IPs Disappointed at “Worst Negotiations”: A Critical Look at COP 9 CBD at Midway Mark
Contribution by Jannie Lasimbang, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Presented at Press Conference by IIFB and NGO Focal Point COP9
Indigenous Peoples have come to COP9 with an open mind, but also with some hope that hearing and understanding the many injustices suffered as a result of nature conservation would forge partnerships with governments and conservationists to correct the situation. However, we have been very disappointed on how the week has progressed.
· Worst COP Negotiations for the IIFB
Indigenous Peoples have been actively participating in the CBD since COP2, and under the umbrella of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) since COP5 formally recognized it in 2000. But negotiation efforts this week are assessed by indigenous peoples as the worst so far. Even decisions on traditional knowledge to implement Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, which forms the pillar in recognizing indigenous peoples’ roles in biodiversity conservation, fell apart.
· Veto Powers
Participation of indigenous peoples at this COP has been really limited by the rule that at least one Party has to support any text proposed by organizations. In Contact Groups and Friends of the Chair, deletions of proposed texts so fundamental to our lives simply because it did not get a single support from any government is like a stab straight to our hearts. Even if there were support from a number of governments, the so called “consensus” decision-making applied by the CBD has never before been so damaging. Governments who have the most uncompromising voice, have large delegations and are English speakers, like Canada, New Zealand, and even the EU which supported indigenous rights in previous meetings, now veto decisions in many Contact Groups.
· Poisoned Minds
Texts of key decisions addressing critical issues for indigenous peoples such as the alienation of indigenous territories for more marine and terrestrial protected areas, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies including genetically engineered tree plantations, jetropa or oil palm plantations for agrofuels, ocean fertilizations, or the recognition and protection of traditional knowledge and resources as well as customary sustainable use, governance systems, trans-boundary water pollution are either immediately deleted or currently so weak, it is doubtful any Party will take actually pay attention to these decisions, let alone implement them. The energies and attention of Parties are sadly swallowed by issues related to access of resources and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
· A Ray of Hope and Assertion of Rights
The only ray of hope of this process is mention of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in decisions or preambles (Protected Areas, Forest, Marine and Coastal). Indigenous Peoples will also continue to assert rights over our territories and revitalize our own traditional system i.e. conservation by the people, of the people and by the people.
ILCs Receive CEPA Support From Uganda
Contribution by Chinkhanmuan Gualnam, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
Uganda state officials made intervention for the inclusion of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ILCs) in various activities on CEPA (communication, education, and public awareness) in yesterday session at Working Group II.
The African country called for support of the participation by Indigenous Peoples in the Agenda for Action for the period 2008/2010 and in the global initiative on CEPA.
Uganda intervened to include Indigenous representatives in the promotion of the CEPA toolkits, translation of information materials and regional training workshops. The inclusion of IPs in the promotion of partnership to transmit CEPA products in non-electronic formats to regions without web access was also included in the intervention statement.
Meanwhile, the IIFB Working Group on CEPA tried to intervene for the inclusion of the IPs in the program of work on CEPA, which was denied by the Chairperson. The IIFB delegates went to the extend of giving a note to the Chair seeking permission to intervene, however was not recognized to take the floor.
Discussion on CEPA continues among the Parties without intervention from the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, NGO’s, UN Agencies and other groups.
The intervention by Unganda on UNEP/CBD/COP/9/WG.2/CRP.12 paragraph 3, 4 and 5, for inclusion of the effective participation of the IPs, was adopted without opposition from the Parties at this time.
The Chairperson was obliged to the request of the IIFB for intervention at the end of the discussion session. Malia Nobrega (Hawaii) expressed appreciation to the states for the spirit of cooperation for the IPs on CEPA working group.
Report on Indigenous Delegates Lobbying and Meeting Activities over the Weekend
Contribution by Minnie Degawan, IPNC Coordinator
To facilitate the negotiation and lobbying at CBD, the indigenous delegates of IIFB joined the advisory committee of the CBD on CEPA (communication, education, and public awareness) this past weekend to hammer out the issues,
Through the deliberations on Saturday, we found out how far we still have to go in having indigenous issues getting integrated in this crucial part of the CBD. The participants were concentrating on how to have the issue of biodiversity become part of the national curricula, but the key message of Indigenous Peoples contribution to biodiversity conservation was completely ignored or had not been considered.
At that time, other Asian and Latin American IPs were attending other working groups, and they were pulled into the Agriculture Biodiversity group which was discussing bio-fuels.
We successfully lobbied Panama and Bolivia state officials to support the IP contribution on having the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be part of the decision and also the need to look into the negative impacts of biofuels in agri-biodiversity. We must recognize the efforts of the Latin American indigenous caucus in lobbying their governments.
Contribution by Jannie Lasimbang, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Presented at Press Conference by IIFB and NGO Focal Point COP9
Indigenous Peoples have come to COP9 with an open mind, but also with some hope that hearing and understanding the many injustices suffered as a result of nature conservation would forge partnerships with governments and conservationists to correct the situation. However, we have been very disappointed on how the week has progressed.
· Worst COP Negotiations for the IIFB
Indigenous Peoples have been actively participating in the CBD since COP2, and under the umbrella of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) since COP5 formally recognized it in 2000. But negotiation efforts this week are assessed by indigenous peoples as the worst so far. Even decisions on traditional knowledge to implement Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, which forms the pillar in recognizing indigenous peoples’ roles in biodiversity conservation, fell apart.
· Veto Powers
Participation of indigenous peoples at this COP has been really limited by the rule that at least one Party has to support any text proposed by organizations. In Contact Groups and Friends of the Chair, deletions of proposed texts so fundamental to our lives simply because it did not get a single support from any government is like a stab straight to our hearts. Even if there were support from a number of governments, the so called “consensus” decision-making applied by the CBD has never before been so damaging. Governments who have the most uncompromising voice, have large delegations and are English speakers, like Canada, New Zealand, and even the EU which supported indigenous rights in previous meetings, now veto decisions in many Contact Groups.
· Poisoned Minds
Texts of key decisions addressing critical issues for indigenous peoples such as the alienation of indigenous territories for more marine and terrestrial protected areas, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies including genetically engineered tree plantations, jetropa or oil palm plantations for agrofuels, ocean fertilizations, or the recognition and protection of traditional knowledge and resources as well as customary sustainable use, governance systems, trans-boundary water pollution are either immediately deleted or currently so weak, it is doubtful any Party will take actually pay attention to these decisions, let alone implement them. The energies and attention of Parties are sadly swallowed by issues related to access of resources and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
· A Ray of Hope and Assertion of Rights
The only ray of hope of this process is mention of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in decisions or preambles (Protected Areas, Forest, Marine and Coastal). Indigenous Peoples will also continue to assert rights over our territories and revitalize our own traditional system i.e. conservation by the people, of the people and by the people.
ILCs Receive CEPA Support From Uganda
Contribution by Chinkhanmuan Gualnam, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
Uganda state officials made intervention for the inclusion of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ILCs) in various activities on CEPA (communication, education, and public awareness) in yesterday session at Working Group II.
The African country called for support of the participation by Indigenous Peoples in the Agenda for Action for the period 2008/2010 and in the global initiative on CEPA.
Uganda intervened to include Indigenous representatives in the promotion of the CEPA toolkits, translation of information materials and regional training workshops. The inclusion of IPs in the promotion of partnership to transmit CEPA products in non-electronic formats to regions without web access was also included in the intervention statement.
Meanwhile, the IIFB Working Group on CEPA tried to intervene for the inclusion of the IPs in the program of work on CEPA, which was denied by the Chairperson. The IIFB delegates went to the extend of giving a note to the Chair seeking permission to intervene, however was not recognized to take the floor.
Discussion on CEPA continues among the Parties without intervention from the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, NGO’s, UN Agencies and other groups.
The intervention by Unganda on UNEP/CBD/COP/9/WG.2/CRP.12 paragraph 3, 4 and 5, for inclusion of the effective participation of the IPs, was adopted without opposition from the Parties at this time.
The Chairperson was obliged to the request of the IIFB for intervention at the end of the discussion session. Malia Nobrega (Hawaii) expressed appreciation to the states for the spirit of cooperation for the IPs on CEPA working group.
Report on Indigenous Delegates Lobbying and Meeting Activities over the Weekend
Contribution by Minnie Degawan, IPNC Coordinator
To facilitate the negotiation and lobbying at CBD, the indigenous delegates of IIFB joined the advisory committee of the CBD on CEPA (communication, education, and public awareness) this past weekend to hammer out the issues,
Through the deliberations on Saturday, we found out how far we still have to go in having indigenous issues getting integrated in this crucial part of the CBD. The participants were concentrating on how to have the issue of biodiversity become part of the national curricula, but the key message of Indigenous Peoples contribution to biodiversity conservation was completely ignored or had not been considered.
At that time, other Asian and Latin American IPs were attending other working groups, and they were pulled into the Agriculture Biodiversity group which was discussing bio-fuels.
We successfully lobbied Panama and Bolivia state officials to support the IP contribution on having the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be part of the decision and also the need to look into the negative impacts of biofuels in agri-biodiversity. We must recognize the efforts of the Latin American indigenous caucus in lobbying their governments.
The IIFB delegates spent with the other groups in sharing information on what is being done on the ground. Interestingly, this side event was attended by indigenous and local community delegates not attending the IIFB sessions. Most were brought in by the Equator Initiative who had their own event going but we felt that they should also be informed of the IIFB efforts.
Sunday was a demonstration on how effectively the State Parties can block the process. In the Contact Group for climate change, China and Brazil were amazingly adept at filibustering. They are against the proposal for an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on climate change and biodiversity. IPs have welcomed such a development as it will bring the discussions on climate change at the CBD where IPs have some space. The whole afternoon was an exercise in futility. IPOs gave concrete proposals but since there were no governments supporting our proposals, these were not taken on board.
Why was there no support? Simply because there were only around 6~7 government representatives present ! Norway and South Africa were sympathetic to our call but due to fatigue and the need to pass something, they kept quiet. Concretely we want the inclusion of "biodiversity based livelihoods" in what the group should be looking at in terms on what is affected by climate change. This is to ensure that socio-economic issues will also be considered, and not just biodiversity per se. We are also pushing for the inclusion of "impacts of climate change mitigation schemes" in what the expert group will look into.
The contact group also discussed ocean fertilization. We supported the call for a moratorium on such activities. The contact group did not manage to agree on anything and will continue to meet in the coming days.
Lessons learned during the weekend: we need to coordinate our efforts with IP delegates all the working/contact groups for easier coordination with the other regions.
