Description 

 

Overview 

 

Join us to explore innovative solutions, continued barriers, and pathways forward in advancing a human rights-based approach in implementation and monitoring of Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). We will share experiences, build on previous dialogues and publications, and create a space for continued exchange and learning. Our focus will include respect, protection, and fulfilment of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and of local communities in area-based conservation, together with recognition of their outsized contributions. With rights-holders and duty-bearers, we will explore approaches to advancing recognition and appropriate support for practices led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities,  in the context of Indigenous and traditional territories, and including ICCAs-territories of life, in line with SB8j Task 1.1 (and agenda item 5(a)). 

 

Background

 

The KM-GBF explicitly acknowledges Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ contributions “as custodians of biodiversity and as partners in its conservation, restoration and sustainable use” (para 7(a)) and commits to safeguarding their rights. Target 3 cannot be equitably or effectively achieved without recognizing, respecting, and sustaining those contributions, including through recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories, and “recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories”. However, a history, and in some contexts continuation, of ‘fortress conservation’ - or externally imposed area-based conservation approaches based on the exclusion of local rights-holders (Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, women and youth within these communities) - have had serious negative impacts on their human rights. 

 

Within this context, it is crucial that efforts to achieve 30% coverage in area-based conservation uphold commitments to advancing rights and equity, and to recognizing and supporting the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and of local communities, including as called for in Target 3, Targets 19 - 23, and Section C. Central to this is ensuring that Target 3 implementation is “understood, acted upon, implemented, reported and evaluated, consistent with… “ “a human rights-based approach, respecting, protecting, promoting and fulfilling human rights… acknowledg[ing] the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment” (Sec. C). These commitments must also be reflected in monitoring and reporting.  

 

Further, the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties adopted the Programme of Work on Article 8j , which tasks the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j to promote and support the conservation, protection and restoration of biological diversity led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities by developing guidelines, with the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, to strengthen the legal and policy framework for the implementation of Targets 2 and 3 of the Framework, including on Indigenous and traditional territories, to support the protection and restoration practices led by indigenous peoples and local communities.

 

The KM-GBF and Programme of Work on Article 8j present opportunities and responsibilities to improve area-based conservation policy and practice, including recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities' rights; self-determined collective actions; and knowledge, practice, and innovations, including governance and management systems. As Parties collectively prepare to report on the progress of the KM-GBF, and as SB8j develops related guidance, it is crucial to advance understanding and action for a human rights based approach to implementation of Target 3. 

 

Objectives & scope 

 

In this event, we aim to share experiences and support dialogue on the importance of, and actionable pathways towards, advancing human rights-based approaches in Target 3 implementation. 

 

The primary focus will be on approaches, issues and considerations that may be relevant for the forthcoming  guidance on Indigenous and traditional territories, to support protection practices led by indigenous peoples and local communities, in line with SB8j task 1.1. 

 

The scope will include: 

 

• Evidence of the nature and expanse of the contributions of collective action by Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, and youth, and diverse approaches used to secure rights to govern and conserve their territories, lands and waters

• Approaches through which rights-holders, duty-bearers, and all stakeholders can recognize, strengthen, support, and sustain this vital action; and  

• Continued barriers to HRBAs in area-based conservation, including associated rights violations, innovative solutions to address them, and measures to prevent future threats.

 

Format 

 

• Sharing experiences from diverse regions and scales, with a focus on stories from Indigenous Peoples and local communities.   

• Highlighting key principles, recommendations, and sources of guidance for advancing human rights in T3 implementation, drawing on, inter alia, the Core Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders and other resources co-developed by the HRBWG, its members, and rights-holder networks, as well as recent analyses of the contributions of Indigenous and traditional territories and how their recognition is being addressed in NBSAPs. 

• Reflections from representatives of both duty-bearers and rights-holders regarding how a human rights-based approach to Target 3 implementation can be meaningfully advanced within their scope of work / from their perspectives 

• Q & A 

 

The format aims to encourage active and meaningful exchange among attendees.