Supporting Indigenous Peoples to Advance Target 3+: Insights from CBD COP16

Voices from the Field  

Ms Nittaya (Mee) Earkanna, Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture (IMPECT), from Thailand highlighted their advocacy efforts, stating, “W We are exploring how the three conservation pathways provided by Target 3 can recognise and support our indigenous and community conservation practices in our local and national contexts. Key elements include Indigenous Protected Areas, frameworks for recognizing traditional territories, and rights to natural resources managed according to traditional practice and wisdom.” Her remarks emphasised the importance of tailoring conservation approaches to local contexts while respecting traditional knowledge.   

Mr Toshao (Chief) Danny Murananao, representative of the South Rupununi District Council, Guyana, shared a powerful perspective, emphasizing the positive potential that  Target 3 provides for mutual progress. “Target 3 is an opportunity for win-win outcomes for us and the government, because the government can advance their progress on the Target through recognition and respect of our land rights,” he stated. His remarks underscored how recognising Indigenous governance, and traditional practices can align with global conservation goals.   

Mr Ricardo Camilo Niño Izquierdo, Technical Secretary of the National Commission  of Indigenous Territories (CNTI), Colombia spoke on the intersection of legal recognition of indigenous territories and operationalizing conservation strategies. He explained, “What we see in Target 3 is a possibility of making concrete the category of Indigenous lands, which must be legally binding and accompanied by Indigenous-led monitoring and reporting systems, based on indicators made by the people themselves.” This underscores the need for actionable frameworks that prioritize Indigenous-led solutions.   

Mr Urias Goll, Deputy Chief of Party of the Conservation Works Activity from Liberia, highlighted the transformative potential of Liberia’s Land Rights Act of 2018, emphasizing its role in empowering communities to actively participate in conservation. “Liberia's Land Rights Act of 2018 is a transformative tool that empowers communities to take ownership of their lands, making them key players in achieving our conservation goals," he stated. Goll emphasized that community forests serve dual purposes: preserving biodiversity and securing livelihoods, underscoring the need to position local communities at the forefront of decision-making in biodiversity strategies. 

Ms  Haja Jamiatu K. Watson, Paramount Chief of Porkpa Chiefdom (Grand Cape Mount County) , a forest edge community of the Gola Forest National Park in Liberia, underscored the intrinsic link between community ownership, sustainable livelihoods, and conservation goals. She stated, “Now our forest belongs to us and is available to us for our use. We depend on it for our livelihoods. If the government wants to count this land towards their 30% target, they also need to support our livelihoods.” Chief Jamiatu Watson emphasised the role of Indigenous stewardship in safeguarding forests for future generations, highlighting the community’s commitment to protecting their lands while calling for equitable support from the government. 

Reflections on OECMs  

Ms Lucia Ruiz Bustos, Director of Conservation Areas at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) US, reflected on the OECM LAC dialogue recently hosted in Lima, Peru as a three-day journey during which we discussed concerns, sought solutions, and thought about how we can move forward, even where we do not necessarily agree. Ms Ruiz remarked, “We developed a collaborative agenda on OECMs… It requires sustained participation in a process where communities have the power to decide whether and how to be recognised, including whether this is through OECMs or other pathways.” Her insights emphasised the need for a participatory approach that empowers communities in decision-making processes.   

Key Takeaways    

The event reaffirmed the centrality of IPs and LCs in achieving Target 3 and advancing equitable conservation. It highlighted the importance of recognizing Indigenous territories, addressing systemic challenges, and fostering collaborative approaches that ensure Indigenous Peoples and local communities are at the forefront of conservation efforts.   

To truly support Indigenous-led conservation, policies and funding mechanisms must prioritise their rights and self-determined strategies. As Mr Niño emphasised, conservation success hinges on frameworks that respect Indigenous governance and enable meaningful participation in biodiversity decision-making and management.   

The event concluded with a collective commitment to amplify Indigenous and local voices and integrate their leadership into global biodiversity conservation strategies. Through events like these, the international community is reminded of the indispensable role IPs and LCs play in achieving sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes.   

Find out more about the Conservation Pathways project

Watch the full recording of the event