SBSTA 27, Agenda item 2

Statement of the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change
and the International Alliance of the Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests

By: Marcial Arias

Mr. Chairman, I am taking the floor on behalf of the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change and the International Alliance of the Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests

Mr. Chairman, we are profoundly concerned that the Nairobi Program of Work is implemented without the participation of the Indigenous Peoples. This Work Program on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation is crucial for our peoples. As you well know our communities are among the most vulnerable and there are huge obstacles to achieving adaptation to climate change. Our communities live in the mountains, coasts, islands, riverbanks, arid areas and deserts.

Many of the mitigation policies adopted by the conferences of the Parties are damaging to our peoples. In short, the solutions that you have proposed, create and produce grave problems for our life style and threaten our very survival. For example, the plantations and monocultures are resulting in the loss of biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

At the same time, we have contributed consistently to the grand solutions and we hope to strengthen traditional practices and management systems of indigenous peoples on climate change.

Thank you.