Tag: Climate Change

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Indigenous land, our future

The FSC Indigenous Foundation will attend the UNCCD COP16 to promote Indigenous land rights and solutions to combat desertification

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“But Mother Earth – it’s us. It is everything that we belong to and that belongs to us,” says Niila Inga of the Saami People and a member of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee, reflecting Indigenous Peoples’ deep spiritual connection with Mother Earth.

We see the land not as a resource to be exploited, but as a living, integral being that sustains all life and ensures the balance of ecosystems. It is the foundation of our identity, our culture, and our survival. It is through our connection to the land that Indigenous Peoples secure the future of our planet and for us all.

However, Indigenous communities often face threats to their land rights that hinder their ability to implement sustainable land practices effectively. Protecting Indigenous land rights and supporting their knowledge systems through partnerships and investments is crucial for addressing environmental challenges like desertification and drought.

For these reasons, the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) will actively participate in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 – 13, 2024. This crucial conference will unite leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, and global stakeholders to accelerate progress in sustainable land management and combat the growing threat of desertification.

At COP16, we will promote Indigenous land rights as a key solution to combat desertification, influence global climate policies, and engage stakeholders to foster new collaborations and resource mobilization.

Our work for land rights

The FSC Indigenous Foundation is advancing Indigenous land rights and governance through a variety of global initiatives.

In partnership with the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of America (FILAC), we have conducted studies on Indigenous land rights across Latin America and are expanding our research into Africa, providing critical data for advocacy. We are supporting Indigenous communities in remedy processes, where rights to land have not been respected previously.

We also support Indigenous governance by supporting traditional authorities and communities develop Charters of Rights, which help consolidate Indigenous governance in both recognized and unrecognized territories. For territories yet to be recognized, the Charter can become a valuable instrument and tool for advocacy. With territorial regulations aligned with their cosmovision and values, Indigenous communities can better steward their land and natural resources and grow businesses aligned with their worldviews.

In Panama and Honduras, we are helping to advance policies that support Indigenous economic empowerment, land rights, and the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes. In Kenya, we are facilitating dialogue between the Ogiek Peoples and government institutions to align policies with Indigenous rights.

In Central Africa, we partnered with the regional network REPALEAC to organize a participatory mapping workshop, where 50 participants from eight countries developed a system for monitoring and collecting data on the rights, culture, lands, and territories of Indigenous Peoples, supporting REPALEAC’s goal of securing 4 million hectares of land by 2025.

Get involved

Indigenous Peoples are not just victims of land degradation but are integral to its solution. Indigenous land rights, traditional knowledge, and cultural landscapes offer powerful solutions to desertification and climate change. Protecting these rights and community land stewardship is key to restoring ecosystems, fostering resilience, and ensuring the future of all life on Earth.

Join us at COP16 and beyond as we bring Indigenous solutions to the center of global climate dialogues. Together, we can create a future where people and Mother Earth thrive in harmony.

Stay tuned for updates and reach out to us at fsc.if@fsc.org to get involved.

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A milestone at COP16: Global recognition of Indigenous rights and their role in the protection of biodiversity

The creation of the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j and international partnerships pave the way for an active participation of Indigenous Peoples at COP30 in Brazil in 2025

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The historic decision at COP16: Indigenous Peoples get a Permanent Subsidiary Body on Traditional Knowledge

The recent UN COP16 marked a milestone for Indigenous Peoples by establishing a Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j, which gives them an official voice in global conservation policies. After intense negotiations, the agreement was announced by Colombia’s Minister of Environment, representing a historic recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems and their profound relationship with nature. This breakthrough validates the ancestral wisdom of Indigenous communities in the protection of biodiversity and underscores their essential role in caring for the planet.

The creation of the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8J represents a historic step forward for Indigenous Peoples, whose recognition goes beyond symbolism; it is a true inclusion in global decision-making on biodiversity.

In this achievement, the G9 of the Indigenous Amazon, an alliance of nine organizations of Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon, was fundamental, standing out at COP16 as a strategic actor.

Amazonian Indigenous Organizations form an alliance; G9

In their statement, they highlighted their ancestral role as guardians of the forests, warning that any dialogue on biodiversity and climate is meaningless without their participation. Faced with threats such as illegal mining and deforestation, they urged states to protect their territories and recognize their rights, requesting direct funding and participation in global policies. Their efforts contributed to the creation of the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8J, a key achievement for their inclusion in global decision-making, and laid the groundwork for them to play a key role towards COP30 in Brazil in 2025.

Partnerships for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, economies and ecosystems in Africa

Highlights at COP16:

  • The FSC Indigenous Foundation and REPALEAC signed an agreement to strengthen initiatives with Indigenous Peoples in the Congo Basin, focusing on the defense of their rights, economic empowerment and sustainable management of forest ecosystems in Central Africa. This partnership with REPALEAC seeks to enhance the capacities of Indigenous organizations through participatory training and promote their participation in decision-making on natural resources, climate policy and biodiversity.
  • The FSC Indigenous Foundation signed an agreement with the Ogiek People’s Development Program (OPDP) to strengthen its collaboration with this community and protect the Mau Forest, a place of vital cultural and environmental importance to the Ogiek. This alliance seeks to empower Ogiek women and foster an inclusive dialogue by promoting policies that respect their rights and ancestral knowledge of biodiversity.
  • The FSC Indigenous Foundation has expanded its collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), the world’s largest Indigenous Peoples’ network, which brings together 135 organizations in 21 African countries. This alliance seeks to promote the defense of the rights, recognition and economic opportunities of Indigenous communities in the management of their lands, in addition to promoting economic activities based on their worldview and traditional knowledge.

These initiatives ensure that Indigenous communities actively participate in decision-making about their lands and resources, as highlighted by leaders such as Nadia Gómez and Maatal Pérez during COP16. The testimonies of these leaders invite us to reflect on the urgency of recognizing the importance of Indigenous participation in the preservation of biodiversity.

Voices from COP16: Listen to our delegation and Indigenous leaders:

  1. Mohamed Handaine – Indigenous knowledge for biodiversity management: 
    • “If we take the Sahel as an example, we have a water shortage, so the Indigenous Peoples have created extraordinary systems to manage this water shortage.”
  2. Yaily Castillo – Indigenous Youth and Leadership:
    • COP16 serves as a space for Indigenous youth from Latin America and the Caribbean to connect and collaborate on leadership and participation strategies.
    • “We seek to create useful platforms and tools for the youth network that we are promoting at the FSC Indigenous Foundation.”
  3. Nadia Gómez – Importance of the Participation of Indigenous Peoples:
    • COP16 represents a platform for Indigenous youth and veteran leaders to be heard at the global level.
    • “Forests and rivers we consider them sources of energy and wisdom and historically, we have been the ones to protect these ecosystems so that today the world enjoys preserved landscapes.”
  4. Carlos Blandón – Resource Mobilization for Indigenous Peoples:
    • The objective at COP16 is to establish partnerships with actors from the public and private sectors and multilateral organizations to implement biodiversity agreements.
  5. Maatal Perez – Economic Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples:
    • We work under the principle of “free, prior and informed consent” before any intervention, which guarantees respect for the autonomy of the communities.

Listen to each of them and discover how their efforts at COP16 open a path of change and hope for all. 

COP16 marked a significant advance in the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, underscoring their fundamental role in the protection of biodiversity and the sustainable management of ecosystems. This momentum towards inclusion and respect for their ancestral knowledge is crucially projected towards COP30 in Brazil in 2025, where the active participation of Indigenous Peoples will be essential to address the global challenges of biodiversity and climate change.

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Indigenous solutions at COP29

FSC Indigenous Foundation engagement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan

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At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), a global coalition is gathering in solidarity in Baku, Azerbaijan, to address the climate crisis. As the world faces increasingly severe environmental disasters, Indigenous Peoples are on the frontlines with the knowledge and solutions needed to combat climate change. Their deep ecological wisdom, sustainable practices, and stewardship of the land are crucial for a sustainable future. Indigenous knowledge is a climate solution. 

A green world is an Indigenous world

Indigenous Peoples manage 25% of the Earth’s surface, rich in biodiversity and home to 36% of the world’s intact forests.  These territories could contribute up to 37% of global CO2 mitigation by 2030. Their role in tackling the climate crisis is essential. However, their rights must be fully recognized and supported to unlock their potential for climate solutions.

At COP29, the global community must take action to support the rights, self-devlopment, and self-reliance of Indigenous Peoples. When Indigenous Peoples’ rights are respected, their ecological knowledge can guide sustainable resource management for future generations. While stakeholders gather this week in solidarity for a green world, we know that a green world is an Indigenous world, and together, we can make this vision a reality.

The FSC Indigenous Foundation at COP29

We are attending COP29 to highlight the essential role of Indigenous communities in climate action, advocate for direct climate funding to Indigenous Peoples, and engage with diverse stakeholders, implementing our multi-sectoral approach. Our delegation includes:

Salina Sanou, Africa and Asia Regional Director and IPARD Deputy Director

Olga Kostrova, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) member 

Anne Samante, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) member 

Basiru Isa, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) member, REPALEAC

Integrating Indigenous Peoples into Nationally Determined Contributions

At COP29, with an increased focus on inclusivity and just transitions, it is imperative to explore how Indigenous Peoples can meaningfully participate in developing and implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). We invite you to join us for a side event at COP29  co-hosted by the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) and the Network of Indigenous and Local Communities for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC) to discuss actionable ways to include Indigenous Peoples in the NDC process. 

By creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration, this event aims to bridge the gap between policy frameworks and the grassroots knowledge that Indigenous communities offer.

Find more information below.

COP29 – NDCs side eventDownload

Find us at other key events organized by the Forest Stewardship Council. More information here.

Indigenous women on the frontline against climate change

Listen to Indigenous women from around the world share how climate change is affecting their communities and the innovative solutions they bring to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Join us!

The FSC Indigenous Foundation seeks partnerships with governments, multilateral institutions, and the private sector to achieve visionary goals by leveraging the power of your resources, your expertise, and your innovative tools. Let’s work together to elevate Indigenous solutions for climate action and shape policies that respect and incorporate traditional knowledge.

If you would like to meet us during COP29 to discuss how we can build sustainable solutions together, write to us at fsc.if@fsc.org.

News

The FSC Indigenous Foundation is at COP16

Let's learn how to live in peace with nature from the world's best biodiversity stewards.

FSC-IF

For Indigenous Peoples, Mother Earth is not only the place where we live, it is the sacred space in which we manifest spiritual connections with all living things. Rooted in ancestral cosmovision, we view the natural environment as an integral being that sustains life and the harmony of ecosystems. This is biodiversity. This is living in peace with nature. 

Joining global biodiversity discussions

From October 21 to November 1, 2024, the vibrant city of Cali, Colombia, will host the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Under the slogan “Peace with Nature,” this historic event calls for a renewed commitment to the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity and the sustainable use of its resources.

The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) will participate in COP16 to amplify the global voices of Indigenous Peoples and advocate for their crucial role in biodiversity conservation. 

At COP16, we aim to:

  • Collaborate: Engage with diverse stakeholders to build a comprehensive biodiversity agenda that values, recognizes and incorporates Indigenous knowledge
  • Network: Identify funding opportunities and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs), governments, and other key stakeholders
  • Influence: Highlight the vital importance of Indigenous knowledge in biodiversity stewardship, particularly under Article 8J of the CBD.

Why Indigenous knowledge matters

Indigenous Peoples are among the world’s most effective stewards of biodiversity, especially where their rights and recognized and supported. As biodiversity declines, so too does cultural and linguistic diversity. Protecting both is critical for our planet’s future. Promoting Indigenous rights and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and their valuable knowledge in biodiversity management and decision-making is essential for a successful global biodiversity framework.

Let’s learn how to live in peace with nature from the world’s best biodiversity stewards.

Biodiversity work in action

Explore FSC-IF impactful projects that illustrate our commitment to preserving biodiversity through Indigenous knowledge and solutions:

  • Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models: Collaborating with the IDB Lab and Health in Harmony in an innovative project to connect Indigenous Peoples with economic opportunities that align with their cultural values and biodiversity conservation efforts by collaboratively designing a market seal.
  • Indigenous Peoples and water: Integrating Indigenous knowledge and practices into sustainable models of transboundary watershed management.

FSC-IF numbers of impact

See more numbers of impact for Indigenous Peoples, biodiversity, and forests, and read the stories behind the numbers here.

Our delegation at COP16

Indigenous leaders and our partners

Aulina Ismare Opua, Cacica Wounaan General Congress.

Wounaan People, Panama.

Daniel Kobei, Executive Director, Ogiek Peoples Development Program (OPDP)

Ogiek People, Kenya.

Juan Carlos Jintiach, Executive Secretary, Global Alliance for Territorial Communities (GATC)

Shuar People, Ecuador.

Mala Mareachealee, Deputy Director, Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC)

Nadia Gómez, FSC-IF Indigenous Advisor, and FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) representative from South America

Warpe People, Argentina.

Norlando Meza, TV Indígena

Guna People, Panama.

Sara Madriz Martinez, Mesoamerican Alliance for Peoples and Forests (AMPB)

Cabécar People, Costa Rica.

Yoselin Yissel Casama Martínez, Association of Women Artisans of Ipeti Embera (AMARIE),

Emberá People, Panama

Get involved, make a difference

We are leading global efforts towards long-term and resilient Indigenous-led solutions. With Indigenous Peoples, we can conserve and restore biodiversity for everyone’s survival.

The FSC-IF seeks partnerships with governments, multilateral institutions, and the private sector to achieve visionary goals by leveraging the power of your resources, your expertise, and your innovative tools. Let’s work together to elevate Indigenous solutions for biodiversity stewardship and shape policies that respect and incorporate traditional knowledge.

Follow our journey: Check out our website and social media for updates, video interviews with our delegation, and our objectives at COP 16.

Connect with us: If you would like to meet us during COP16 to discuss how we can build sustainable solutions together, write to us at fsc.if@fsc.org 

Together, we can ensure that the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples is recognized and integrated into the global biodiversity agenda.

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