Francisco Ramiro Batzin Chojoj

Francisco Ramiro Batzin Chojoj is a prominent indigenous leader from the Maya Kaqchikel community in Guatemala. He serves as the co-chair of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and has been a vocal advocate for the recognition of indigenous peoples' rights and territories in the context of environmental conservation. Batzin Chojoj emphasizes the crucial role that indigenous communities play in preserving biodiversity, noting that they inhabit and manage areas that contain approximately 80% of the world’s biodiversity. His recent statements at the Subsidiary Body on Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity highlight the need for integrating indigenous knowledge and practices into global conservation strategies.