Oceania Regional meeting highlights

Indigenous leadership in Forest Stewardship

FSC IF

In January 2025, leaders, experts, and Indigenous representatives from across Oceania and beyond gathered for an important regional meeting focused on the future of forest stewardship. The event created a powerful space for collaboration, learning, and dialogue. At its heart was a shared goal: to strengthen Indigenous leadership and ensure that traditional knowledge stands alongside Western science in shaping sustainable forest management.

The meeting highlighted the role of the Forest Stewardship Council in the region, the work of the FSC Indigenous Foundation, and the importance of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) in advancing Indigenous rights within global forest governance. A key outcome of the gathering was the nomination and election of new PIPC representatives for Oceania, ensuring continued Indigenous representation in FSC’s decision-making processes.

Above all, the meeting reaffirmed a strong commitment to cultural respect, Free, Prior, and Informed Consent FPIC, and inclusive leadership.

Day 1: Foundations of Indigenous Leadership in Forest Stewardship

Day 1 began with a traditional Pōwhiri welcome ceremony and Karakia prayer, grounding the meeting in respect for Māori customs and Indigenous traditions. This opening set the tone for meaningful and culturally respectful dialogue.

Leaders from FSC International, the FSC Indigenous Foundation, and the PIPC shared opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous leadership and FPIC in forest governance.

Participants were introduced to the FSC system and its work in Oceania, including certification processes and regional priorities. The role of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee PIPC was highlighted, particularly its responsibility to advise the FSC Board of Directors on Indigenous rights and to advance an Indigenous Peoples Agenda within FSC.

The FSC Indigenous Foundation presented its mission to uphold Indigenous rights, strengthen forest stewardship, and promote Indigenous-led solutions.

A closing Karakia brought the first day to an end.

Day 1 video summary:

Day 2: Strengthening Collaboration and Engagement

Day 2 opened with a Karakia and focused on action, collaboration, and strengthening Indigenous participation.

Interactive sessions encouraged open dialogue and exchange of ideas. Speakers from New Zealand, Latin America, and other regions shared experiences on Indigenous leadership in forestry and inclusive forest strategies. Participants explored practical ways to strengthen regional cooperation and ensure Indigenous voices are fully integrated into FSC governance.

A key discussion centered on aligning regional strategies with FSC’s global priorities, reinforcing Indigenous rights, and integrating traditional ecological knowledge into ecosystem services and sustainable forest management.

One of the most important moments of the meeting was the nomination and election of new PIPC representatives for Oceania. Through a transparent and culturally respectful process, Te Ngaehe Wanikau was selected as the Principal Representative, and Tolita Davis as the Alternate Representative.

The meeting closed with a final Karakia, marking the end of two impactful days.

Day 2 video summary:

Day 3 Visit to TE POU O HINETAPEKA

On day 3, a visit to Te Pou o Hinetapeka was made.

Day 3 video summary:

Looking Ahead

This regional meeting was more than a gathering. It was a transformative step toward stronger Indigenous leadership in forest stewardship. By bringing together traditional knowledge and modern systems, the participants reinforced a shared vision: forests are not only resources, but living landscapes deeply connected to culture, identity, and future generations.

End-Of-The-Year series newsletter

Find our final 2025 highlights for the year

FSC IF

As 2025 comes to a close, we extend our sincere appreciation for the collaboration between our organization and our partners, especially during a year marked by significant institutional adjustments.

Below are our final highlights for 2025:

October’s highlights

WRI article – For New Global Forest Pledges to Succeed, They Must Center Forest Communities

COP30 commitments in Belém highlight growing recognition that Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants, and local communities are essential forest stewards in the climate fight. Co-authored by Minnie Degawan (Kankanaey-Igorot), Managing Director of FSC-IF, the article spotlights three major pledges on forest finance and land rights, while warning that slow, complex titling processes still limit communities’ access to funding. Read more here.

PIPC Regional meeting

The FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) Regional Meeting for Latin America brought together Indigenous representatives from South America, Mexico, and Central America to strengthen Indigenous participation in forest governance and advance responsible forest management. Read more here.

FSC General Assembly

The 10th FSC General Assembly in Panama highlighted the central role of Indigenous Peoples in shaping the future of responsible forestry, with Indigenous leaders opening the Assembly, contributing to plenaries, and influencing key decisions through FSC’s chamber-balanced governance system. Discussions, motions, and side events emphasized Indigenous rights, culturally appropriate certification, and the recognition of Indigenous knowledge as essential to forest conservation. Read more here.

Strengthening Indigenous Forestry Management in Malaysia

FSC-IF partnered with FSC Malaysia to deliver a workshop in Sarawak that strengthened practical pathways for Indigenous Peoples’ engagement in forest stewardship, emphasizing respect for Indigenous rights and governance, trust building through culturally appropriate dialogue, and alignment with community priorities and long term wellbeing.

Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models – Emberá People

With the support of IDB Lab, we advanced the participatory community economic plans by integrating community timelines, worldviews, FSC’s Economic Viability Tool insights, and local strengthening priorities to shape long term strategies that reinforce Indigenous forest based economies, recognize Indigenous Cultural Landscapes, and support community wellbeing.

November’s highlights

Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models – Emberá People

We advanced the project by linking community economic planning with climate adaptation and territorial governance, supporting workshops and an FSC Board visit that showcased progress, highlighted local initiatives, and informed next steps to strengthen FSC certification with Indigenous Peoples in Panama.

Indigenous leadership and responsible forest management in Mexico

Tyler Bellis of the Council of the Haida Nation visited FSC-certified community forest enterprises in Oaxaca to exchange learning on Indigenous governance and responsible forest management, with Alina Santiago highlighting how community decision making and long term planning strengthen sustainable forest stewardship and collective wellbeing. Read more.

A New Artwork Bringing FSC’s Story and Values to Life in Australia

FSC ANZ is proud to introduce a new artwork created by Tolita Davis-Angeles, Chair of FSC’s Indigenous Working Group and FSC PIPC Oceania alternate representative.

Ngäbe Community program: Workshop on strengthening indigenous governance

The facilitation workshop on strengthening Ngäbe governance focused on building capacities for collective decision making, traditional authority, and culturally grounded leadership, while promoting conflict resolution and the equitable participation of women and youth to reinforce territorial autonomy and collective rights.

UNFCCC COP30 in Belem, Brazil

We worked with FSC throughout COP30 to elevate Indigenous priorities and in our COP30 Report explain key outcomes on forest finance, tenure, adaptation, loss and damage, and carbon markets, stressing that real impact depends on FPIC, tenure security, transparency, and Indigenous governance with strong safeguards at the center.

December’s highlights

Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models – Emberá People

We reached a key milestone in the project by validating and finalizing community economic plans through assemblies and dialogue spaces, incorporating final feedback and strengthening long-term planning and Indigenous governance. In parallel, we participated in the 2025 GET Forum organized by IDB Lab, identifying opportunities to connect with innovation and finance ecosystem actors that could help scale and sustain FSC-IF initiatives in the future.

Ngäbe Community program: Environmental workshop

Community members received training on Panama’s key environmental laws, covering forest legislation, wildlife protection, water resources, and environmental impact assessment requirements. The sessions also introduced the Escazú Agreement and its relevance for access to environmental information, participation, and justice.

Advice Note published protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples

FSC has published the Advice Note for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and in Initial Contact (IPVIIC) in Peru. Find the news here.

UNCCD CRIC23 in Panama

UNCCD CRIC 23 advanced recommendations on 2030 land and drought goals while building momentum toward COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia, where Parties aim to accelerate restoration and sustainable land management with stronger engagement of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, and youth.

WWF & AJET Report: Webinar launch

Through the report launch webinar, Indigenous leaders and partners emphasized that a truly just energy transition must recognize Indigenous Peoples as rights-holders and partners, ensure Indigenous governance and land stewardship, and avoid repeating extractive models under the banner of “green” development. Read more here.

Aissatou Oumarou is FSC PIPC representative for Francophone Africa

We congratulate Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim of the Mbororo Fulani People on her appointment as the FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) Representative for Francophone Africa. Learn more about FSC PIPC and her role here.

Support the call!

We stand with Daria and all Indigenous defenders whose voices, safety, and freedom are under threat. Support the call today!

End of the year message and hopes for the future

As we close the year, we recognize a growing shift toward Indigenous leadership as a vital force in protecting forests and advancing sustainable, long-term stewardship. Looking ahead to 2026, we invite partners to invest in Indigenous-led initiatives and become financial partners, please contact us at fsc.if@fsc.org to start the conversation.

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Aissatou Oumarou is FSC PIPC representative for Francophone Africa.

Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim is the FSC Representative of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) for Francophone Africa.

FSC IF

We are pleased to congratulate Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim, from the Mbororo Fulani People, on her appointment as the FSC Representative of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) for Francophone Africa.

The Forest Stewardship Council Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) is a global advisory body composed of Indigenous representatives from all regions of the world. The Committee advises the FSC International Board on the FSC certification system, with a core mandate to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples, strengthen responsible forest management, and support Indigenous Peoples in building and sustaining FSC-certified forest stewardship.

Through its work, the PIPC also contributes to increasing Indigenous Peoples’ market access, share, and value within FSC systems.

In her new role, Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim will represent the perspectives, priorities, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples from Francophone Africa, contributing to FSC’s global governance and to the advancement of Indigenous rights and leadership within forest stewardship.

To learn more about Aissatou’s background and work, please visit her bio here:
👉 https://www.fscindigenousfoundation.org/teams/aissatou-oumarou-ibrahim/

We warmly welcome sister Aissatou to this important role and look forward to collaborating closely with her as part of our collective work with the FSC, PIPC and the FSC Indigenous Foundation.

Newsletter: COP30 Outcomes Report

Key outcomes that matter for Indigenous forest stewardship

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The Forest Stewardship Council and the FSC Indigenous Foundation worked together during COP30, collaborating on side events, engagement activities with strategic allies, spaces for dialogue, and other coordination actions to highlight Indigenous priorities and strengthen their participation and advocacy.

COP30 is over, but its impact will be decided in implementation. Today, we break down the outcomes for forests and Indigenous Peoples: what shifted, what to watch, and what it could unlock if finance and policy are delivered with rights, transparency, and Indigenous governance at the center.

Read our COP30 Report!

Highlights of the report:

Forest Finance Breakthroughs: TFFF + Tenure Pledges

COP30 announced new resources for standing forests and land tenure—implementation and safeguards will determine whether communities benefit.

Key points:

Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) in plain language: long-term, results-based payments; early capitalization; commitment share for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Forest and Land Tenure Pledge: donor/philanthropy funding to advance legal recognition, demarcation, governance reforms, and community-led conservation.

Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment: country commitments to secure hectares by 2030; why collective tenure matters.

Global Mutirão: From Negotiation to Mass Mobilization

COP30 elevated Mutirão as a model for collective action. Its impact will depend on whether communities have real control, rights, and resources.

Key points:

What is Global Mutirão? Meaning and origins; a framework for collective mobilization beyond formal negotiations.

Why it matters for Indigenous Peoples: validates communal stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge; invites Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples into climate action pathways.

What success looks like: financing, technical support, recognition of land and tenure rights, respect for Indigenous governance, and protection against extractive pressures.

The Implementation Era: Adaptation, Loss & Damage, Gender—and Who Gets to Decide

COP30 advanced frameworks, but participation, direct access, and rights-based safeguards will determine real impact for communities.

Key points:

Adaptation: Global Goal on Adaptation indicators and political signals to scale finance; risks of voluntary/weak indicators and uncertain funding.

Loss & Damage: progress on coordination and technical assistance; persistent gaps in rights-based safeguards, direct access for Indigenous Peoples, and governance inclusion.

Belém Gender Action Plan (BeGAP): recognition of Indigenous women; success depends on meaningful decision-making power and financing access.

Article 6 & Carbon Markets

International carbon markets are moving into implementation, strong safeguards, FPIC, and tenure security are essential.

Key points:

Opportunities: potential resources for forest protection and restoration if designed with strong rights and environmental integrity.

Risks: non-permanence, double counting, weak additionality; displacement/injustice without FPIC, tenure security, and fair benefit sharing.

Guardrails: FPIC, land rights, Indigenous governance, community-defined benefit sharing, transparency, grievance and remedy.

Matters relating to Finance

Finance remains a decisive factor in turning climate commitments into real action.

Key points:

Loss & Damage Fund: Rapid operational progress; USD 817.01M pledged; 2026 workplan focuses on faster, accessible grants with strong safeguards.

GCF improvements: Faster approvals/disbursement, stronger direct access support, inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, better risk management, align with Belém Gender Action Plan.

Adaptation Fund & GEF: AF expanding locally led adaptation but short of USD 300M target; GEF exceeded GEF-8 target and delivered 1.85B tCO₂ reductions (by June 2025), urging strong GEF-9 funding and Indigenous/gender safeguards.

FSC-IF Engagement in COP30 Side Events

Side events made rights, tools, standards, and direct finance concrete, and built partnerships for what happens next.

Key points:

FSC-IF joined 8 COP30 side events centering Indigenous rights, FPIC, and leadership in forest stewardship and climate action.

Called for equitable, direct, predictable climate finance, removing barriers linked to land rights and self-determination.

Stressed credible sustainability standards through continuous improvement, grievance/remedy, and capacity building.

Highlighted community forest management (with data ownership under FPIC) and Indigenous leadership in wildfire prevention/response/restoration with rapid financing.

If you wish to engage in the UNFCCC, learn more about the Indigenous Peoples Caucus!

Within the UNFCCC process, Indigenous Peoples participate collectively through the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), commonly referred to as the Indigenous Peoples Caucus.

It is the official coordination body for Indigenous Peoples participating in UNFCCC sessions, including COP, SB sessions, and related climate negotiations.
It brings together representatives from Indigenous organizations, nations, communities, and global/regional networks.
Why it exists:
- To provide a unified voice for Indigenous Peoples in global climate decision-making.
- To protect Indigenous rights and promote Indigenous-led climate solutions.
- To track, interpret, and influence negotiation text across agenda items (mitigation, adaptation, finance, Article 6, loss & damage, etc.).

Learn more about the IIPFCC: https://www.iipfcc.org/

If you are young and want to participate, learn about the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change here.

Read our COP30 Report

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