Policy Brief, September 2024
NEW: the Policy Brief was presented on 30 October at a side event organised during the COP16 on biodiversity in Cali, Colombia.
Authors:
– Carsten Bockemühl, Senior Advocacy Advisor (Africa), Misereor
– Priscilla Claeys, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR), Coventry University
– Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) Secretariat
– Karin Ulmer, Consultant
The role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in preserving biodiversity
Indigenous Peoples and local communities play an irreplaceable role in preserving and restoring biodiversity. Their unique knowledge systems, beliefs, and traditional practices – including the sustainable use of land, rotational grazing, and a deep spiritual connection to nature – have long contributed to the health of ecosystems. These practices are integral to maintaining ecological balance, with Indigenous Peoples preserving on average 80 per cent of biodiversity on our planet.
The threat of “green grabbing”
A significant threat to Indigenous and local communities’ right to land and biodiversity is “green grabbing,” a phenomenon where lands are taken under the guise of environmental conservation or climate change mitigation or adaptation. This includes land acquisitions for biocarbon sequestration, renewable energy projects, and ecotourism, among others. Alarmingly, over half of the minerals and metals critical for the green transition, such as lithium and cobalt, are located on Indigenous and local communities’ lands. Such activities often lead to the displacement of local communities and the degradation of the very ecosystems they aim to protect.
Respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to their land is crucial to halting biodiversity loss. This includes ensuring their control over decisions that impact their lands and livelihoods.
In addition, the growing interest in biodiversity offsetting, crediting, and related trading schemes is concerning. While these mechanisms aim to fund biodiversity protection, they are modeled after flawed carbon markets and outdated conservation approaches. Instead of redirecting harmful subsidies from industries like fossil fuels and industrial agriculture, these schemes commodify nature, leading to land grabbing and greenwashing. This is not a viable solution for true biodiversity protection.
Recommendations for the EU and its member states
The document concludes with recommendations for the EU and its member states to ensure that they protect the human rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and allow them to continue to preserve biodiversity,
This Policy Brief is supported by the following organisations:
Contacts:
– Emmanuel Yap, Food & Land Officer, CIDSE (cidse(at)cidse.org)
– Priscilla Claeys, Associate Professor, CAWR (ac4203(at)coventry.ac.uk)
– Kirubel Teshome, Communications Officer, AFSA (kirubel.tadele(at)afsafrica.org)
Additional reading:
- “EU should ensure biodiversity conservation funding respects indigenous peoples rights”, Joint press release, 12 September 2024
- A Maasai Conservation Vision, The Maasai International Solidarity alliance (MISA), July 2024. Summary
Cover photo: Maasai community meeting in northern Tanzania to address land conflict.
Credit: Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT)