INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FORUM ON DIVERSITY

PROTECTED AREAS
nOTE: changes by IIFB highlighted in bold, and only focusing on paragraphs related to, and of concern to ILCs
-----------------------------------------------------------
recommendations adopted by the AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON PROTECTED AREAS at its second meeting
FAO, Rome, 11-15 February 2008

2/1. Review of implementation of the programme of work on protected areas
The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting:
[[Welcoming] [Taking note of] the efforts of the Lifeweb Initiative promoted by the Government of Germany and other countries. [, and urging the Parties and other relevant organizations to actively participate and implement this initiative],]
Taking note of the efforts of the Lifeweb Initiative promoted by the Government of Germany and other countries.
PROPOSED NEW TEXT: Recognizing and affirming the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly in 13 September 2007; considering that some of the rights identified in the Declaration are relevant to the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas;
3. [ACCEPT Requests] [DELETE Invites] Parties to:
(d) Give special attention to the implementation of programme element 2 of the programme of work on protected areas; DEFEND THIS
5. [Requests] [Invites] Parties to:
(a) Improve [and diversify] [and harmonize] [and strengthen] protected-area governance types [in accordance with national legislation,] by recognizing and taking into account, where appropriate, community-based organizations [as co-managers];
(b) [Consider incorporation] [Recognize the contribution] of, where appropriate, co-managed protected areas, private protected areas and indigenous and local community conserved areas within the national protected area system [through acknowledgement in national legislation or other effective means];
delete (a) & (b) replace with
(a) bis Recognize and support the contribution of customary use and governance systems in indigenous territories to the conservation of cultural and biological diversity.
(d) Establish effective processes for the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in full respect of their rights and recognition of their responsibilities, in the governance of protected areas, consistent with national law and applicable international obligations; DEFEND
(e) [Further develop measures for (ADD fair and equitable) benefit sharing as well as measures to make protected areas an important component of local sustainable development consistent with national, (ADD customary) laws and applicable international obligations];
11. Encourages Parties, other Governments, relevant inter-governmental organisations (ADD and indigenous and local communities), with the support of national and international non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions and agencies, to enhance activities and resources [toward organizing and forming regional technical support networks] to assist countries in implementing the programme of work on protected areas by:
(d) Convening regional/subregional technical training on key themes of the programme of work on protected areas, (ADD particularly related to Element 2 of the Programme of Work);
20. Requests the Executive Secretary,
(b) DELETE the whole paragraph [Enhance awareness of the role that protected areas and the connectivity of networks of protected areas play in [addressing] [the mitigation and adaptation to] climate change and take into account ecologically coherent networks of protected areas [in any response measures and mechanisms];]


2/2.ACCEPT [Options for mobilizing, as a matter of urgency, through different mechanisms adequate and timely financial resources for the implementation of the programme of work]
or
2/2. DELETE [Options for mobilizing financial resources for the implementation of the programme of work by developing countries in particular the least developed and small island developing states as well as countries with economies in transition]

The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting:
2. Recognizes that innovative mechanisms, [DELETE including market-based approaches] can [DELETE complement] [ACCEPT strengthen] but not replace public funding and development assistance;
4. Invites Parties to:
(a) Undertake [speedy completion of] country–level financial needs assessments, and develop sustainable financing plans including, as appropriate,: a diversified portfolio of financial mechanisms, [among the ones listed in the annex] in accordance with Agenda 21, Article 20 of the Convention and relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties; further exploring, as appropriate, the concept of payment for ecosystem [goods] and services in accordance with international law] DELETE: [while ensuring][while taking into account] the equitable sharing of benefits with indigenous and local communities consistent with national laws and applicable international obligations; and exploring the potential of biodiversity offsets as a financing mechanism;
[(g) DELETE: Explore funding opportunities, [including UNFCCC] [under UNFCCC], for design, establishment, and effective management of protected areas [in the context of global efforts] to address climate change, [inclusive of adaptation and mitigation][and ecosystem restoration] [in compliance with decision VIII/30]]
[(i) DELETE Explore funding opportunities for protected area design, establishment and effective management in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation, recalling that effective actions to reduce deforestation could constitute a unique opportunity for biodiversity protection, as noted by the Conference of Parties in decision VIII/30]
[6. Requests donor countries to significantly increase the level of Official Development Assistance directed to support management of protected areas with the full (ADD and effective) participation of indigenous and local communities and urges developing country Parties to prioritise the implementation of the programme of work and ensure the use of Official Development Assistance funding for this purpose;
7. Urges bilateral and multilateral donors, non-governmental organizations and other funding organizations to:
(a) Make adequate, timely, and predictable funding available, [including new and additional financial resources] to allow for the designation and effective management of new protected areas [and the establishment of protected area functional ecological networks] that are necessary in order to complete comprehensive and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas, and for improving management of [highly under-funded] existing protected areas, including [areas under community management] [community conserved] [shared-managed] areas;
(a) Make adequate, timely, and predictable funding available, including new and additional financial resources to allow for the designation and effective management of new protected areas that are necessary in order to complete comprehensive and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas, and for improving management of existing protected areas, including areas under community governance, community conserved areas;
(g) [ACCEPT Allocate] [DELETE Support] [ACCEPT financial resources to build and enhance] capacity building for communities and/or indigenous and local communities to participate (DELETE in the establishment and) (ADD in the) management of (ADD existing) protected areas to improve their standard of living;
(g) Allocate financial resources to enhance capacity of indigenous and local communities to participate in the management and governance of existing protected areas;
(h) [DELETE Provide] [ACCEPT Support] [DELETE funding to support] the revival and strengthening of traditional knowledge (AMEND of biodiversity conservation and management in protected areas);
h) Provide funding to support the revival and strengthening of traditional knowledge and governance of biodiversity resources.
h) bis Provide fund to promote and ensure respect of the rights of, the full participation and Free Prior Informed Consent of Indigenous and Local Communities in the implementation of Program of Work;
8. Requests the Executive Secretary to:
[(c) ACCEPT Submit for the consideration of tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties a report containing an analysis of the concept of payment for ecosystem services while ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources;]
(e)bis Carry out a survey of all existing protected areas to guage the extent to which they have alienated land from territories of indigenous and local communities, as a basis for an eventual restitution system of their territories.

10. Invites the Global Environment Facility to:

(c)bis To review its polices and practices in relation to indigenous and local communities and protected areas and report it as soon as possible as mandated in decision COPVIII/24, paragraph 22(d).

(d) and its implementing agencies to report on progress in support to community conserved areas and indigenous bio-cultural heritage areas, as mandated in decision COPVIII/24, paragraph 22(d).

(e) Allocate funds for studies on the impacts of protected area projects funded by bilateral and multi lateral financial institutions on the rights and livelihoods of indigenous and local communities.

13.bis Invite(s) international and regional development banks, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, and international financial institutions to report on progress in ensuring coherence in their institutional policies on protected areas and investment projects.

14.bis Requests the Executive Secretary

(a) to compile reports submitted by parties and government assessing the socio-economic values of protected area systems, focusing in particular on the critical contribution to poverty alleviation and achievement of the MDGs. This report should be prepared with the involvement of indigenous and local communities, and include specific evaluations of the impacts of the existing variety of funding mechanisms and protected area on indigenous and local communities.

(b) to invite the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to study and report the potential impacts that the innovative financial mechanisms that are proposed by this working group have on indigenous peoples and local communities.