It’s time for Indigenous solutions

Join us at Climate Week New York to connect with the value of Indigenous knowledge and territories

FSC-IF

The FSC Indigenous Foundation is happy to announce its participation in Climate Week New York. As a leading global advocate for Indigenous-led climate solutions, the Foundation will join key organizations and global leaders in addressing critical environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices.

Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge offers vital solutions to the climate crisis. They manage over 25% of the global landmass, making the future of Indigenous territories key to global sustainability. The FSC-IF seeks to integrate Indigenous knowledge into climate strategies and supports Indigenous leaders, for the future of our planet and for us all. Catch us at our side events listed below, or reach out to organize a meeting.

It’s time to lead with Indigenous solutions and make a meaningful impact. Join us in driving positive change.

Supporting Indigenous Self-Determination, Self-Reliance, and Self-Governance in Nature-based Solutions

Date and time: Monday, September 23rd, 2024, 10:30 – 11:30

Location: Nature Positive Hub, Convene, 101 Park Ave, New York. Room: Chrysler Forum

Description: Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of land protection. Although they comprise less than 6% of the world’s population, their collective territories are close to 25% of the land base and contain 80% of the world’s remaining terrestrial biodiversity. However, Indigenous Peoples face countless challenges that limit their capacity to strengthen their livelihood practices and secure rights and self-determination within their territories. The moderated panel will highlight the necessity of Indigenous-led climate solutions and barriers to achieving a healthier planet.

This event will illustrate the reciprocal relationship Indigenous Peoples have with Mother Earth, demonstrating the role of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in rights-based approaches, and discussing partnerships between businesses and Indigenous organizations to support self-determination. It is hosted by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification system, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), a global Indigenous-led organization working to elevate Indigenous Peoples in their contribution to the protection of Mother Earth and recognize them as providers of solutions and partners to fight against global challenges.

Panelists:

Hindou Omarou Ibrahim Chair of FSC Indigenous Foundation Council and Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Moderator: Satnam Manhas, R.P.F., Senior Manager, Indigenous Capacity Support Canada, FSC Indigenous Foundation

Erica Fensom, DocuSign, Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Sergio Guzman, manager of the community forest Guatecarbon REDD+ project, in Guatemala

Join us to learn how you can support Indigenous nature-based solutions.

Our People, Our Future: From Commitment to Actions

Date and time: September 26, 2024, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Location: Studio 3, 873 Broadway, #401, New York, N.Y 10010

Description: This event, hosted by the FSC Indigenous Foundation and Health in Harmony will connect Indigenous Peoples with business and philanthropy, offering an opportunity to engage and scale social, environmental, and economic impact when working together. It will provide the opportunity to:

Discover solutions: Learn about Indigenous approaches to climate change, land degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
Contribute resources: Find actionable ways to contribute your resources and expertise towards impactful projects, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Indigenous Peoples are key to addressing pressing global challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Through collaboration, we can make a significant impact in these areas. 
Build partnerships: Network to form strategic alliances for sustainability. 
Boost business value: Discover how integrating ecosystem services can enhance sustainability, including biodiversity, carbon markets, and beyond.
Verify impact: Learn methods for impact verification to ensure your contributions are making a measurable difference.

Panelists:

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of FSC Indigenous Foundation Council and President of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Jerome Foster II, Climate Activist

Solange Bandiaky-Badji, President and Coordinator, Rights and Resources Initiative

Rachel Markham, Principal, Patchwork Collective

Ashley Emerson, Co-CEO Business and Scale, Health in Harmony

Moderator: Satnam Manhas, Senior Manager, Indigenous Capacity Support Canada, FSC Indigenous Foundation

Join us in this transformative journey to drive positive change and sustainability. 

Connect with us

The FSC-IF is leading global efforts toward resilient Indigenous-led solutions, but we cannot do it alone. We call on partners to help us achieve visionary goals by leveraging the power of your resources, expertise, and innovation. If you would like to meet us during Climate Week to discuss how we can build sustainable solutions together, write to us at fsc.if@fsc.org.

Indigenous leadership for lands, forests, and territories

Central African Indigenous leaders gather for training on advocacy, leadership, communication, and project management in Douala, Cameroon.

FSC-IF

Central Africa’s forest ecosystems are home to exceptional biodiversity, offering vast potential for the socio-economic development of the region. Recognizing the ecological and economic importance of these forests—and the growing threats they face—the Heads of State of Central Africa pledged in March 1999 through the “Yaoundé Declaration” to work collaboratively towards the conservation and sustainable management of their countries’ forest ecosystems. This commitment supports the economic and social development efforts of their populations.

In line with this vision, the Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC) was established in 2003. As a key partner under the FSC Indigenous Foundation’s Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) Program, REPALEAC serves as a sub-regional platform for promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) across Central Africa. The network unites over 200 grassroots Indigenous community organizations, spread across eight national networks in Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Chad.

From 26-30 August 2024, REPALEAC, in collaboration with the FSC Indigenous Foundation, hosted an intensive training workshop in Douala, Cameroon, with 50 representatives from its member organizations to strengthen the organizational and operational capacities of the network.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in sessions designed to:

Enhance their knowledge of leadership, advocacy techniques, organizational communication, and project management principles.
Equip them with the technical skills necessary for collecting data on land tenure within Indigenous territories. This includes training on cartography, participatory mapping—particularly three-dimensional mapping—and the creation of databases to document the areas occupied by Indigenous Peoples in Central Africa.
Provide a deeper understanding of FSC standards related to Indigenous Peoples and the relationship between FSC and the FSC-IF, as well as USAID guidelines and policies concerning Indigenous Peoples. The workshop also explored the integration of Indigenous rights and priorities in USAID’s bilateral cooperation programs with states.

The workshop’s opening ceremony was graced by the Vice President of REPALEAC, highlighting the significance of the event for the region’s Indigenous communities.

“The forests of Central Africa are not just natural resources; they are the lifeblood of our communities, sustaining our way of life and our cultural heritage,” stated a representative from REPALEAC during the opening remarks.

“This workshop is a crucial step towards ensuring that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are at the forefront of decisions affecting their lands and resources,” said another REPALEAC representative.

REPALEAC members were curious to understand how USAID works with organizations such as the FSC-IF.

“For Indigenous Peoples, Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is important because it is the right to self-determination; opportunities for socioeconomic development and benefit-sharing; safeguarding against adverse impacts on lands, territories, natural resources, cultural heritage and/or sacred sites; supporting and aligning with Indigenous development plans and fulfilling obligations under international, regional and national regulatory frameworks,” said Vy Lam, USAID Indigenous Peoples Advisor.

The workshop focused on implementing REPALEAC’s strategic plan, which has four key objectives:

Securing Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ lands, vision territories, and natural resources.

Ensuring IPLC participation in decisions concerning access to and sustainable management of land, forests, and natural resources at local, national, and international levels.

Increasing and consolidating sustainable economic benefits for IPLCs from the management of natural resources and forests.

Improving the living conditions of IPLCs sustainably.

“We are very grateful to the FSC-IF for the ongoing training in Douala. The module on ‘Leadership’ will surely bear fruit where the leadership of the network at the national level will demonstrate quality organizations.” said Basiru Isa, the REPALEAC’s Secretary General.

“Empowering our communities with knowledge and skills is essential for us to effectively protect our lands and assert our rights,” remarked one of the participants.

“This workshop is not just about learning; it’s about preparing to take action in our respective countries,” said another REPALEAC representative.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants drafted action plans to implement the knowledge they acquired to make a tangible impact in their home countries.

In her closing remarks, Salina Sanou, FSC-IF Regional Director for Africa and Asia stated, “FSC-IF is pleased to be your partner of choice. We’re here to support you every step of the way. We’re also ready to learn from you because that’s what partnership is all about. Call on us any time. Our commitment to Indigenous Peoples knows no bounds.”

As we left this gathering, FSC-IF called for a working committee to co-create new initiatives with us for funding to scale up work with Indigenous Peoples in the African region.

This workshop is part of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) Program, supported by USAID, the Forest Stewardship Council, and private sector partners.

Announcement of the Online Course: “Right to Consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent”

The course will contribute to the rights and sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples in Central America.

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Panama August 27, 2024

The FSC Indigenous Foundation, in collaboration with the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB), the Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH), and Equitable Origin, is proud to announce the start of the online course on the Right to Consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). The course begins today, August 27, 2024, with an opening and induction session to welcome participants and present the course contents and study format.

FPIC is a specific right of Indigenous Peoples recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) that allows Indigenous Peoples to give or withdraw their consent, at any time, concerning projects affecting their territories.

“Historically, our Indigenous Peoples have been expelled from their ancestral lands to make way for extractive projects, violating the good living of many Indigenous Peoples. Empowering ourselves in these processes such as FPIC, allows us to make decisions in any proposed development activity in our Indigenous communities.”
Nely González, Lenca People, Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Honduras (CONPAH), who will participate in this course.

The objective of this course is to empower Indigenous leaders and technicians from countries in Central America to guide their communities and organizations in consultation and advocacy processes, understand and apply national and international legislation on FPIC, and use national and international mechanisms for the effective protection of Indigenous territorial rights.

Through this course, the 50 participants will receive training through five modules with legal lecturers specialized in Indigenous Peoples’ rights on protection and defense of territorial rights, informed consent, and relevant national and international legal mechanisms.

The course will run for three months, meeting weekly. UNACH will certify participants who have satisfactorily completed the course, readings, exercises, and practical work.

We are excited about the start of this training and are confident that this course will contribute significantly to the empowerment of Indigenous Peoples in the region to manage, develop, and govern their territories based on the principles of self-development, environmental stewardship, and respect for their rights.

“It is of great importance to be able to participate in the FPIC course, it provides us with the necessary tools so that our Indigenous Peoples know their rights and are protagonists of the initiatives or projects that they do not accept by imposition, but that the cosmovision of our peoples is respected, the benefits they will acquire and what the risks will be in any scenario.”
Marlene Herández, Ngäbe-Buglé People, Panama, working for Geoveristy and participant in this course

This initiative is part of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) Program, supported by USAID, the Forest Stewardship Council, and private sector partners.

National Meeting of the Indigenous Women’s Platform and Launching of the School of Governance and Leadership for Indigenous Women

Eighty women leaders gathered to exchange experiences and knowledge

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Panajachel, Sololá, July 5 and 6, 2024

Panajachel, Sololá – As part of the project “Weaving the participation and development of political and economic capacities of Indigenous Women in Guatemala”, the Indigenous Women’s Platform held the National Meeting of the Indigenous Women’s Platform on July 5 and 6, 2024. This significant event, which took place in Panajachel, Sololá, brought together 80 women leaders from different territories and linguistic communities to foster collaboration and the exchange of experiences and knowledge.

The event also marked the launch of the School of Governance and Leadership for Indigenous Women, a crucial initiative to strengthen women’s leadership and empowerment capacities in political and public decision-making. In addition, the inclusion of women in community, local, and national processes will be promoted. With the participation of 50 women leaders from various communities in the country, the first cohort of this School was formally presented to the diplomatic corps accredited in Guatemala, representatives of state institutions, and the media.

During the meeting, strategic alliances were formalized between the Indigenous Women’s Platform and various key actors, including signing agreements with the University Center of the West of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (CUNOC) and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). These alliances are a testament to the ongoing commitment to strengthening the leadership capacities of women and their empowerment in the political arena.

The event’s program includes an inaugural lecture for the first cohort of the School of Governance and Leadership, providing participants with an overview of the program’s content and relevance. In addition, a political and social conjunctural analysis provided a detailed understanding of the political, economic, and social situation in the country, highlighting strategic opportunities for the empowerment of Indigenous women.

Organizers and Participants

This initiative is part of the project “Weaving the participation and development of political and economic capacities of Indigenous Women in Guatemala”, implemented jointly with the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) and financed by USAID and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It included the participation of prominent figures such as Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum, president of the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Women’s Platform, and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Guatemala, the FSC Indigenous Foundation, UN Women and the Centro Universitario de Occidente of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.

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