Major Group: Indigenous peoples, Women and NGOs
Thank you co-chair.
My name is Lucy Mulenkei, from Indigenous Information Network, and
I am speaking on behalf of a cluster consisting of the major groups of
indigenous peoples, Women and NGOs
Focus area 17- Forest, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
For us forests are one of the most important ecosystems on which millions
of forest dwelling people depend, many of them indigenous women, men
and hunter gathers scatters in different regions around the Globe. We
therefore appreciate the fact that you recognize Indigenous peoples vital
role on sustainable development and much welcome your proposal for an
integrated goal on ecosystems conservation that includes forests, land-use,
and recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ role, on biodiversity conservation ,
sustainable use and Access and benefit sharing.
We disagree with some Member States who want to take forests out of this
focus area, and want to see forest purely as a monetary value and a random
collection of trees rather than, as ecosystems which sustain livelihoods, for
many indigenous peoples, women, and their local communities, but also as
the freshwater providers for many of the mega cities in this world.
Let me give 3 proposals for improvement of this focus area:
1) In addition to a stand-alone goal, and in order to halt biodiversity loss and
ecosystem degradation, we must promote the mainstreaming of biodiversity
into the development agenda and keep reminding ourselves that biodiversity
is not a problem to be solved, but rather an opportunity to help achieve our
social and economic goals.
2) This Goal area should specifically mention Indigenous territories and
Community Conserved Areas (ITCCA) as these area-based conservation
mechanisms are even more effective than protected areas, and provide far
more socio-economic and cultural benefits. We recommend you specifically
set targets for ITCCA protection - as they are under great threat from
extractive and infrastructure development.
3) Finally, we recommend that this area sets stronger targets for reversing
the negative drivers of forest loss. 80% of forest loss due to unsustainable
Agriculture including unsustainable livestock production - this includes the
soy monocultures for the meat we eat every day - as well as the large-scale
industrial bioenergy production - the mono-tree and other crop plantations
which are market as ‘green’ but are devastating because of landgrabbing,
displacement , chemical contamination and water extraction.
Thank you chair,
My name is Lucy Mulenkei, from Indigenous Information Network, and
I am speaking on behalf of a cluster consisting of the major groups of
indigenous peoples, Women and NGOs
Focus area 17- Forest, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
For us forests are one of the most important ecosystems on which millions
of forest dwelling people depend, many of them indigenous women, men
and hunter gathers scatters in different regions around the Globe. We
therefore appreciate the fact that you recognize Indigenous peoples vital
role on sustainable development and much welcome your proposal for an
integrated goal on ecosystems conservation that includes forests, land-use,
and recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ role, on biodiversity conservation ,
sustainable use and Access and benefit sharing.
We disagree with some Member States who want to take forests out of this
focus area, and want to see forest purely as a monetary value and a random
collection of trees rather than, as ecosystems which sustain livelihoods, for
many indigenous peoples, women, and their local communities, but also as
the freshwater providers for many of the mega cities in this world.
Let me give 3 proposals for improvement of this focus area:
1) In addition to a stand-alone goal, and in order to halt biodiversity loss and
ecosystem degradation, we must promote the mainstreaming of biodiversity
into the development agenda and keep reminding ourselves that biodiversity
is not a problem to be solved, but rather an opportunity to help achieve our
social and economic goals.
2) This Goal area should specifically mention Indigenous territories and
Community Conserved Areas (ITCCA) as these area-based conservation
mechanisms are even more effective than protected areas, and provide far
more socio-economic and cultural benefits. We recommend you specifically
set targets for ITCCA protection - as they are under great threat from
extractive and infrastructure development.
3) Finally, we recommend that this area sets stronger targets for reversing
the negative drivers of forest loss. 80% of forest loss due to unsustainable
Agriculture including unsustainable livestock production - this includes the
soy monocultures for the meat we eat every day - as well as the large-scale
industrial bioenergy production - the mono-tree and other crop plantations
which are market as ‘green’ but are devastating because of landgrabbing,
displacement , chemical contamination and water extraction.
Thank you chair,