Multifunctional landscapes: A research-to-action agenda for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Prepared for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), this policy brief argues that implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) depends on managing landscapes for multiple functions while keeping biodiversity explicit in the decisions that shape them. It identifies barriers that stall biodiversity commitments in landscapes, including fragmented governance, unequal rights and influence, trade-offs treated as technical problems, fragmented evidence, and short-term finance. The brief presents a five-process action research framework for developing, implementing, and assessing place-based solution bundles that integrate biodiversity conservation and restoration with sustainable production and livelihoods. It also outlines CGIAR’s research-to-action contribution and practical priorities for governments, donors, and implementation partners to advance National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and strengthen national reporting.