Final Statement of IIFB

Closing Statement of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)
Ninth Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Bonn, Germany
May 30th, 2008

Mr. Chairman,
Honourable Ministers,
Executive Secretary of the CBD,
Distinguished delegates,
Indigenous brothers and sisters,

I am reading this closing statement on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished delegates, COP 9 takes place at a time when Mother Earth is sending signals of her distress. The international community is facing multiple global crises caused by the impacts of climate change.

We thank the Parties that have supported our proposals. However, we regret that some key issues that concern Indigenous Peoples have not been adequately addressed.

In this regard, we request that Parties, donors and NGOs implement the CBD in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous children and youth make up more than 50% of the indigenous population worldwide and indigenous women are food producers, providers and guardians of the genetic resources of the food crops for future generations. We request that the Parties implement the Work Plan on Gender as a priority and allocate resources for ensuring the full and effective participation and capacity building of indigenous women and youth.

We urge the Parties to give priority under Article 8(j) to the implementation of regimes of sui generis protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices.

For us, it is fundamental that the Parties guarantee that Indigenous Peoples’ rights to our traditional knowledge, innovations and practices related to genetic resources, products and derivatives, be a legally binding element of any future regime on ABS

Increased support is required for capacity building of Indigenous Peoples for holding regional, sub-regional and national workshops to contribute to all CBD processes.

Recognizing the negative impacts caused by the establishment and expansion of land or marine Protected Areas in our territories, we reaffirm our position that we will not accept any Protected Areas until our rights are fully recognized and respected. We call on parties, the Executive Secretary, NGOs and donors to convene a series of regional workshops with our full and effective participation to review the implementation of the Program of Work on Protected Areas to prepare for the in-depth review at COP 10.

We reject genetically modified seeds, biofuels, marine fertilization experiments, monoculture plantations and other climate change mitigation and adaptation models because they destroy our lands, territories and resources and cause the displacement and forced relocation of our peoples. We reiterate our call for a moratorium on genetically modified trees. We demand the evaluation of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.

The real test will be how the decisions of this COP are implemented at the local level with the full implementation of our rights and how they affect the daily lives of our people, and whether they give hope to our peoples and children. We do not want life to be turned into a commodity and sold. We want biodiversity to be protected.

In conclusion, Mr. Chair, we, the Indigenous Peoples of the world request that all Parties, delegates and agencies go beyond rhetoric and take action. The protection of biodiversity is a challenge for all of us because our very survival and the survival of future generations depends on our ability to halt capitalist driven exploitation of biodiversity.

We thank the governments, especially the Government of Germany for hosting Indigenous Peoples in this COP.

Mr. Chair, you probably heard the thunder storms last night. Could it be that the Earth and Sky are protesting some of the decisions taken at this COP?

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

(Spanish Version)

Declaración de clausura del foro internacional indígena sobre Biodiversidad (FIIB)
Novena Conferencia de las partes del Convenio sobre la diversidad Biológica
Bonn, Alemania
30 de mayo de 2008

Sr. Presidente
Honorables Ministros
Secretario Ejecutivo del CDB
Distinguidos delegados
Hermanos y hermanas indígenas

Presento esta declaración de clausura en nombre del Foro Internacional Indígena sobre Biodiversidad.

Sr. Presidente y distinguidos delegados, mientras la COP9 se celebra la Madre Tierra nos da señales continuas de su pesar. La comunidad mundial se enfrenta a muchas crisis globales por los impactos del cambio climático.

Agradecemos a las Partes que han apoyado nuestras propuestas. Pero lamentamos que algunos temas clave que afectan a los Pueblos Indígenas no se han tratado de manera adecuada.
En este sentido solicitamos a las Partes, Donantes y ONGs que implementen la CDB en forma consistente con la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas.

La juventud y niñez indígena representa más del 50% de la población indígena en el mundo y las mujeres indígenas son productoras de alimentos, proveedoras y guardianas de los recursos genéticos de los cultivos alimentarios para las generaciones futuras. Solicitamos que las partes implementen el Plan de Acción de Genero como una prioridad y designar recursos para asegurar la participación plena y efectiva y el fomento de capacidad de las mujeres y jóvenes indígenas.
Instamos a las Partes que prioricen la implementación del Régimen Sui Generis de Protección de los conocimientos tradicionales, innovaciones y practicas bajo el Articulo 8J.

Consideramos que es fundamental que las Partes garanticen nuestros derechos como Pueblos Indígenas sobre nuestros conocimientos tradicionales, innovaciones y prácticas relacionados a los recursos genéticos, sus productos y derivados, como elemento vinculante del futuro Régimen de ABS

Necesitamos aumentar el apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas para formación de capacidad, realización de talleres, regionales, nacionales y sub-regionales con objetivo de contribuir en todos los procesos de CDB.

Reconociendo que el establecimiento y la expansión de las áreas protegidas de tierra firme y marinas en nuestros territorios ha causado impactos negativos. Reafirmamos nuestra posición que no aceptaremos cualquier área protegida hasta que nuestros derechos están plenamente reconocidos y respetados. Apoyamos el llamado a las partes, el secretario ejecutivo, las ONGs y donantes a convocar a una serie de talleres para revisar la implementación del Programa de Trabajo para preparar para la revisión a fondo en la COP10 con nuestra participación plena y efectiva.

Rechazamos las semillas transgénicas, los biocombustibles, los experimentos de fertilización marina, plantaciones de monocultivo y otros modelos de mitigación y adaptación del cambio climatico, porque destruyen nuestras tierras, territorios y recursos y causan el desplazamiento y reubicación forzada de nuestros pueblos. Reiteramos nuestro llamado por una moratoria sobre los árboles genéticamente modificados.

Exigimos la evaluación de las políticas de mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático.
El gran reto será la implementación a nivel comunitario de las decisiones de esta COP y la implementación de nuestros derechos plenamente, eso va a cambiar la vida cotidiana de nuestra gente y dará esperanza a nuestros pueblos y niños. No queremos que se convierta la vida en mercancía que se vende, sino que se protege la biodiversidad.

En conclusión, Sr. Presidente, nosotros, los pueblos indígenas del mundo solicitamos a todas las partes, delegados, agencias a ir mas allá de la retorica y actuar. La protección de la biodiversidad es un reto para todos nosotros porque nuestra supervivencia y las generaciones futuras dependerán de nuestra capacidad a detener su explotación impulsado por el capitalismo
Agradecemos el apoyo de los gobiernos, especialmente al gobierno de Alemania por la acogida a los Pueblos Indígenas durante esta COP.

Probablemente anoche ustedes escucharon la tempestad de truenos. ¿Puede ser que la Tierra y el Cielo están protestando por algunas de las decisiones tomadas por esta COP?

Gracias, Sr. Presidente.

Indigenous Youth and Biodiversity Closing Statement

(Spanish Version)
Juventud Indígena y la Biodiversidad
Declaración de Clausura COP9

Señor Presidente,

En representación de la juventud indigena de Rusia, Latinoamérica, África, el Pacífico, el Ártico, Asia y Norteamérica, hemos dado seguimiento y participando en el proceso del CDB a nivel local, nacional e internacional y hoy queremos compartir nuestra perspectiva con los distinguidos delegados y nuestros hermanos y hermanas indígenas.

La juventud y niñez indígena representa más del 50% de la población indígena en el mundo, somos muchos y tenemos mucho para ofrecer, como nuestra perspectiva joven sobre los asuntos actuales, mucha energía y un gran compromiso por nuestro ambiente.

Entendemos la importancia de los asuntos que se negocian y se discuten aquí en Bonn, durante la COP 9 y estamos preocupados del futuro de nuestros pueblos y de la Madre Tierra con cuestiones como el cambio climático, la deforestación, la introducción de OGM, la périda del conocimiento tradicional, la desertificación y muchos otros temas de gran relevancia.

Estamos preocupados con la falta de una mayor participación, plena y efectiva de la juventud indígena en las discusiones y procesos de toma de decisión. Somos un actor muy importante dentro del proceso, sin embargo estamos marginados del mismo. Hacemos un llamado a las Partes y a la Secretaría del CDB para que hagan este proceso verdaderamente representativo, ya que somos nosotros quienes vamos a heredar los resultados de lo que se negocia en el Convenio y además somos los que vivimos y viviremos en las tierras y territorios ancestrales de los Pueblos Indígenas.

Por estas razones, entre otras, pedimos su apoyo para fortalecer la Red de Juventud Indígena sobre la Biodiversidad. Hay necesidad de enfocar este proceso a la juventud mediante talleres locales, regionales e internacionales para lograr nuestra plena y efectiva participación en el proceso del CDB y aún más importante, en su implementación.

La juventud indígena da la bienvenida a la Declaración de la ONU sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y hacemos un llamado a la Secretaría y a las Partes que se unan a nosotros en esta iniciativa.

Finalmente, queremos compartir con ustedes the visión del pueblo de una de nuestras compañeras. Su pueblo, Selkup, de Siberia en Rusia tradicionalmente recuerda 13 generaciones atrás y planifican tomando en cuenta las próximas 13 generaciones. Deberíamos tomar este ejemplo, de un pueblo indígena para planificar un futuro sostenible y cambiemos la dirección en la cual nos estamos dirigiendo.

Muchas gracias señor Presidente

(English Version)

Indigenous Youth and Biodiversity
COP 9 closing statement

Mr. Chair,
On behalf of the indigenous youth from Russia, Latin America, Africa, Pacific, Arctic, Asia, North America, we have been following and participating in the CBD process at the local, regional and international level and today we wish to share our perspectives with the distinguished delegates and our indigenous brothers and sisters

Indigenous youth and children represent more than 50% of the world’s aboriginal population. We are too many and have a lot to offer, suсh as our young perspective on current issues, lots of energy and a great commitment to our environment.
We understand the importance of the issues being negotiated and discussed here in Bonn during COP9 and we are concerned about the future of our peoples and Mother Earth in regards to issues such as climate change, deforestation, introduction of GMO, loss of traditional knowledge, desertification and a lot of other significant issues.

We are concerned about the lack of full and effective participation of indigenous youth in the discussion and decision making processes, the youth being a key stakeholder, we are marginalized from this process. We call upon the Parties and the CBD secretariat to make this process really representative as we are the ones who will inherit the outcomes of the negotiations and we are the ones who live and will live on the ancestral lands and territories of Indigenous Peoples.

For these reasons we request your support for strengthening the Indigenous Youth Network on Biodiversity.. This process needs to focus on youth, through local, regional and international workshops to accomplish our full and effective participation in the CBD Process, and more important in the implementation of the Convention back at home.

Indigenous youth welcomes the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, we call upon the Parties and the Secretariat to join us in this initiative.

Finally, we wish to share with you the vision of the people of one of our sister. Her people, Selkup people, of Russian Siberia traditionally remember 13 generations back and they plan ahead for the future 13 generations. We should take the examples of indigenous peoples’ cultures on sustainable planning of future and change the direction in which we are heading.

Thank you Mr. Chair

Indigenous Voices Bulletin 7

Host Government Delegates Support IPs Struggle to Save Biodiversity

Contribute by Ibrahim NJOBDI

The Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Minister of Environment Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Government of Germany express the will to assist Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ILC) struggle to protect Biodiversity. The Ministers support the ILC struggles in two separate meetings with the representatives of ILC at Maritim Hotel, Bonn yesterday.

The Ministers promised to lobby the government and other stakeholders and consider the problems in policy making. Development Cooperation Terms with the governments of Developing Countries will be re-emphasis, according to the Ministers.

ILC representatives briefed the Ministers on the ground alarming loss of biodiversity and the emanating problems. The Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development promises to consider supporting ILC’s seminars and workshops to restitute CBD process and implementation.

She says, “We can’t deny governments to allow extractive industries but their role is to make sure a transparent process.”

The Minister supports Britain’s position to include the issue of ‘Climate Change’ as agenda in the United Nations’ Security Council. She further stresses that agro-fuels has no place at this time of food crisis. She adds that the production of food is to feed millions of hungry people in the world and not for machines and engines.

The Minister of Environment Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety pointed out that the Convention on Biological Diversity is the only international binding instrument where ILC exercise their rights and urges the ILC to utilize this opportunity to maximum, in his response to the call of the ILC to insure the inclusion of ILC in environmental projects or make a precondition for bilateral aid to governments.

He, however, regretted those sixteen years after its signing, the Convention’s full implementation is still a dream. The Minister opined that biodiversity will be protected if the overuse of nature is made more expensive than saving it and every individual have a moral responsibility to the conservation of biodiversity.

The Informal Contact Group on Article 8(j) has Finally Concluded

Contribute by Gam Shimray

The IIFB since its preparatory days in COP9 was skeptical of the negotiations that were to follow at the CBD. This has to do with the experience and outcome of the last Working Group on Art. 8(j). Both the Parties and the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) had complained of the unproductive meeting of the above but had different reasons to their justifications. IPs reasoned that it is because of ‘lack of political will’ and the politics of negotiation at the ABS on the International Regime spilled into the AHWG on 8(j), but of course, Parties have totally a different explanation to this. This was worrisome to the IIFB for it meant that the negotiations would not take place without prejudice.

Given this background, the IIFB and the Thematic Working Group on Art. 8(j) had three primary objectives at the COP9 negotiations. First, it was to secure the future work of 8(j) so that the AHWG continues and is not abundant. Secondly, it was to secure the important tasks of 8(j) for the next AHWG with a clear objective. Thirdly, it was to revitalize and bring back the foundational role that 8(j) plays in the participation of IPs at CBD and its crucial role in other thematic areas, especially on TK related negotiation within the International Regime.

As the negotiation began, it was not surprising that the IIFB’s 8(j) group were up against closed minds. But the IIFB were not ready to just cave-in without a fight. There was a long recess after the second Informal Group. However, it was not a break for any of the IIFB members. Lobby and reasoning with the Governments on one to one basis were pursued for days before the third Informal Group was reconvened. Positions remained stiff and were offered worthless words of compromises. However, the Latin American Governments came to the rescue. They stood by the IIFB and supported the voices of the IPs firmly. It was in this context that Governments began to bend and agreed to negotiate on compromised text and positions in a meaningful manner. What followed was convening of Friends of the Chair and bilateral negotiations. When flexibility became the basis of the negotiations, the Co-chairs were able to find the difficult path to ‘consensuses. The Informal Group was able to conclude in its fourth meeting with a document that was acceptable to the IPs as well.

The above objectives outlined by the IIFB finally seem to be secured to some extend. Further, the threat that convening of the future AHWG 8(j) meeting would be taken out of the core budget of the CBD has been dealt with, and now it remains as it was. With its funding secured and many tasks of priority being identified, it is implicit that both the IPs and Governments have plenty of serious homework to do for the realization of the decisions that would be adopted sometime tomorrow at the plenary.

IIFB statement on Access and Benefit Sharing

Statement of IIFB on Access and Benefit Sharing for COP 9

Thank you Mr. Co-Chairs,

For allowing the IIFB to address the issue of ABS, which – as you are aware – is of great relevance to indigenous peoples. A substantial part of the subject matter being discussed originates from indigenous territories. We reaffirm our right to GR and associated TK in accordance with our right to self-determination. The international regime will directly impact on indigenous peoples’ lives. Key decisions on the road map forward as well as on material issues can be expected to be made at COP 9. Consequently, we humbly call on you Mr. Co-Chairs – as you have done in previous ABS WGs – to allow for the effective participation of indigenous peoples in all negotiations during this conference, including in informal consultation groups, contact groups and other informal settings, in accordance with Decisions VII/19 D and VIII/5 C.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

The IIFB is encouraged by the progress made at ABS WG 6, and we stand ready to accelerate the negotiations on an international regime in order to finalize the deliberations by 2010, based on the Annex coming out of the ABS WG 6. We do believe that the Annex can serve as a basis for further discussions. That said, certain elements are not yet reflected in the Annex which are essential in order to enable indigenous peoples to support the International Regime. Indigenous peoples are deeply concerned that lately, discussions on our rights and interests have been restricted solely to the question of TK. This approach fails to recognize that TK, and indigenous rights, are cross cutting issues relevant to all aspects of the ABS-regime due to the interrelation between TK and GR.

- We find Section D “Traditional Knowledge” in the “Main Components” part promising, as we see emerging consensus that indigenous peoples’ TK can only be accessed subject to our FPIC in accordance with our legal systems and with respect for our rights. However, any international regime must, to be acceptable to indigenous peoples, also recognize our rights to genetic resources.

- In the same vein, we reiterate that any reference in the international regime to state sovereignty over natural resources must include a confirmation that the exercise of state sovereignty is subject to human rights of indigenous peoples pertaining to GR and TK.

- Both Section A “Benefit Sharing” and Section B “Access” in the Main Components lack references to the FPIC of indigenous peoples. Any international regime must include language that affirms that indigenous peoples GR and TK can only be accessed after FPIC of indigenous peoples has been obtained, and that only then can benefit-sharing arrangements occur.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

Indigenous peoples participate in the ABS-process with the ambition that agreement will be reached on a strong and adequate international regime, respecting and ensuring compliance with the minimum standards just mentioned as also enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other relevant human rights standards. As a consequence of these developments within international law, the international regime must also distinguish between indigenous peoples and local communities, and can no longer use the collective and term indigenous and local communities, which is now incorrect under international law. We are committed to cooperate with you Mr. Co-Chairs to the best of our ability, to meet that end.

Thank you.

IWBN statement for COP 9

Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network [IWBN] Statement
For COP 9, Bonn Germany
May 28, 2008
Indigenous women are food producers, providers and guardians of the gene pools of food crops for future generations. In our daily interaction with nature, we have developed a profound understanding of different ecosystems. Keeping the balance has been our way of life. Therefore, Empowering Indigenous women is an important prerequisite for environmental and poverty eradication.
However, as indigenous women, we are continually being marginalized at local, national, regional and international levels. Parties at this COP meeting have contributed to this marginalization by failing to support the Gender Plan of Action. We see the formalization of this document as instrumental to the full and effective participation of women, especially indigenous women, to all aspects and work of the CBD.
We want to remind parties that they have established in the preambular to the CBD, the “vital role that women play in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and affirming the need for full participation of women at all levels of policy making and implementation for biological diversity conservation”.
Therefore, Indigenous women call on parties to take note and to act on the following items:
That Climate Change is a serious threat for indigenous women’s food security and food sovereignty. We want parties to say no to false solutions to climate change such as REDD and CDM.
· Indigenous women do not want the establishment of any new national protected areas on indigenous lands and territories until our lands, territories and resources are fully recognized and respected. We call on parties to stop the encroachment of protected areas into our territories.
· Indigenous women experience marginalization in terms of heavy workload in harsh and impoverished situation. We want parties to put the Gender Plan of Action as a priority and allocate resources for its implementation and to ensure the full and effective participation and capacity building of indigenous women.
· We reiterate that Traditional Knowledge is fundamental to indigenous women and to the success of the Convention. We strongly support the renewed focus on the completion of concrete items such as the elements of sui generis systems, so that TK is protected and transmitted to our children.
· With the entry of development projects such as: mining; mega dams; logging and gas pipelines, they result in conflicts, such as prostitution; militarization; HIV Aids; rape; domestic violence; forced migration and drug addiction that directly affect women and biodiversity. We therefore, demand parties that for any development projects undertaken on our territories, free and prior informed consent must be obtained.
Finally, indigenous women believe in biodiversity use, protection and conservation for the people by the people. Thus, it is crucial that the Gender Plan of Action is adopted by parties and treated as a priority and resources are allocated for its implementation.