International Conference on Rights, Forests and Climate Change
Organized by the Rainforest Foundation Norway and the Rights and Resources Initiative
15 October – 17 October 2008 (Oslo, Norway)
Unless based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and forest communities, efforts by rich countries to combat climate change by funding reductions in deforestation in developing countries will fail, and could even unleash a devastating wave of forest loss, cultural destruction and civil conflict, warned a leading group of forestry and development experts meeting in Oslo this week. Speaking at the meeting, Norway’s Minister of Environment and International Development Erik Solheim said efforts towards reduced emissions from deforestation in developing countries should be based on the rights of indigenous peoples to the forests they depend on for their livelihoods, and provide tangible benefits consistent with their essential role in sustainable forest management.
The Oslo Conference discussed the Four Foundations for Effective Investments in Climate
Change:
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Recognize rights – establish an equitable legal and regulatory framework for land and resources;
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prioritize payment to communities – ensure that benefits and payments prioritize indigenous and local communities, according to their potential role as forest stewards;
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establish independent advisory and auditing processes to guide, monitor and audit investments and actions at national and global levels; and
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monitor more than carbon to keep track of the status of forests, forest carbon, biodiversity and impacts on rights and livelihoods. Secure a role for indigenous peoples in monitoring of emissions, making full use of their knowledge of the state of forest ecosystems, something which could be particularly relevant to keep track of forest degradation.
During the first day of the conference, participants concluded that indigenous peoples and forest dwellers have often proven their capacity for sustainable forest management and successful adaptation with only minimal support from the state. Traditional knowledge systems and resource management practices are a valuable resource. That said, the winners who will benefit most from the “forest billions” flowing into climate change mitigation will be those with information and resources. Indigenous peoples and forest dwellers have neither, and will lose out.
Read the organizers’ press release [pdf] … Visit the Conference website … Read the summary of discussion addressing TK …
29 October 2008 at 7:14 am
[...] 17) The Oslo Conference discussed the Four Foundations for Effective Investments in Climate Change: 1) Recognize rights – establish an equitable legal and regulatory framework for land and resources; 2) prioritize payment to communities – ensure that benefits and payments prioritize indigenous and local communities, according to their potential role as forest stewards; 3) establish independent advisory and auditing processes to guide, monitor and audit investments and actions at national and global levels; and 4) monitor more than carbon to keep track of the status of forests, forest carbon, biodiversity and impacts on rights and livelihoods. Secure a role for indigenous peoples in monitoring of emissions, making full use of their knowledge of the state of forest ecosystems, something which could be particularly relevant to keep track of forest degradation. — During the first day of the conference, participants concluded that indigenous peoples and forest dwellers have often proven their capacity for sustainable forest management and successful adaptation with only minimal support from the state. Traditional knowledge systems and resource management practices are a valuable resource. That said, the winners who will benefit most from the “forest billions” flowing into climate change mitigation will be those with information and resources. Indigenous peoples and forest dwellers have neither, and will lose out. http://tkbulletin.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/tk-at-oslo-meeting-on-%E2%80%9Crights-forests-and-climate... [...]