Decision COP 14/15

Recalling decision XII/3, in which the Conference of the Parties adopted the voluntary guidelines on safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms,

1. Highlights with appreciation the convergence that is emerging between the existing processes for developing and/or improving safeguard systems of the financing mechanisms and the Convention’s voluntary guidelines on safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms, and encourages all such processes to further refer to the guidelines in order to create greater convergence;

2. Recognizes the importance of tenure over traditional territories of indigenous peoples and local communities for their survival and ways of life, in line with international obligations and frameworks, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,1 and instruments, decisions and guidelines of the Convention on Biological Diversity, including with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in accordance with national legislation;

3. Also recognizes the importance of consultations and cooperation with indigenous peoples and local communities through their own representative institutions, as appropriate, in order to obtain their free prior informed consent, prior informed consent or approval and involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities, in accordance with national processes, policies and legislation, as appropriate;

4. Further recognizes the importance for some Parties of tenure of indigenous peoples and local communities over land and waters, and that holistic, solid safeguards backed by transparent accountability and constant vigilance are therefore required for those Parties, in accordance with national process, polices, and legislation, as appropriate;

5. Takes note, in particular, of the processes undertaken by the operating entities of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to design, establish and apply safeguard systems that would cover all climate-related financing under their responsibility;

6. Welcomes, in particular, the Global Environment Facility’s process to review and upgrade its environmental and social safeguards and the related systems of its agencies, as well as its guidance to advance gender in its new gender implementation strategy, noting that the results will be applicable to all projects funded by the Facility, and invites the Facility to inform the Conference of the Parties about how it is taking into account the Convention’s voluntary guidelines on safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms in its important process;

7. Urges Parties, other stakeholder organizations and other institutions to continue using the Convention’s voluntary guidelines on safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms in designing and operating their financing mechanisms and in setting up their safeguard systems, making use, as appropriate, of the checklist contained in the annex to the present decision;

8. Invites Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, other stakeholder organizations and other institutions to contribute views on experiences, opportunities and options to advance the application of the Convention’s voluntary guidelines on safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms to the design and operation of biodiversity financing mechanisms;

9. Requests the Executive Secretary to compile further information on the use and value of the Convention’s voluntary guidelines on safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms and other relevant guidance under the Convention by Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, other stakeholder organizations and international institutions in relation to the development and application of relevant safeguard systems;

10. Also requests the Executive Secretary to include, for consideration as a possible element of work in the fully integrated programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions within the post-2020 biodiversity framework, the development of a post-2020 specific safeguards framework on indigenous peoples and local communities under the Convention, based on principles, standards and guidelines adopted under the Convention, and addressing any additional gaps identified, including gender equality considerations, noting that an indicative list of possible elements and tasks will be developed for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting and by the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions at its eleventh meeting.