Discussion Forum HOSTED BY IPMG: December 19 at 9:00-10:30
Policies on conservation and land use and development: Ensuring rights are respected and achieving sustainable development for all
Theme: Rights and equitable development
First Day (December 19) 9:00- 10:30 AM Room: Wien 1 - 2
The capacity of Indigenous peoples to contribute rather than detract from the health of their environment has often been overlooked. They have developed profound traditional knowledge in enhancing biodiversity and food security through their traditional occupations and managements of their lands and resources. Yet their rights to their lands, territories and resources are systematically violated, and indigenous peoples continue to be marginalized, discriminated, excluded from decision-making, criminalized and penalized.
These policies have resulted in hunger, loss of traditional knowledge and biodiversity among others. Likewise, when indigenous peoples take legitimate actions to defend their lands from exploitation, they are met with aggression.
This session will be an interactive discussion between speakers and discussants will come from different stake holders including indigenous peoples, research institutions and the scientific community, policy-makers, donors, advocates and environmentalist. on subjects ranging from linkages of rights, livelihoods, conservation to resource management systems and sustainable development.
Co-hosted by: Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG), Rights and Resources Institute (RRI) and the International Land Coalition (ILC)
Speakers:
Jeff Campbell- Manager, Forest and Farm Facility (FFF)- UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Janene Yazzie- International Indian Treaty Council (youth member of the Dine Nation, USA)
Dan Sapit, Managing Trustee, Indigenous Peoples Hub- Africa (Maasai- Kenya)
Stewart Maginnis- Global Director, Nature Based Solutions, International Organization for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Andy White, Executive Director, Rights and Resource Institute (RRI)
Sabine Pallas, Strategic Communications, Gender Justice and Partnership – International Land Coalition
Moderator: Joan Carling, Co-convenor, Indigenous Peoples Major Group (Kankanaey, Philippines)
Sessions in the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion of the IPMG:
1) Our Heritage, our Future: Indigenous peoples’ water management systems: Indigenous peoples have been practicing sustainable water management systems, not only for their daily needs and livelihoods but also for the profound spiritual values of water. However, indigenous peoples are facing serious threats in sustaining these practices including their rights to water and livelihoods due to fracking, extractive activities, among others. indigenous peoples in coastal areas continue their traditional fishing practices and related conservation of corals and marine resources. Indigenous leaders from North America and the Pacific will share their experiences and will highlight the need to protect indigenous peoples’ water management systems in relation to their livelihoods, cultures and other collective right. Other speakers are invited to share their work and reflections on this critical issue, and there will be interactive discussions of ways forward to protect the water rights and sustainable water and resource management systems of indigenous peoples in the context of climate change and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
Speakers:
Janene Yazzie – International Indian Treaty Council, (youth member of the Dine Nation, USA)
Polikalepo Moengangongo- Dissemination/ Communication Officer Focal Point of Contact for: Gender and Diversity/Migration Network/ Youth Network /Restoring Family Link – Pacific
June Lorenzo, Indigenous World Association, (Laguna Pueblo/Navajo, USA)
Moderator: Roberto Borerro (Taíno), Programs and Communications Coordinator, International Indian Treaty Council (IITC); Co-Convener, Indigenous Peoples Major Group on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
TIME: DAY 1 (DECEMBER 19): 14:00- 15:30
2) The role of Pastoralism in achieving SDGs under a Landscape approach. The session will include the analysis and presentations on the role of pastoralism as a viable livelihood system across significant landscapes in Africa, Asia, Russia and parts of northern America and Europe in the advancement and implementation of the SDGs with local contexts and perspectives will be shared and discussed. The event will also highlight national and regional policy actions that need to be reinforced within the GLF framework to reflect most intimately the significant contribution of pastoralism to the economies of countries as well as the challenges experienced especially related to trans-boundary concerns on mobility that is a copying strategy critical for the survival of the livelihood system. The recognition of the practice at global level arrangements is still low and this event will help raise the profile of pastoralism within the GLF processes.
Speakers:
Hindou Oumaro Ibrahim- Coordinator of the Peul Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT)
Dan Sapit, Trustee, Indigenous Peoples Hub, Africa (Maasai, Kenya)
Moderator: Edna Kaptoyo, International Network of Indigenous Women-FIMI
TIME: DAY 1: DECEMBER 19: 16:00- 17:30 (4:00- 5:30 PM)
3) Rights and Livelihoods under threat: Sustainable Agroforestry practices of indigenous peoples for food security and biodiversity
Millions of indigenous peoples South and Southeast Asia, South and Central America continue to persist in practicing the centuries-old system of shifting cultivation or rotational agriculture as a form of sustainable agro-forestry. It is linked to their distinct cultures, and a major source of food security and the conservation of forest biodiversity. In fact, 80 % of the forest biodiversity are found in indigenous peoples. However, it is considered as a main driver of deforestation and forest degradation. On one hand, Existing policies and regulations thereby continue to criminalize this practice, resulting to arbitrary arrest and detention, payment of penalties, hunger, loss of traditional knowledge among others. On the other hand, the conversion of forest lands to logging and mining concessions, agribusiness and others is taking place on a massive scale and with impunity in violation to the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources, to their livelihoods and cultural heritage. Even in the context of REDD+, the implementation of the readiness phase fails to ensure forest land tenure for indigenous peoples and the protection of their sustainable forest management system in many countries as critical in forest conservation and management for climate changes. This session will address policy issues in relation to forest conservation, as well as the respect for indigenous peoples’ rights in the context of threats, challenges, opportunities and ways forward. Speakers will be indigenous representatives, advocates, donors and research/academic institutions. There will be an interactive discussion with participants of this session.
Speakers:
Lola Chavez, Council of K’iche’ Peoples’, Guatemala
Prasert Trakansuppakorn- Director, Pgaz K' Nyau Association for Sustainable Development (PASD), Karen-Thailand,
Gidion Sanagao, National Coordinator, Tanzania Indigenous Peoples Network on Climate Change (Maasai, Tanzania)
Qhapaj Conde – Focal person, Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (Bolivia)
Moderator: Joan Carling, Co-convenor, IPMG
TIME: DAY 2 DECEMBER 20: 11- 12:30