First published on 02/09/2008, and last updated on 11/27/2017
Over 50 participants from civil society organizations and government delegations came together at the WG PA-2 to discuss the concept of ICCAs in the light of implementation of the Program of Work on Protected Areas.
After a brief introduction to the characteristics and variety of ICCAs and the history of the ICCA concept, participants mainly discussed experiences at local level and lessons learned. Contributions from participants showed the multiple range of realities on the ground and stressed that issue of rights of indigenous peoples and communities and their lands and resources are inextricably linked to the success or failure of ICCAs.
There needs to be more debate about what kind of legal frameworks are appropriate for the recognition of ICCAs: these should be pluralistic systems that recognize and incorporate customary systems.
Future reflections on ICCAs also need to take into account the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in particular the rights of Indigenous Peoples over their territories.
During the meeting participants described how Indigenous Peoples and local communities were evicted from their ICCAs and territories by the state authorities in order to create formal conservation areas. International NGOs were called upon to join hands to develop systems of timely response to such human rights violations. Participants agreed on the need to pursue the discussion at further events, such as COP 9 of the CBD and the WCC in Barcelona.
