UN probes controversial forest carbon agreement in Malaysian Borneo.
The government of Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo will continue to move forward with an opaque nature conservation agreement despite concerns raised by the United Nations.
Themes: Conservation, FPIC, Indigenous people, Human rights
In a letter, the U.N. calls in question the transparency of the agreement and the state’s approach to the human rights law principle of free, prior and informed consent. The agreement was signed by state officials and a representative of a Singaporean company in 2021. Shortly after news of the deal became public, some Indigenous groups in the state said they hadn’t been consulted or informed about the deal covering 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) of the state’s forests. The U.N. letter was written by a group of “special procedures experts” with mandates established by the U.N. Human Rights Council, including the special rapporteurs on the rights of Indigenous peoples, on human rights and the environment, and on the right to development.
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Mar 28, 2024
Global protected area policies spark conflicts with Mexico Indigenous groups.
The creation of the UNESCO-listed Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Mexico’s Campeche region has led to a long-standing conflict with Indigenous residents who argue the government restricted their livelihoods, despite promises of support and land titles.
Themes: Conservation, Parks, Livlihoods, Policy
According to researchers, these conflicts are due to a fault in nations’ application of international conservation policy by overemphasizing the expansion of protected areas while paying less attention to socioeconomic factors and equitable management included in these policies. Authors underline the importance of adapting international conservation policy, such as the “30 by 30” pledge, which plans to conserve 30% of Earth’s land and sea by 2030, to specific local contexts and needs.
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Mar 07, 2024
Cambodia: Carbon Offsetting Project Violates Indigenous Group’s Rights
For Indigenous People, Inadequate Consultation, Forced Eviction, Livelihood Loss
Themes: REDD, Indigenous people, Conservation, Livlihoods, FPIC, Human rights
A major carbon offsetting project in Cambodia shows that such initiatives can harm Indigenous people when communities’ effective participation and consent are not ensured. Conservation strategies that sideline and punish Indigenous peoples to address the global environmental crisis are unacceptable, and counterproductive. Verra, the standard-setting organization that enabled the project to issue carbon credits, should ensure compensation for those affected. The government should title the Indigenous Chong’s territories and uphold their rights.
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Mar 03, 2024
Artemisa - Colombia
El modelo de seguridad en la defensa del medio ambiente y los derechos de las comunidades rurales
Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people
Para hacer frente a la deforestación, los Estados deben proporcionar a las comunidades rurales e indígenas un papel activo en la defensa del medio ambiente, en lugar de criminalizar a estos grupos históricamente marginados.
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Feb 23, 2024
"Raped and beaten"
Prince Harry charity linked to horrific abuses in Africa - new investigation.
Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Livlihoods, Parks, Indigenous people
A charity with strong ties to Prince Harry has been funding rangers responsible for horrific abuses against Indigenous people in the Congo, including torture and rape, according to a major investigation published in the UK’s Mail on Sunday.
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Jan 28, 2024
URGENT ALERT:
Tanzanian Government on a Rampage Against Indigenous People
Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, NGOs, Livlihoods, Pastoralists, Poverty, Tourism
On January 14, TANAPA rangers stormed a village outside of Tarangire National Park, shot several Maasai villagers, arrested eight, and seized over 800 cattle.
On January 18, the Tanzanian government announced a devastating new plan to forcibly remove 100,000 Maasai pastoralists from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA).
In recent weeks, TANAPA rangers also intensified harassment of communities living outside of Ruaha National Park (RUNAPA) despite an ongoing investigation by the Inspection Panel of the World Bank.
With this escalation in evictions, violence, and livelihood restrictions, impacted communities have put out a desperate call for immediate action and support.
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Jan 28, 2024
Kenyan government must end illegal evictions of Ogiek in Mau Forest
Minority Rights Group (MRG) vehemently condemns the Government of Kenya’s renewed eviction campaign against the indigenous Ogiek community of Mau Forest Complex in Kenya.
Themes: Conservation, Indigenous people, Livlihoods, Poverty
On 2 November 2023, rangers of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) started forcefully evicting Ogiek from their ancestral lands by violently destroying and burning Ogiek homes and schools in Sasimwani, Narok County. The campaign, which is ongoing, has left over 700* Ogiek community members homeless with nowhere to go. The damage done to Ogiek homes, property and belongings by the KFS and KWS rangers are worth an estimated 50 million KES.
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Nov 09, 2023
For 1st time, Indonesia government recognizes ancestral forests in Aceh.
But only some.
Themes: Indigenous people, Poverty, Human rights
The Indonesian government has recognized 22,549 hectares (55,700 acres) of ancestral forests in Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra — the first time for the region. In total, Indigenous communities in Aceh seek recognition of 144,497 hectares (357,060 acres) of customary forests, and thus activists are calling for the government to recognize the rest of the forests. The communities welcome the recognition, saying it will give them legal protection to manage their forests in a sustainable manner.
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Nov 09, 2023
