Climate Week NYC 2025: From Rights to Partnerships – Working with Indigenous Peoples for Nature
FSC Indigenous Foundation at Climate Week New York 2025
FSC IF
We’re heading to New York for Climate Week NYC (September 21–28), joining hundreds of partners and Indigenous leaders to accelerate real, nature-positive climate action. 2025 is a pivotal year on the road to COP30 in Brazil, and this moment helps us build momentum for our joint advocacy for Indigenous-led solutions and funding opportunities.
Our participation at Climate Week in the Nature Hub
Our participation includes two sessions at the Nature Hub in New York designed to share practical approaches for scaling Indigenous-led climate and biodiversity solutions:
From Rights to Partnerships: Working with Indigenous Peoples for Nature
This one-hour dialogue, hosted by the FSC Indigenous Foundation on September 23rd, will challenge the prevailing narrative around Indigenous Peoples’ rights. For years, many international declarations have affirmed these rights, yet implementation often falls short. Our session calls on the private sector, governments, and philanthropic organizations to move beyond symbolic recognition and toward genuine partnerships that uphold rights while tackling the environmental crisis we face.
We will also examine common barriers that stakeholders encounter when engaging with Indigenous communities, such as navigating diverse cultural and social norms, or knowing who to consult with, amongst other things. Alongside these challenges, we will highlight success stories where partnerships have delivered lasting and sustainable solutions. The discussion will show how collaboration, equitable financing and high-integrity data can drive investment in community-led nature-based solutions.
From Rights to Partnerships: Partnerships for Success — Corporate/Indigenous Learning Circle
In this Nature4Climate (N4C) roundtable, we will participate as panelists together with Indigenous leaders, businesses and investors. The conversation will explore how to co-create strategies for conservation and climate resilience that go beyond compliance. It will present funding models, co-governance frameworks and practical examples that demonstrate how companies and Indigenous communities can work together to protect ecosystems, strengthen climate action and build trust-based, enduring partnerships.
Our presence at Climate Week NYC is strengthened through our close collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Together, we are advancing a shared vision: forests and Indigenous Peoples are vital to solving the climate and biodiversity crises. We stand alongside partners who champion sustainable forest management, credible certification systems, and innovative tools such as FSC Verified Impact.
Through joint efforts at the Nature Hub and coordinated advocacy throughout Climate Week, we’re demonstrating how inclusive governance, trusted data, and high-integrity standards can unlock funding and partnerships that deliver for people, forests, and the planet.
FSC Remedy Forum in Jakarta: Reflections on sacred balance between Forests and People
The FSC System Integrity Unit convened the Asia Pacific Remedy Forum in Jakarta, uniting diverse stakeholders to advance understanding of the FSC Remedy Framework.
FSC IF
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – System Integrity Unit hosted the Asia Pacific Remedy Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing together rights holders, Indigenous leaders, NGOs, companies, researchers, and government representatives to deepen understanding and engagement around the FSC Remedy Framework.
What is the FSC Remedy Framework?
The FSC Remedy Framework is a standardized system that guides how companies must address past environmental and social harms linked to forest conversion.
It promotes restoration through social and environmental remedy, ensures transparency in how FSC deals with non-conforming companies, and provides fair roadmaps for remedy. Its ultimate goal is to restore forests and communities, improve the integrity of the FSC certification scheme, and establish measurable conditions for potentially ending disassociation and rebuilding trust.
A New Chapter for Remedy
Since its entry into force on July 1, 2023, the FSC Remedy Framework has aimed to address social and environmental harms resulting from forestry operations. Indonesia, as the pilot setting for implementation, provided a vital case study on opportunities and challenges. The Jakarta forum served not only as a platform for consultation but also as a space for healing, dialogue, and reconciliation; highlighting the positive potential of remedy to restore forest ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and provide redress for affected communities.
Voices from the Forum
Representing the FSC Indigenous Foundation, Nicholas Mujah (FSC-IF Council Member), Praful Lakra (FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee PIPC Co-chair, Asia region), Minnie Degawan (FSC-IF Managing Director), and Dian Intarini (Indigenous Peoples Global Manager for Forestry and Certification) actively participated in the Jakarta Remedy Forum, bringing diverse perspectives from leadership, governance, and community engagement.
During the forum, attendees expressed that if rights are misunderstood, overlooked, or only superficially acknowledged, remedies risk becoming merely symbolic and may reproduce harm rather than repair it. Nicholas underscored this point, reminding participants how critical it is to understand right holders’ rights within the Forest Stewardship system.
Furthermore, Praful shared insights from his region, India, stressing the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge into the process and drawing lessons from the remedy of mining there. As Co-Chair of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC), Praful’s participation carried particular significance. Together with Marchus Colchester (FSC Board of directors and PIPC Liaison), who also engaged in the forum, their presence highlighted the importance of ensuring Indigenous perspectives are consistently heard in FSC processes. Having PIPC represented at the event created a valuable space for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and reflection that can help strengthen decision-making at the global level.
From left to right: Praful Lakra (PIPC Co-chair, Asia region), Marchus Colchester (FSC BoD), Nicholas Mujah (FSC-IF Council member), Dian Intarini (Indigenous Peoples Global Manager for Forestry and Certification) From left to right: Isnadi from Riau, Kuspawansyah from East Kalimantan, Nicholas Mujah (FSC-IF Council member) and Minnie Degawan (FSC-IF Managing Director)
Moreover, Minnie reminded participants that for Indigenous Peoples, remedy is not a checklist of consultations or activities, but about restoring balance and safeguarding relationships: with the land, communities, and the unseen.
“Forests are our relatives,” she said. “They are the resting places of our ancestors, where we bury our children’s umbilical cords to connect them to Mother Earth. To sustain the forest is to sustain the Earth and the community. Remedy, for us, means restoring that sacred balance.”
Minnie stressed the need for clearer communication on what the Remedy Framework is, and what it is not. She emphasized that without this clarity, communities risk false expectations and further harm.
At the heart of her message was the call to reframe Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as a process of relationship-building rather than a procedural step, reminding participants that consent is rooted in trust, equity, and mutual understanding.
Finally, Dian Intarini suggested that remedy actions should be aligned with national policies on community empowerment and land rights, for example Indonesia’s Village Law, to support the long-term sustainability of these actions.
Key Observations
Over three days, the agenda moved from exploring solutions for accelerating remedies, to presentations on social and cultural healing in unresolved conflicts, to a closed meeting with rights holders reflecting on their concerns and expectations.
The forum succeeded in fostering open, constructive dialogue, though it also revealed a disconnect in how stakeholders understood the framework and highlighted tensions between Indigenous Peoples and migrant/transmigrant communities that require sensitive approaches. Amid these dynamics, the FSC Indigenous Foundation emerged as a trusted, neutral facilitator and willing to continually support the process.
Looking Forward
As the FSC Remedy Framework continues to take shape, the lessons from the Jakarta forum remind us that remedy must be intentional, inclusive, and rooted in respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and worldviews.
The work ahead will not be easy, but as Minnie emphasized: “We have survived genocide and colonization by moving thoughtfully and carefully. Let us not rush, but ensure that remedy truly heals.”
Brewing a Future: Daniel Maches and Jaymar Garcia’s Journey to economic sustainability rooted in Indigenous knowledge
How Two Indigenous Youth Are Cultivating Culture and Sustainability
FSC IF
Forests regulate our climate, clean the air we breathe, and sustain the biodiversity that makes life possible. Yet every year, more than 12 million hectares of forests are lost to destructive practices.
The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), together with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), works alongside Indigenous Peoples to protect forests and strengthen Indigenous-led nature solutions. At the heart of this vision are Indigenous youth like Daniel and Jaymar, who are carrying ancestral wisdom into the future.
How Two Indigenous Youth Are Cultivating Culture and Sustainability
On the forested slopes of Benguet in the Philippines, two young Indigenous entrepreneurs are proving that business can be both an act of cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. Daniel Jason Maches, of the ILias tribe, and Jaymar Garcia, from the Ibaloi, Kankanaey, and Kalanguya tribes, co-founded Banolmi Store PH to showcase forest-grown coffee and traditional cuisine rooted in ancestral knowledge.
For Daniel and Jaymar, entrepreneurship is not just about profit; it is about worth. In their language, Banolmi means “our worth,” symbolizing the heritage of mountains, rivers, rice terraces, and forests passed down by their ancestors “Our forests are life,” Daniel explains. “They give us water, food, and identity. Protecting them is not only survival: it’s honoring our ancestors.”
Their work challenges the dominance of extractive industries by offering sustainable livelihoods that restore biodiversity instead of depleting it. Through agro-ecological farming, they are reviving heirloom rice and native seeds, creating a seed bank for the future, and transforming coffee farming into a tool for conservation. Jaymar reflects, “Food is culture. When we save our Indigenous cuisine, we also save the native species that sustain our people.”
Beyond farming, Banolmi Store PH has become a seed bank of cultural memory, preserving flavors and practices that risk being lost. The impact extends to their community: families now look to coffee and native foods as sustainable sources of income, while traditional cuisine is gaining new recognition as both cultural identity and a tool for biodiversity conservation.
The journey has not been without risks. From navigating family obligations to facing red-tagging during their advocacy, Daniel and Jaymar have demonstrated leadership with courage, finding non-confrontational ways to defend their forests while building community trust.
Looking ahead, Daniel and Jaymar’s dream
These Indigenous entrepreneurs dream of expanding Banolmi into a model that can be replicated in other communities, showing that Indigenous-led enterprises are both viable and transformative. They envision not only coffee farms, but entire agroforestry systems that provide food, restore forests, and sustain cultural traditions.
To achieve this, they hope to build partnerships with organizations, businesses, and individuals who share their vision and collaborators who can help open markets, provide resources, and amplify their message. “Our goal is to show that Indigenous foods and products are not just heritage, they are the future,” Jaymar says.
On this World Entrepreneurs Day, Daniel and Jaymar’s story reminds us that Indigenous knowledge is innovation. Their venture is not only brewing coffee: it is cultivating a future where culture, community, and conservation thrive together.
Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence: Defending Rights through Principles of Respect and Consent
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we highlight how respect and consent must guide both engagement and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
FSC IF
Today, August 9, the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. From the rain forests of Latin America to the savannas of Africa, the islands of Asia, the mountains of Oceania, and the Arctic’s tundras, Indigenous Peoples continue to protect the world’s biodiversity, safeguard traditional knowledge, and uphold cultures rooted in deep connection to the land.
Indigenous Peoples nurture an extraordinary range of living traditions, from practices and skills to knowledge systems and expressions that embody values of respect, care, and reciprocity with nature. These traditions also strengthen understanding of the many worldviews and value systems that guide Indigenous relationships with the natural world.
Hijos de la Tierra, Photo contest, 2023
By practicing and passing on this heritage, Indigenous communities sustain their vitality, resilience, and collective well‑being.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is more vital today than at any point in history because the challenges we face — climate change, biodiversity loss, and the rapid rise of new technologies — demand the wisdom, leadership, and rights of Indigenous Peoples at the center of global solutions.
Indigenous Peoples and local communities safeguard at least half of the world’s lands, which host the majority of its biodiversity. Their living heritage — knowledge, practices, and values rooted in respect, stewardship, and reciprocity with nature — offers proven pathways for addressing today’s climate and ecological crises. When forests are under threat, when species are disappearing, and when climate impacts intensify, Indigenous Peoples stand as guardians of balance between humanity and the natural world.
Pusaka, Photo contest, 2023
Authentic engagement, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent
This day also reminds us of the principles that must guide our actions when engaging with Indigenous brothers and sisters: respect, authentic engagement, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Just as Indigenous Peoples decide how their knowledge and culture are shared, so too must the world ensure that emerging tools, like artificial intelligence, are used ethically — amplifying Indigenous voices rather than appropriating them.
Our Managing Director, Minnie Degawan, provided insights on the principles of engagement with Indigenous People on a webinar with Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL). She reminds us that true engagement with Indigenous Peoples must be built on respect, trust, and consent. Entering Indigenous territories means entering someone’s home.
Minnie Degawan, Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation
Authentic engagement requires listening, co-creation, and collaboration — not one-time consultations, but continuous relationships grounded in dignity. For the private sector, this means building trust that leads to long-term partnerships, social license to operate, and more sustainable outcomes. For governments, it strengthens legitimacy, ensures policies are culturally appropriate, and supports effective climate and biodiversity action. In both cases, relationship-building is not just respectful — it is essential for lasting impact.
Consent is not a checklist. It is a living dialogue — a spectrum that ranges from “No” to “Maybe,” “Yes if,” and “Yes;” always shaped by cultural traditions and community voices. One way communities express this is through art and photography: choosing what stories to share, how to share them, and with whom.
ENGITOK – the Maasai woman, Photo contest, 2023
Indigenous Data Sovereignty: A Global Call for Ethical Technology
Just as photographs require consent and respect, so too must the use of new technologies like artificial intelligence. Indigenous Peoples must retain control over their knowledge, images, and voices and how and when these are used. Technology should amplify Indigenous self-representation, not appropriate it.
A powerful example comes from Aotearoa (New Zealand), where Māori leaders are shaping the conversation on artificial intelligence. At the Aotearoa Artificial Intelligence Summit, experts like Dr. Karaitiana Taiuru, Elle Archer, and Moka Apiti emphasized that Māori data must be treated as taonga — a treasure protected under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). They reminded us that engaging with Indigenous communities in AI development requires relationship-building, long-term commitment, and respect for cultural protocols, from pronouncing names correctly to involving communities from the very beginning. Their message was clear: AI must not be a tool of extraction but a means to amplify collective wisdom, safeguard cultural heritage, and uphold Indigenous data sovereignty. This vision echoes the principles of engagement — respect, trust, and reciprocity — that are essential for all Indigenous Peoples worldwide. (Culture & Design Lab, 2023) 1
During the 2025 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples virtual webinar, Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures, hosted by the Indigenous Peoples Development Branch, the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, powerful voices from Indigenous panelists echoed a clear message: artificial intelligence must be ethical, inclusive, and grounded in Indigenous rights.
As Aluki Kotierk, Inuk leader and Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, stated: “Without safeguards, AI risks a new form of colonization, coded in algorithms that shape our lives. To ensure that AI serves Indigenous Peoples, we must have a rights-based approach. Indigenous Peoples must guide AI development, and data governance is essential.”
During the webinar panelist Danielle Boyer, an Indigenous Ojibwe youth robotics inventor, expressed “People often forget that we, as Indigenous Peoples, have always been inventors, scientists, and engineers. Our youth are brilliant—my students are creating apps, founding organizations, designing robots, and building solutions. They already have the tools we need to shape the future.” Danielle explained that what’s missing are the opportunities—such as the ability to speak directly with large corporations and bridge the gap between them and Indigenous communities.
Closing remarks:
On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we are reminded that respect, trust, and consent are the foundation of ethical engagement. Whether in climate action, biodiversity conservation, or artificial intelligence, Indigenous Peoples must remain at the center as rights-holders and leaders, especially Indigenous youth as they are essential to this future — bringing innovation, knowledge, and commitment to their communities.
Now is the time to advocate, support, and share — so Indigenous voices lead the way forward.
Source:
Culture & Design Lab (2023). Engaging with Māori in Artificial Intelligence. Culture & Design Lab.
