The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and Indigenous Peoples

The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and Indigenous
Peoples By Johnson Cerda, Asociacion Indigena de Limoncocha

In December 2007, the World Bank launched a program called the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) at the climate change negotiations held in Bali. The FCPF is supposed to support various developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing deforestation.

This process has had an initial stage, which has been completed in two rounds, in which interested countries have presented proposals containing their main ideas for developing national REDD plans. However, from an indigenous perspective there are some serious concerns. The proposals seek to include indigenous territories in the implementation of REDD programs. Yet Indigenous Peoples' involvement in the initial preparation of the Readiness Plan Idea Note (R-PIN) was not considered; this could jeopardize any plans in the future. Consultation mechanisms definitely need to be established or, where legislation already exists,improved. A brief discussion with Indigenous leaders from key organizations showed that in some cases limited briefings have been conducted, but many organizations are unaware of the process.

One of the main demands of Indigenous Peoples is the recognition and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This must not be neglected in the project implementation process in REDD countries. Indigenous Peoples' concerns have been reinforced by the fact that the same governments that rejected the UNDRIP negotiations also fought against the inclusion of any mention of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the REDD discussions at the climate change negotiations (COP-14), held in Poznan in Poland, even though these are now recognized by the same United Nations system. This feeds into the general concerns already held by Indigenous Peoples.

Issue No 28 December 2008
http://www.globalforestcoalition.org/paginas/view/32#Issues%20Forest%20Cover

Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change

April 20‐24, 2009
Dena’ina Center, Anchorage, Alaska

Indigenous peoples from all regions of the world depend upon the natural environment. Their rich and detailed traditional knowledge reflects and embodies a cultural and spiritual relationship with the land, ocean and wildlife. However, human activity is changing the world’s climate and altering the natural environment to which indigenous Peoples are so closely attached and on which they so heavily rely. In a very real sense, therefore, Indigenous Peoples are on the front lines of climate change. They observe climate and environmental changes first‐hand and use traditional knowledge and survival skills to adapt to these changes as they occur. Moreover, they must do so at a time when their cultures and livelihoods are already undergoing significant changes due, in part, to the accelerated development of natural resources from their traditional territories stimulated by trade liberalization and globalization.

Reflecting their position as “stewards” of the environment and drawing upon their age‐old traditional knowledge—the heart of their cultural resilience—Indigenous Peoples were among the first groups to call upon national governments, transnational corporations and civil society to do more to protect the Earth and human society from climate change. The Global Summit will involve an estimated 200‐300 invited participants to pursue four key objectives:

1. Consolidate, share and draw lessons from the views and experiences of Indigenous Peoples around the world on the impacts and effects of climate change on their ways of life and their natural environment, including responses;

2. Raise the visibility, participation and role of Indigenous Peoples in local, national, regional and international processes in formulating strategies and partnerships that engage local communities and other stakeholders to respond to the impacts of climate change;

3. Analyze, discuss and promote public awareness of the impacts and consequences of programs and proposals for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and assess proposed “solutions” to climate change from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples; and

4. Advocate effective strategies and solutions in response to climate change from the perspective of the cultures, world views, and traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, including local, national, regional and international rights‐based approaches.

Information available at http://www.iccalaska.org/Media/Flyer_Summit.pdf

FELIZ 2009 PARA TODOS

Estimad@s.

Les deseo un Feliz 2009 y que todos los deseos de su corazón se cumplan, para eso debemos poner todo nuestro esfuerzo. Tendrán todos ustedes energías positivas enviadas por este servidor. Saludos y éxitos.

Johnson Cerda