Notification 2012-131

Dear Madam/Sir, As you may know, Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ conserved territories and areas (ICCAs) provide multiple ecological, cultural and biodiversity values, contributing greatly to food and water security, other ecosystem services and towards reaching several Aichi Targets and implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. In its decision IX/18 paragraph 6 (a), the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) invited Parties to improve and, where necessary, diversify and strengthen protected-area governance types, including recognizing and taking into account, where appropriate, indigenous and local communities (ILCs). In paragraph 6 (b) of the same decision, the COP invited Parties to recognize the contribution of, where appropriate, ICCAs within the national protected area system through acknowledgement in national legislation or other effective means. Further, in paragraph 31 (b) of decision X/31, the COP invited Parties to recognize the role of ICCAs in biodiversity conservation, collaborative management and diversification of governance types. Finally, in decision X/43, the COP initiated a component of work on customary sustainable use (CSU) of biodiversity. ICCAs play a critical role in ensuring access and respecting rights to CSU and facilitating inter-generational communication of traditional environmental knowledge, innovations and practices. It is increasingly recognised that ICCAs can be the living embodiment of both Articles 8(j) and 10(c) of the Convention. In an effort to support implementation of these decisions and Articles, a one-day Colloquium on the role of ICCAs in achieving the Aichi Targets comprising a series of regional roundtable discussions will be co-hosted by the CBD Secretariat, the governments of Brazil, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Senegal and South Africa, the ICCA Consortium, the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and Conservation International. The Colloquium will be held on the margins of the eleventh meeting of the COP on 13 October 2012, in rooms 1.03 and 1.04 of the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, with the following objectives: • to understand the extent of ICCAs and their potential values and benefits; • to discuss the contribution of ICCAs toward reaching multiple Aichi Targets and implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; and • to foster discussion, and to share experiences, best practices and lessons learned of governments and ILCs in the recognition of ICCAs. A draft programme for the Colloquium based upon this study is attached. The results of a recent global study compiled by the ICCA Consortium, IUCN-TILCEPA, Natural Justice and Kalpavriksh, and published by the Secretariat under the CBD Technical Series, will be presented in a keynote address. Other speakers include representatives and experts from Parties, international organizations, indigenous and local communities, and NGOs. I am very pleased to invite Parties, other governments, indigenous and local community organisations, non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, civil society and academia, that are involved in implementation of ICCAs to attend this event. Spanish interpretation will be provided. As space is limited and lunch will be arranged, the Secretariat will register a list of participants to attend this event. Kindly note that registration to COP 11 is a pre-requisite to have access to the venue and to attend this event. If you are registered to attend COP 11 please email your request to participate in this event including your full name, affiliation and email address to secretariat@cbd.int by 3 October 2012 indicating “ICCA Colloquium” in the subject line. Please refer to the COP 11 website (http://www.cbd.int/cop11) if you are not registered to attend COP 11. I look forward to receiving your early registrations to the Colloquium. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD Focal Points, PoWPA Focal Points, International Organizations, NGOs, and ILCs