Inaction to recognise Indigenous Peoples' rights is frustrating conservation goals

IUCN World Conservation Congress, Barcelona

Tuesday, 7 October 2008  

Indigenous leaders and Forest Peoples Programme have warned conservationists at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona that conservation is missing 'its main best chance' of being effective. New studies released today [see below] clearly show that the 'New Paradigm', promised five years ago at the last World Parks Congress in Durban, is far from being achieved.

The studies, carried out by indigenous peoples in Asia, Africa and South America, investigate how far the promise by conservationists to respect the rights of indigenous peoples in protected areas has been met. Conservationists had committed to no new parks without local indigenous peoples' consent, elimination of forced resettlement, return of lands taken without consent, involvement of indigenous peoples in the management of protected areas, and in the sharing of benefits.

James Baranga, a participant at the World Parks Congress in Durban, 2003, on his land in Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in the background) The review found the Batwa continue to suffer multiple layers of marginalisation in protected area management [Photo: Chris Kidd]
South American Regional Group at FPP's Human Rights Training Workshop in Barcelona,October 2008, in preparation for participation at the World Conservation Congress [Photo: Louise Henson]
Messe Venant, Baka representative from Cameroon, presents his report at a workshop on Customary Law and Conservation [Photo: Maurizio Farhan Ferrari]

These commitments were made by conservationists as part of the Durban Accord in 2003, and also at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2004.

Marcus Colchester, Director of Forest Peoples Programme, said:

'We wanted to know if this 'new paradigm' has been put into effect. What we have found is that, despite adopting new policies and despite some encouraging examples of progress, which show that conservation through securing indigenous rights is possible, in practice conservationists have hardly changed their ways. Protected Areas are still being run in top-down ways that exclude indigenous peoples and deny their rights.'

In Uganda the Batwa people were evicted to make way for the Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks and Echuya Central Forest Reserve. Peninah Zaninka who works for the United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda, said:

'We welcome the fact that the Ugandan protected area authorities have been open to a dialogue with us about implementing the commitments made at the CBD, but on the ground the situation has not changed. The Batwa are deprived of their access to their forests, most are landless and they have no meaningful role in managing these areas which are their ancestral homes.'

Cylene France of the Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname (VIDS), South America, said:

'Suriname is the only country in the Americas which has no statutory law allowing recognition of Indigenous Peoples' land rights. This is the biggest obstacle to a rights-based approach to conservation in Suriname. We feel that the international conservation organisations working in Suriname should do more to support us on this matter, because they are very powerful. Are they on our side or only interested in our resources?'

Maurizio Farhan Ferrari of Forest Peoples Programme said that what was now needed were effective mechanisms, especially in-country and locally, to put the Durban Accord and the decisions at the CBD into effect. He said:

'We appeal to all IUCN members - Government, statutory bodies and NGO - to make good faith contributions to reconcile conservation efforts with indigenous peoples' rights. We can't afford another decade of mutual suspicion and conflict. We have to work together if ecosystems are to be defended.'

Press release Comunicade de prensa Communiqué de presse	FPP's Director, Marcus Colchester, introduces indigenous representatives at the Press Conference [Photo: Caroline de Jong]
	Media coverage Agence France Presse - Rainforest dwellers demand more say in climate change efforts - Rainforest dwellers caught between business, green groups Publico.es - Los indígenas exigen participar en la conservación del planeta
Tony James, Guyanese representative, meets journalists [Photo: Caroline de Jong]

Press briefings and copies of the reports

	Conservation and Indigenous Peoples: Assessing the Progress since Durban Press briefing Report	Conservación y Pueblos Indígenas: Evaluando progresos desde Durban Documento de prensa Informe	Conservation et peuples autochtones : Bilan des progrès accomplis depuis Durban Point de presse Rapport (en anglais)
	Cameroon Securing Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Conservation: Reviewing and Promoting Progress in Cameroon Press briefing Report	Camerún Garantizando los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en la conservación: revisión y promoción de avances en Camerún Documento de prensa Informe (en inglés)	Cameroun Sauvegarder les droits des peuples autochtones dans le cadre de la conservation : Revue et promotion des progrès au Cameroun Point de presse Rapport (en anglais)
	Malaysia Securing Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Conservation: Reviewing and Promoting Progress, Sabah, Malaysia Press briefing Report	Malasia Asegurando los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en la conservación: revisión y promoción de avances en Saba, Malasia Documento de prensa Informe (en inglés)	Malaisie Sauvegarder les droits des peuples autochtones dans le cadre de la conservation : Revue et promotion des progrès au Sabah, Malaisie Point de presse Rapport (en anglais)
	Uganda Securing Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Conservation: a Review of South West Uganda Press briefing Report	Uganda Garantizando los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en la conservación: un estudio del sudoeste de Uganda Documento de prensa Informe (en inglés)	Ouganda Sauvegarder les droits des peuples autochtones dans le cadre de la conservation : l'exemple du Sud-Ouest de l'Ouganda Point de presse Rapport (en anglais)
	Philippines Philippine Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas: Review of Policy and Implementations Press briefing to follow Report	Documento de prensa disponible en breve Informe (en inglés)	Point de presse à suivre Rapport (en anglais)