Africa

A Possible Legal Route to Secure and Reinforce ICCAs–territories of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the National Assembly deemed the proposed “Organic Bill on fundamental principles relating to the protection and promotion of Indigenous peoples’ rights” admissible. This tremendous step forward is the result of a decade of advocacy work by the Indigenous movement in Congo, and could led to the recognition of Indigenous Pygmy peoples as well as their territories and ancestral knowledge.  Read more ▸

Milka Chepkorir

Former Policy and Advocacy Co-Coordinator for Africa (2021-2024)

A new resource for African environmental defenders

On International Human Rights Day, Natural Justice (ICCA Consortium Member) and the International Land Coalition present “African Environmental Defenders”, a resource for African land and environmental defenders. It aims at providing funding support in emergency situations.  Read more ▸

Water Flowing Up the Mountain: Development Devours Forest Reserve

A forest reserve outside Zambia’s capital has been shrunk significantly to make way for housing and lifestyle developments. Even worse, these new developments are pumping sewage into the Chalimbana River and contaminating the fish and water that local communities rely on. Local activists, like Robert Chimambo (ICCA Consortium Honorary member), are struggling to protect the river and forest, and hope to turn this territory into a community protected forest area.  Read more ▸

ALAPA

Association for Law and Advocacy for Pastoralists

National NGO
Tanzania

Pan-African Alliance Seeks to Protect Territories of Life With a Revolutionary Tool

Among the many existing tools for documenting ICCAs, the one proposed by InsightShare proves to be a powerful way for communities to create participatory media that reflects their unique concerns and amplifies their unique voices. InsightShare shared examples of effective uses of video during the Video4Change gathering, attended by 40 indigenous activists and video practitioners, including Ivan Vaalbooi and Lesle Jansen from Natural Justice (ICCA Consortium Member).  Read more ▸

Sacred Forests and Crocodile Ponds: Key Insights from Binational Gathering on ICCAs in Benin and Burkina Faso

A workshop on ICCAs in Burkina Faso and Benin brought together many Consortium actors from both countries, as well as supporters, partners and resource persons. It was an opportunity to raise the visibility of ICCAs, discuss community governance dynamics, identify threats and possible solutions and formulate recommendations to states, NGOs and communities. Read more ▸

Beyond the Complexities: How Do We Engage in Community Land Discussions?

In October, Natural Justice organized an Environmental Justice Forum in Kenya, tackling the issue of securing land ownership for indigenous and local communities, as a way to protect their livelihoods and ensure better conservation practices of lands and forests. Maryama Farah, Senior Officer at Natural Justice, offers a summary along with her reflections on the event.  Read more ▸

Sacred Sites and The Protection of Territories of Life

Natural Justice, ICCA Consortium Member, participated in a global meeting to confront the current planetary crisis by fostering the protection of our sacred natural sites and ensuring the restoration of Earth’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The meeting led to the creation of The Alliance for the Sacred Sites of Earth Gaia. Read more ▸

African Dialogue on Alternatives to Unsustainable Livestock Production

The first of a series of regional dialogues on Alternatives to Unsustainable Livestock Production was held in Africa, jointly organised by the Global Forest Coalition, ICCA Consortium Member, and Zelealem Tefera, ICCA Consortium Council Member. It highlighted the opportunities and the source of knowledge that ICCAs, especially traditional pastoralist communities, represent. Read more ▸

The Journey to Kunming (Part II): Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Make Their Voices Heard in First Official Meeting of Post-2020 Process

From organising demonstrations to delivering statements in UN plenary sessions, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities around the world are creating an “ecosystem” of collective actions for rights-based approaches and intergenerational equity — and tackling the drivers of biodiversity loss as key elements of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Read more ▸