Side Event
Conservation and sustainable use strategy in indigenous peoples lands
Organizer
ministry of the environment
Date and Time
24 March 2006 18:30 - 20:15
Brazil has nearly 12% of its territory protected as Indigenous Peoples lands. It has been framed as protected thanks to its high potential for the promotion of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Notwithstanding this high profile of environmental concern, the management of Indigenous Peoples lands has been under the supervision of the Indigenous National Foundation- FUNAI, and not of the Brazilian Environmental Ministry. However, recognizing this potential and also with the aim of reaching the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, Brazil has been investing in officials cooperative actions in order to enhance the Indigenous Peoples participation in the conservation of biodiversity. With such aim, among other activities, Brazil has been submitted to the Global Environmental Facility-GEF a project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Indigenous Peoples Lands, which has the goal of considering these territories as protected areas, through the support of Indigenous Peoples initiatives of environmental conservation and recuperation, valorizing traditional knowledge, as well as innovations and practices and the enhancement of Indigenous Peoples self care of biodiversity on the territories they occupy. Many countries have developed strategies or implement projects/programs on this issues. Among them we have identified that Colombia and Australia have lessons that should be shared. To discuss then learning lessons about conservation and sustainable use strategy in Indigenous Peoples lands, both countries will be invited to share the event with Brazil.