Sergio Bonati, Climate and Energy Officer in WWF Spain, positioned the report as a foundation for continued AJET work, provided policy recommendations like upholding Indigenous rights including FPIC, and shared two case studies from the report:
“Solar Grandmothers” in Madagascar—local women trained as solar engineers.
The Sámi in the Arctic facing disrupted reindeer migration routes due to mining, climate change, and renewable energy infrastructure.
Explained how Seneca Environmental helps bring tribally owned renewable energy certificates (RECs) to market, connecting tribal projects with corporate buyers.
Encouraged collaboration and highlighted the economic and sovereignty benefits of tribally owned clean energy projects.
Shared present-day success stories from large-scale solar projects providing revenue and jobs to wind energy serving thousands of homes and reducing reliance on fossil gas.
Bryan Bixcul (Maya-Tz’utujil), Global Coordinator at SIRGE Coalition:
Described ongoing fights from governments pushing to remove references to mining impacts to the Indigenous movement continuing to advocate for no-go zones, FPIC, and protection mechanisms.
Shared key COP30 achievements for Indigenous peoples:
Explicit recognition of rights to self-determination.
First-ever UNFCCC recognition of Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation.
Reference to the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, creating obligations for companies—not just states.
Dean Cooper, Global Energy Lead, WWF, provided the opening and closing remarks:
Framed the report as a tool to raise awareness and promote Indigenous engagement as partners, not stakeholders, in the energy transition.
Reiterated that the report is the beginning, not the end, of this work.
Highlighted key themes raised:
Energy, climate, and nature are interconnected.
Indigenous rights and land stewardship are central, not optional.
Learn how you can be part of the Alliance for a Just Energy Transformationhere.
Questions and Answers from the webinar:
Q: Thank you for the report. When will it be available in Spanish?
A: Many thanks for your question. We have not planned for a translation at the moment. But please check AJET’s and WWF’s web page and social media for any news on translation. Thanks!
Q: What an excellent point that relationships are expected from Indigenous Peoples perspective; and a keen insight that shifting the narrative is necessary. Is there an agreed-upon approach to ensure consistency around this message as it pertains to FPIC?
A: As the report highlights there is a plurality of contexts and therefore there can be no one template for FPIC, each community has its own protocol and this must be respected. What is essential is the recognition that Indigenous Peoples are diverse and therefore building respectful relationships is essential.
Q: Clean energy certificates can sometimes replicate the problems of carbon offsets, allowing companies to buy credits instead of reducing their own emissions. What safeguards are in place to prevent certificates from becoming another loophole that lets firms keep polluting?
A: We see clean energy certificates as an effective tool to enable the development of new renewable energy projects and we believe that indigenous communities should be able to access this revenue stream as easily as other renewable energy asset owners. However, all of our customers have comprehensive climate strategies, of which the purchase of clean energy certificates is pursued alongside internal emission reduction efforts.
Q: The success story from Native America is very interesting, and I believe the ability to become a land or company owner is essential. Do you think other countries—where legal rights to land are contested by the government—could move in a similar direction? And are there any other lessons to be learned from those community?
A: Absolutely – to both of your questions! There are far too many lessons to be learned in a 10-minute presentation! Feel free to reach out at wchase@senecaenvironmental.com for any further discussion in your specific context.
Q: How can youth get involved 🙂
A: You play a key role by engaging your communities and carrying Indigenous knowledge and priorities into global spaces. You can reach out to the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change (IIYFCC) and help shape climate and energy solutions grounded in rights, culture, and self-determination.
Q: Whitner, could we get in touch with SENECA through you?
A: Yes, feel free to reach out at wchase@senecaenvironmental.com
How to Enable Automatic Translation for YouTube Subtitles
Click the Settings ⚙️ icon (bottom-right of the video).
Select Subtitles/CC.
Choose the available subtitle language first (often English (auto-generated)).
Open Settings ⚙️ again → click Subtitles/CC → choose Auto-translate.
Select your preferred language from the list (+80 languages, including Indigenous languages like Maori and Quechua)
Not all mobile devices show the option the same way; sometimes you must update the app.
Wildfire Action Accelerator Pledge: Launch at COP30
Official launch of the Wildfire Action Accelerator Pledge
FSC IF
During COP30, our delegation will attend the official launch of the Wildfire Action Accelerator Pledge, hosted by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) under the leadership of Monica Vidal.
Climate-driven wildfires are increasing in scale and intensity, endangering communities, biodiversity, and the global climate. The Wildfire Action Accelerator, led by EDF and civil society partners, is calling for a worldwide shift toward prevention, resilience, and coordinated action. It supports Brazil’s Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience and strengthens ongoing global efforts on wildfire resilience.
Our delegation will be present to actively contribute to the discussion. Selvyn Perez, PIPC Alternate Representative for Central America and the Caribbean, and Tabea Casique Coronado, PIPC Alternate Representative for South America, will participate as panelists, joining forest countries, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and partners working to embed wildfire resilience in climate and biodiversity agendas at COP30.
From Forest Guardians to Climate and Biodiversity Partners: Advancing Indigenous-Led Sustainable Forest Management
A Policy Brief Prepared by the FSC Indigenous Foundation
FSC IF
As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the FSC Indigenous Foundation is calling for a transformative shift in global climate governance, one that recognizes Indigenous Peoples not as mere stakeholders but as rightsholders and co-creators of solutions. Our new policy brief outlines how Indigenous-led forest management, rooted in traditional knowledge and collective governance, is essential to achieving climate, biodiversity, and sustainability goals. Indigenous Peoples protect and steward much of the planet’s remaining biodiversity, offering time-tested approaches to resilience, conservation, and sustainable living.
The brief emphasizes that Indigenous leadership must be integrated across four key policy areas: sustainable forest management, traditional knowledge, direct access to finance, and carbon and non-market approaches. It calls for policies that value Indigenous governance systems as models of sustainability, ensure Indigenous decision-making in forest and climate frameworks, and reform financial systems to provide direct, flexible access to funds. It also advocates for the recognition of Indigenous knowledge under the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) as equal to scientific knowledge, while protecting cultural and intellectual rights.
At the core of this message is a mindset shift: from inclusion to partnership, from consultation to co-leadership. Achieving true climate justice requires global recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, wisdom, and governance as central pillars of climate action. As the world looks toward COP30, the FSC Indigenous Foundation invites governments, institutions, and allies to stand with Indigenous Peoples as partners and leaders in creating a sustainable and equitable future for all.
For general inquiries, contact fsc.if@fsc.org. If you wish to contact our Managing Director, email Minnie Degawan at managingdirector.if@fsc.org, a Kankanaey-Igorot woman from the Philippines. For communications or media collaborations, contact Maria De Leon at m.deleon@fsc.org, Head of Communications and a Guna woman from Panama.
The Forest Stewardship Council and FSC Indigenous Foundation at COP30
COP30, Belem, Brazil
FSC IF
Find us at COP 30
Given the urgency of the climate crisis, the historic opportunity for forest and climate decision-making, and the significance of being present and advocating for forest stewardship and nature-based solutions while some stakeholders are stepping back, FSC and the FSC Indigenous Foundation will be attending COP 30.
To ensure the most effective engagement, our delegation will rotate badges throughout the conference. We invite you to contact our delegates in advance or during the event to arrange a meeting.
FSC
Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General, FSC
Sharon London, Partnerships Director, FSC I&P
Anand Punja, Director of Stakeholder Relations, FSC
Elson Fernandes, Executive Director, FSC Brasil
Niamh Brannigan, Head of Communications, FSC
Patrick Epie, Coordinator, Congo Basin and West Africa, FSC Africa
FSC Indigenous Foundation
Minnie Degawan, Managing Director, FSC Indigenous Foundation
Nadia Gomez, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee Representative for South America
Olga Kostrova, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee Representative for Russia
Carlos Blandon, Community Development Program Leader, FSC Indigenous Foundation
Maria De Leon, Head of Communications, FSC Indigenous Foundation
Join us at side events
FSC is hosting and participating in key events at COP30 — including the Forest Pavilion, the Indigenous Pavilion, the World Climate Foundation Summit, the Global Landscapes Forum Climate 2025, the pre-COP30 Symposium, and more, showcasing how responsible forest stewardship drives climate action, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development worldwide.
Panel 4: Verified Impact of Ecosystem Services — Bridging Data, Risk and Finance: This panel explores how verified forest data can drive impact through credible claims, inform financial risk assessments, and strengthen due diligence systems. Experts will discuss the role of third-party verification, emerging data methodologies, and how data-driven approaches can help companies and financial institutions manage forestry-related risks and co-invest with confidence.
10 November | 14:00-18:00 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone
Forests and Bioeconomy: Timber, NTFPs, circular economy, bioeconomy innovations, biotech
Co-creating a Thriving Forest Bioeconomy: This United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) side event brings together FSC Brazil, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Government of Austria to explore how collaboration and verified data can drive a sustainable and inclusive forest bioeconomy.
11 November | 17:55-18:55 | Indigenous Peoples Pavilion – Blue Zone
From Panama to Belém: Strengthening Coordination Across the Rio Conventions Through Indigenous-Led Frameworks– FSC Indigenous Foundation
Follow-up Session This session builds on the CBD’s SB8J-01 meeting held in Panama in October 2025, continuing discussions on coordination among the three Rio Conventions—Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Desertification—from Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives. In collaboration with Nia Tero, IWGIA, the UNCCD Indigenous Caucus, IIFB, and IIPFCC, the session will focus on turning previous recommendations into concrete, Indigenous-led strategies, identifying joint priorities, and strengthening Indigenous leadership in global environmental governance.
12 November | 10:00-12:00 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone
Upholding the Role of Indigenous Peoples in Forest Stewardship: Access to Tools and Direct Funding Mechanisms
This session highlights the vital role of Indigenous Peoples as guardians of forests and biodiversity. Experts from the FSC Indigenous Foundation, The Tenure Facility, and the Green Climate Fund will showcase Indigenous leadership in forest stewardship, share successes and challenges, and explore pathways to strengthen direct funding mechanisms and inclusive decision-making for Indigenous-led conservation.
Moderator: Maria de Leon, FSC Indigenous Foundation
12 November | 15:00-16:30 | Side Event Room 6 – Blue Zone
Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ direct access to Climate Finance – UNFF & FSC Indigenous Foundation
This COP30 side event, organized by the Tenure Facility in partnership with CIPRED, the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), and Tebtebba, explores strategies to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ direct access to climate finance. The discussion will feature Myrna Cunningham Kain (Pawanka Fund), Dr. Pasang Dolma Sherpa (CIPRED), Kimaren Ole Riamit (ILEPA), Helen Magata (ELATIA & Tebtebba), Maria De Leon (FSC Indigenous Foundation – FSC-IF), Eleni Kyrou (Green Climate Fund – GCF), Leif John Fosse (Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative – NICFI), Yuli Prasetyo Nugroho (Ministry of Environment & Forestry, Indonesia), Dewi Suralaga (Climate and Land Use Alliance – CLUA), and Terena Peres de Castro (GEF Small Grants Programme – SGP Brazil), moderated by Nonette Royo (Tenure Facility). Together, they will discuss pathways to increase Indigenous-led access to climate finance, align mechanisms like the GCF with forest and tenure pledges, and move beyond the current 1% of funds reaching Indigenous Peoples.
13 November | 10:30-12:00 | Nature Hub Pavilion – Blue Zone
Nature in Supply Chains – Round table discussion on technical and operational challenges and solutions to integrating nature-related challenges into supply chains: This session will explore how companies can identify, manage, and mitigate nature-related risks and dependencies across their supply chains.
Moderator: Jack Hurd, World Economic Forum
Panellists: Angela Pinhati (Natura), Sharon London (FSC Investment & Partnerships), Dan Nepstad (Earth Innovation Institute)
14 November | 11:05-11:35 | Assembléia Paraense, Belém, Brazil
Fireside Chat 4B: Governance Models for Forest Stewardship in Practice: This session will explore how inclusive governance models empower Indigenous Peoples and local communities to lead forest stewardship by integrating rights, knowledge, and priorities into policy and land management. Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), will share how FSC’s governance system demonstrates shared leadership in practice.
14 November | 11:15-12:15 | Standards Pavilion – Blue Zone
The Role of International Sustainability Standards and Trade
This roundtable will bring together experts from ISO, the United Nations, governments, FSC Indigenous Foundation, academia, and the private sector to discuss how international standards can enhance environmental ambition, strengthen trade resilience, and drive real-world impact.
Elson Fernandes (FSC Brazil) will present how FSC certification supports sustainability and innovation in the civil construction sector, promoting responsible sourcing.
14 November | 15:30-16:15 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone
Are forests contributing to your NDCs the way you thought they would?
Join this COP30 Forest Pavilion session for a discussion on the trade-offs between short-term climate goals and long-term forest resilience in boreal and temperate regions. Speakers include James Lloyd (Nature4Climate, Moderator), Anand Punja (FSC), Kate Lindsay (FPAC), and Deger Saygin (OECD).
14 November | 17:00-18:00 | CNI Pavilion – Blue Zone
From Data to Decision: The Power of Traceability
15 November | 10:00-11:00 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone
Grand Opening United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)
The Grand Opening of the UNFF at the Forest Pavilion will bring together high-level leaders to underscore the vital role of forests and Indigenous Peoples in advancing global climate and biodiversity goals. Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig of Austria’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Minister Sonia Guajajara of Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), will open the event and set the stage for collaborative action toward sustainable forest stewardship.
15 November | 16:40-17:40 | Indigenous Peoples Pavilion – Blue Zone
From Rights to Partnerships: Working together for Nature – FSC Indigenous Foundation
This COP30 Indigenous Peoples Pavilion session in Belém, Brazil, will spotlight Indigenous-led partnerships and innovations driving measurable, community-defined impacts for climate, biodiversity, and cultural values. As a follow-up to New York Climate Week, the discussion will highlight how Indigenous leadership is setting new standards for nature-positive and net-zero aligned economies, offering corporations and investors credible pathways for collaboration and impact.
The panel will feature Minnie Degawan as moderator (FSC Indigenous Foundation – FSC-IF), Grace Balawag (Tebtebba), and Fermín Chimatani Tayori (National Association of Executors of the Communal Reserves Administration Contract – ANECAP) as panelists. Together, they will explore Indigenous-led approaches to governance, finance, and innovation that strengthen partnerships for people and planet.
17 November | 9:00-10:15 | Action on Food Hub (EIT) – Blue Zone
Opening Plenary: How to really fix the climate: The opening plenary will unite global leaders to explore practical climate solutions grounded in Indigenous knowledge, science, and technology. Speakers — including Niels Annen (BMZ, Germany), Éliane Ubalijoro (CIFOR-ICRAF), Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee (FSC), José Renato (University of Bonn), Kumi Naidoo (Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Africans Rising), and Amy Duchelle (FAO) — will discuss how collaboration can drive adaptation, strengthen Rio Convention synergies, and accelerate climate action.
17 November | 11:30-12:30 | Francophonie Pavilion – Blue Zone
Nature-based solutions to preserve the model of sustainable management of tropical forests in Central Africa: the case of Gabon
18 November | 14:00-14:50 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone
Session 5 – Central African Forests at the Heart of Global Climate Action: Joint Action, Financing and Prospects towards 2025-2030
This high-level expert panel, convened during the UNFF Forest Congo Basin Day, will bring together leading institutions — COMIFAC, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), and GIZ — to explore the future of the Congo Basin’s forests.
20 November | 15:20-16:35 | AgriZone Auditorium 3 (Embrapa)
In this session, Elson Fernandes (FSC Brazil) will present how FSC’s Verified Impact solution connects the valuation of ecosystem services—such as carbon storage, water regulation, and biodiversity protection—with business strategies, driving sustainability and delivering measurable benefits for nature and people.
20 November | 15:20-16:35 | Side EventRoom 7 – Blue Zone
Community-Led Forest Economies: Shifting Policy and Finance for People, Nature, and Climate
Organized by the UNFCCC and the World Resources Institute (WRI), this high-level session will highlight the shift from extractive models to community empowerment, connecting evidence, lived experience, and policy. Indigenous and women leaders, scientists, and policy partners from the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia — including representatives from the FSC Indigenous Foundation — will identify next steps beyond COP30 to align policy, finance, and culture in scaling equitable, nature-based forest solutions for 2026 and beyond.
FSC will also be unveiling an exciting new partnership that opens fresh opportunities for sustainable forest management. Don’t miss this chance to discover impactful initiatives shaping the future of our forests.
If you are interested in our speakers for other events, please get in touch with Sharon London at s.london@fsc.org.
If you want to contact the FSC Indigenous Foundation, please email fsc.if@fsc.org with copy to managingdirector.if@fsc.org.
