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.

Ogiek Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment: Supporting the Ogiek women in the Mau Forest of Kenya to grow businesses, rehabilitate the forest, revitalize their language, and preserve knowledge of their traditional medicine.
Ecosystem Services Framework: Working with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to provide tools that measure and verify the benefits of sustainable forest management for Indigenous communities.

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.

It’s time for Indigenous solutions

Join us at Climate Week New York to connect with the value of Indigenous knowledge and territories

FSC-IF

The FSC Indigenous Foundation is happy to announce its participation in Climate Week New York. As a leading global advocate for Indigenous-led climate solutions, the Foundation will join key organizations and global leaders in addressing critical environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices.

Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge offers vital solutions to the climate crisis. They manage over 25% of the global landmass, making the future of Indigenous territories key to global sustainability. The FSC-IF seeks to integrate Indigenous knowledge into climate strategies and supports Indigenous leaders, for the future of our planet and for us all. Catch us at our side events listed below, or reach out to organize a meeting.

It’s time to lead with Indigenous solutions and make a meaningful impact. Join us in driving positive change.

Supporting Indigenous Self-Determination, Self-Reliance, and Self-Governance in Nature-based Solutions

Date and time: Monday, September 23rd, 2024, 10:30 – 11:30

Location: Nature Positive Hub, Convene, 101 Park Ave, New York. Room: Chrysler Forum

Description: Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of land protection. Although they comprise less than 6% of the world’s population, their collective territories are close to 25% of the land base and contain 80% of the world’s remaining terrestrial biodiversity. However, Indigenous Peoples face countless challenges that limit their capacity to strengthen their livelihood practices and secure rights and self-determination within their territories. The moderated panel will highlight the necessity of Indigenous-led climate solutions and barriers to achieving a healthier planet.

This event will illustrate the reciprocal relationship Indigenous Peoples have with Mother Earth, demonstrating the role of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in rights-based approaches, and discussing partnerships between businesses and Indigenous organizations to support self-determination. It is hosted by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification system, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), a global Indigenous-led organization working to elevate Indigenous Peoples in their contribution to the protection of Mother Earth and recognize them as providers of solutions and partners to fight against global challenges.

Panelists:

Hindou Omarou Ibrahim Chair of FSC Indigenous Foundation Council and Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Moderator: Satnam Manhas, R.P.F., Senior Manager, Indigenous Capacity Support Canada, FSC Indigenous Foundation

Erica Fensom, DocuSign, Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Sergio Guzman, manager of the community forest Guatecarbon REDD+ project, in Guatemala

Join us to learn how you can support Indigenous nature-based solutions.

Our People, Our Future: From Commitment to Actions

Date and time: September 26, 2024, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Location: Studio 3, 873 Broadway, #401, New York, N.Y 10010

Description: This event, hosted by the FSC Indigenous Foundation and Health in Harmony will connect Indigenous Peoples with business and philanthropy, offering an opportunity to engage and scale social, environmental, and economic impact when working together. It will provide the opportunity to:

Discover solutions: Learn about Indigenous approaches to climate change, land degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
Contribute resources: Find actionable ways to contribute your resources and expertise towards impactful projects, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Indigenous Peoples are key to addressing pressing global challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Through collaboration, we can make a significant impact in these areas. 
Build partnerships: Network to form strategic alliances for sustainability. 
Boost business value: Discover how integrating ecosystem services can enhance sustainability, including biodiversity, carbon markets, and beyond.
Verify impact: Learn methods for impact verification to ensure your contributions are making a measurable difference.

Panelists:

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of FSC Indigenous Foundation Council and President of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Jerome Foster II, Climate Activist

Solange Bandiaky-Badji, President and Coordinator, Rights and Resources Initiative

Rachel Markham, Principal, Patchwork Collective

Ashley Emerson, Co-CEO Business and Scale, Health in Harmony

Moderator: Satnam Manhas, Senior Manager, Indigenous Capacity Support Canada, FSC Indigenous Foundation

Join us in this transformative journey to drive positive change and sustainability. 

Connect with us

The FSC-IF is leading global efforts toward resilient Indigenous-led solutions, but we cannot do it alone. We call on partners to help us achieve visionary goals by leveraging the power of your resources, expertise, and innovation. If you would like to meet us during Climate Week to discuss how we can build sustainable solutions together, write to us at fsc.if@fsc.org.

Indigenous women on the frontline against climate change

At COP28, Indigenous women leaders from Africa, Mesoamerica and Asia share perceptions of climate change and their actions to resist its effects.

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On December 11, Indigenous women from Cameroon, Panama, Kenya, and the Philippines discussed how their ancestral knowledge contributes to Indigenous Peoples’ resilience to the effects of climate change in a side event at COP 28, From the frontlines: Through Indigenous women’s eyes. The event was organized by the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), the Coordination of Mesoamerican Women Territorial Leaders (CMLT), the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMBP), and the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC).

Indigenous Peoples have been disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change. From the increase in the intensity of hurricanes, forest fires, droughts, and the degradation of soils and ecosystems, this crisis causes serious losses and damages that particularly affect Indigenous women and girls, as it hinders access to subsistence resources and increases the conditions of insecurity, vulnerability and risk to different types of violence.

At the same time, Indigenous women have historically been the guardians of ancestral knowledge and transmitters of traditional practices of medicine, planting, and the deep bond with Mother Earth. Therefore, the food security of their families, the good living of their peoples, and the conservation and regeneration of the planet’s forests and biodiversity depend on the empowerment and identity of Indigenous women and girls.

Around the world Indigenous women are taking action to resist the impacts of climate change on their territories and communities and build resilience, using their ancestral knowledge and deep connection with Mother Earth.

Voices and actions from around the world

In a panel, Sara Omi, President of the Coordinating Committee of Women Territorial Leaders of Mesoamerica; Balkisou Buba, Vice President of the Cameroon Branch of the Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC); Edna Kaptoyo, Grantmaking and Partnerships Officer, Pawanka Fund; and Helen Magata, Coordinator of the Climate and Biodiversity Program of Tebtebba Foundation, shared their perspectives on loss and damages from climate change, the link between climate change and increasing violence, and their actions for resilience.

“Something needs to be done to reduce climate change to reduce the threat of violence against Indigenous women and girls,” stated Balkisou Buba. Panelists explained that Indigenous women face violence due to the impacts of climate change in their territories as they are forced to migrate to cities or walk longer distances to fetch water or wood.

They also discussed losses and damages from climate change. “Language loss is not something you can compensate for, our languages are dying,” explained Helen Magata, noting that language is connected to traditional agricultural practices of Indigenous women.

In response to these challenges, panelists shared actions they are taking in their communities for climate resilience.

“Indigenous women are doing great work to preserve the ancestral knowledge of our grandmothers. I come from a community that was relocated due to the construction of a hydroelectric dam, my grandmothers have shown that despite the violation of the right to territory we can restore our home and maintain our identity,” said Sara Omi.

“Indigenous women have been socially organizing to collectively face issues, such as access to food with drought-tolerant crops and traditional medicine. Women understand the ecology of their territory, which is crucial for regeneration and restoration projects,” added Edna Kaptoyo.

“Pastoralists use the land for periods so that the soil can regenerate. We also take just what we need from nature. We also use traditional knowledge to predict what is going to happen: draughts, rains,” said Balkisou Buba.

Helen Magata discussed forest and water management practices in her community that respond the the challenges of climate change and contribute to the reduction of conflict. She also shared the work of a community center to support Indigenous women’s mental well-being. “We do so much for the community and forget about ourselves, but we are also individuals,” she said.

The panel was moderated by Rabiatou Ahmadou, Political Participation and Advocacy Coordinator at the International Indigenous Women’s Forum. “Our Indigenous cultures are cultures of sharing,” she emphasized, highlighting that Indigenous women think about sharing, protecting, and leaving resources for the next generation.

Messages to stakeholders

Key stakeholders including governments, donors, philanthropists, and social and humanitarian operators participated in the event to hear directly from Indigenous women leaders on their perspectives and messages.

Edna Kaptoyo called for the recognition of the role of Indigenous women in climate resilience. Balkisou Buba highlighted the need to invest in traditional knowledge and involve Indigenous women in decision-making.

Helen Magata said that Indigenous women do not need to be empowered, because they already are. “Knowledge is power and Indigenous women have the knowledge,” she said. The call for stakeholders is to provide spaces and platforms for them to share that knowledge.

Further than the creation of these spaces, both Sara Omi and Balkisou Buba emphasized the need for direct climate finance to Indigenous women to allow them to continue protecting forests, and landscapes and advancing actions towards climate resilience.

Watch a recording of the event below:

Contact information:

Mary Donovan, FSC-IF, m.donovan@fsc.org

Tamara Espinoza, CMLT/AMPB, comunicacion@mujeresmesoamericanas.org

Andrea Rodriguez, GATC, arodriguez@globalalliance.me

Listen to more messages from Indigenous women on climate change here.

Indigenous empowerment for climate-resilient solutions in Africa

At COP 28 side event Indigenous leaders discussed empowering Indigenous communities with financial resources and inclusive carbon markets to scale up climate solutions.

FSC-IF

At COP 28, the FSC Indigenous Foundation, the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Inclusive Development Hub convened experts at an event on December 5 in the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion, Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Carbon Markets: Direct access to climate finance for Indigenous communities in Africa to increase awareness of the unique contributions of Indigenous communities to climate resilience and to discuss opportunities, challenges and solutions related to direct climate finance and carbon markets.

The need for direct and inclusive mechanisms

The global challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change require urgent and collaborative action. Indigenous communities, often the stewards of rich biodiversity, possess unique knowledge and sustainable practices that can significantly contribute to climate resilience. By fostering direct access for Indigenous Peoples to climate finance, we can empower Indigenous communities in Africa to implement sustainable solutions, contributing significantly to the broader goals of biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Carbon markets could be a way of empowering Indigenous Peoples by paying them for protecting the world’s forests. Indigenous and community lands hold at least 22% of the carbon stored in tropical and subtropical forests globally. These markets have the potential to create a unique opportunity for Indigenous communities to develop an economic sector aligned with Indigenous lifestyles, Indigenous Cultural Landscapes, and sustainable land management. It is also an opportunity for governments and industry to co-create meaningful partnerships and develop relevant policies with Indigenous Peoples.

On the other hand, some Indigenous communities fear that further development of carbon markets, even with the new rules agreed to at COP 27, will endanger local livelihoods and create loopholes for further emissions. Markets must be designed in a transparent way that responds to the needs and realities of Indigenous communities.

Perspectives from Indigenous leaders

We took the opportunity of COP28 to create an inclusive space to identify the key constraints, challenges, and opportunities of climate finance and carbon markets.

To begin the event, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, FSC Indigenous Foundation Council Chair gave opening remarks.

“What is the carbon market, and how is it going to respect the land and rights of Indigenous Peoples?” she asked. “If governments are going engage in the carbon market, we are not going to let them do it without getting the benefit and we are not going to let them do it while harming our lives and our territories.”

A panel with Indigenous leaders and partner organizations shared perspectives and key insights on how we can engage stakeholders from the realms of climate finance, environmental policy, and Indigenous rights advocacy to ensure direct access to finance for Indigenous communities.

Panelists also discussed how Indigenous Peoples can benefit from carbon markets, and which concerns need to be addressed for more Indigenous Peoples to participate.

“There is a big debate that carbon is a false solution”, said Kanyinke Sena, Executive Director of IPACC. “We must understand that carbon in itself is not a bad thing, what is a bad thing is the people that use that to come and benefit – the carbon cowboys.”

He also emphasized the importance of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for communities engaging in the carbon market.

Elijah Toirai, Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) and Communities Lead at Conservation International discussed registration for carbon credits and the importance of carbon market reports remaining public. “We are seeing a shift towards Indigenous Peoples communities becoming the carbon credit entity. The Indigenous Peoples’ communities and organizations are registering the projects. That way, when it comes to benefit sharing, the buyers actually then pay to these Indigenous Peoples’ organizations,” he said.

Joseph Itongwa, Coordinator of REPALEAC and IPACC Great Lakes representative, posed an important question: “Where can we report the wrongdoers in the carbon credit equation?”

The question and answer section presented the opportunity to exchange knowledge and information from other regions.

“We, the Indigenous Peoples, have organized ourselves and have proposed our own climate strategy, called the Amazon Indigenous Network, in the face of this challenge. We are looking for the rights of Indigenous Peoples to come first, and the right of access to the territories. We are implementing REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) with the guidelines of the Amazon Indigenous Network,” said Fermín Chimatani Tayori of the National Association of Contract Executors for the Administration of Communal Reserves of Peru.

Panelists concluded that it is vital to ensure the respect of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the development of carbon markets. Indigenous Peoples need to be included in the design of these mechanisms so they can engage in carbon markets, if they so choose, in favor of their communities, landscapes, and cosmovision.

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