Ecological Future: Two powerful declarations were presented: 

o   Seeding the Future of the Earth and Humanity, calling for regenerative agriculture and an end to harmful technologies like GMOs.

o   The Māori Women’s Declaration for Soil and Seed, honoring the sacred connection between humanity and nature. 

·        Voices of the Custodians: Women farmers, Indigenous leaders, and small-scale producers shared practices like agroecology, seed saving, and intercropping, showcasing real solutions to climate and biodiversity crises. 

·        Earth Democracy in Action: The festival embodied Navdanya’s principle of Earth Democracy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life and the need to resist extractive systems. 

·        Biodiversity is at the Core of Regeneration, as it sustains the health of ecosystems, cultures, and economies, ensuring resilience against climate and food crises. It embodies the interconnectedness of life, fostering harmony between humans and nature for a thriving future.

Read more

Voices of Diversity, Voices of Resilience- Video Series:

We’re excited to share the second part of the Voices of Diversity, Voices of Resilience video series showcasing women farmers and Indigenous communities as guardians of seeds and ecosystems. These films share their powerful stories of nurturing biodiversity, preserving ancient practices, and championing food sovereignty.

Often overlooked in global discussions, their voices are essential to regenerating our planet. Stay tuned for the first release and join us in celebrating their wisdom and transformative work.

Building a Regenerative Future  

The Vasundhara Festival was not only a celebration but a call to action. It demonstrated the power of collective efforts to protect ecosystems, revive local traditions, and ensure a future where both humans and the Earth can thrive.  

By focusing on biodiversity-based farming and Earth Democracy, the event illuminated the path forward: a regenerative future where food and agriculture become tools for healing rather than destruction. As the participants reaffirmed, true change begins with re-aligning with nature’s wisdom, empowering local communities, and rejecting exploitative systems that harm the Earth.   

The festival’s message is one of urgency and hope: humanity has the power to choose a path of regeneration, guided by the wisdom of the Earth and the resilience of its communities. It is a call to honor biodiversity, protect the commons, and embrace the solutions that already exist within the hands of farmers, Indigenous peoples, and small-scale food producers. The future of the planet depends on the actions we take today. 

Biodiversity is Not for Sale Booklet 

In the wake of COP29, we present Biodiversity is Not for Sale, an illustrated booklet by Navdanya International. This powerful publication explores the urgent issue of biodiversity loss and critiques corporate-driven models that exploit natural ecosystems for profit.

Through vivid visuals and compelling narratives, the booklet highlights the essential role of small farmers, Indigenous communities, and local custodians in preserving biodiversity. It calls for real solutions rooted in agroecology, traditional knowledge, and community-led conservation, rejecting commodification schemes like biodiversity credits and GMOs.

This booklet is a critical resource for understanding how we can regenerate ecosystems and protect biodiversity through care, reciprocity, and sustainable food cultures.

Read more

COP29: Commodification vs. Regeneration 

At COP29, world leaders focused on financial mechanisms and net-zero pledges that commodify nature while delaying real solutions. Schemes like carbon and biodiversity credits enable corporate greenwashing, displace communities, and deepen biodiversity loss.

True climate action lies in regenerative practices led by Indigenous communities and small farmers. Agroecology, biodiversity restoration, and local food systems offer real solutions rooted in harmony with nature. It’s time to prioritize these community-driven approaches to heal the Earth.

Read more

You are receiving this email because you organised a Seed Freedom event and/or subscribed to one of our Mailing Lists in the past. To update your subscription: