Side Event

Critical view on the implementation of the Akwé: Kon Guidelines - The example of the Hammastunturi wilderness area in the Saami homeland in Finland.

Organizer
The Saami Parliament

Date and Time
9 October 2013 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Eighth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Finland is the first country to apply Akwé: Kon guidelines in practice. The presentation will take a critical look on the strengths and weaknesses of the Akwé: Kon guidelines based on lessons learned from the Finnish Hammastunturi wilderness area. We will discuss the role the Akwe: Kon guidelines have had in the promotion and preservation of the Saami traditional knowledge and practices and how supporting the Saami participation in Finnish land use planning have contributed to maintaining sustainable land use practices. The presentation will also deal with the possible problems connected to the voluntariness of the application of the Akwé: Kon guidelines.