Indigenous
Peoples Call for the Immediate Suspension of All REDD Projects
INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES'
FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The Indigenous Caucus of the 14th Conference of the Parties of the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Pozna, Poland
Date of Release: Friday, 12 December
2008,
Indigenous Peoples Call
for the Immediate Suspension of All REDD Projects
Pozna?, Poland 12 December 2008
- The International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC)
is outraged and disgusted at the refusal of the recognition of Indigenous
Peoples' rights and the absence of progress at the COP14. Approximately
40 Indigenous participants from South America, Central America, North
America, Africa, Asia/SE Asia and the Pacific attended the United
Nations conference of more than 10,000 delegates and observers from
nearly 190 nations. As the official voice of Indigenous
Peoples within the 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties of
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the IIPFCC
delivered a closing consensus statement was read today at the high
level segment.
Over the past two weeks of the
conference, the work of the IIPFCC has centered around two interlinking
issues - the lack of methods for the meaningful participation of Indigenous
Peoples, and the negative impacts of carbon trading mechanisms, such
as the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
(REDD) scheme. In the closing plenary of the high level segment, the
forum demanded the immediate suspension of all REDD initiatives and
carbon market regimes in Indigenous territories.
"Can full and effective participation
of Indigenous Peoples even exist if rights are denied," asked
Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the U.S. based Indigenous Environmental
Network and spokesperson for the IIPFCC at today's plenary. Goldtooth
reminded the audience that the UN-REDD Framework Program itself acknowledges
that REDD could undermine Indigenous Peoples and local communities'
rights to the usage and ownership of their forest lands and marginalize
communal-use rights. "Cut emissions at the source - NO REDD!"
The International Indigenous Peoples'
Forum on Climate Change has also called for the establishment of an
Expert Group on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples, composed of
experts from Indigenous Peoples communities, within the Convention
that will directly contribute to the Conference of the Parties session
15 in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009.
Contacts:
(In English) Jihan Gearon, Indigenous Environmental Network: +48 665705145
(En Espanol) Onel Masardule, Foundation for Promotion of Indigenous
Knowledge: 691205977
