The Entangled Destiny initiative, supported by the National Geographic Society and the European Forest Institute Mediterranean Facility, will be present at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, bringing Mediterranean perspectives on biocultural heritage, nature-based solutions and traditional ecological knowledge to the heart of global climate negotiations.
The initiative will contribute to the Italian Pavilion programme with the side event “Entangled Destiny: Trees and Humans of the Mediterranean”, and will also feature within the Mediterranean Pavilion in the UNFCCC Blue Zone, supported by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
The Mediterranean basin has been shaped by millennia of interaction between humans and nature. Trees have nourished Mediterranean societies for centuries, forming the backbone of traditional knowledge systems, local economies and cultural identities.
In alignment with COP30’s focus on nature-based solutions and the role of Indigenous and traditional knowledge, Entangled Destiny’s side event and participation in the Mediterranean Pavilion will explore the deep-rooted relationships between communities of the region and three iconic tree species: the olive, the carob and the stone pine.
Interactive Dialogue and Expert Reflections at the Italian Pavilion Aquapraça
Taking place at the Italian Pavilion (AquaPraça Zone) during the first week of COP30, the side event will combine public engagement and expert exchange. Participants will first take part in an interactive exercise to reflect on their personal bond with nature and trees, followed by a panel discussion with Mediterranean experts.
The discussion will explore how traditional tree-based systems can inform climate adaptation, sustainable land management, and heritage preservation across the region. A core topic will be how to safeguard biocultural heritage while adapting to evolving realities, including technological shifts, changing land-use patterns, and global market pressures – through strategic management, community involvement, and adaptive reuse.
Entangled Destiny and UfM join forces in the Mediterranean Pavilion
Beyond the Italian Pavilion, the Entangled Destiny project will also feature throughout the two weeks in the Mediterranean Pavilion (Blue Zone), supported by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). Activities will invite delegates to experience the Mediterranean’s biocultural landscapes through:
- Immersive VR experiences to explore ancient olive, carob, and stone pine cultural landscapes
- Tasting sessions featuring products derived from the three emblematic trees
- Storytelling moments showcasing Mediterranean cultural and natural diversity
These activities aim to promote a deeper, sensory connection between participants and the Mediterranean region’s cultural and natural legacy.
Event details
Side Event – Entangled Destiny: Trees and Humans of the Mediterranean
Venue: AquaPraça – Italian Pavilion (Praça D. Pedro II, s/n., Cidade Velha, Belém do Pará)
Date & Time: 15 November, 18:30
Registration is mandatory: confirm your assistance here
More information
*AcquaPraça is an innovative private–public partnership for climate adaptation designed and developed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon in partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and COP30 in collaboration with Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation, CIHEAM Bari and the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program and with the support of BF International – Member of BF S.p.A. Group (as AquaPraça COP30 Naming Partner), Bloomberg Philanthropies, ENEL and Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.
The platform emerges from a global coalition committed to reimagining how architecture can serve communities facing climate disruption. Aquapraça was constructed in Northeastern Italy by leading advanced steel construction Company CIMOLAI.
Mediterranean Pavilion – Entangled Destiny Activities
Venue: Blue Zone (Parque da Cidade, Souza, Belém do Pará)
Date: 10–21 November
About Entangled Destiny
Funded by the National Geographic Society, the Entangled Destiny initiative documents and celebrates the Mediterranean’s cultural and ecological connections. The project aims to ensure that traditional knowledge, stories and practices linked to Mediterranean trees are not lost amid climate pressures, land-use change and globalisation.
