Posted on November, 02 2021

Fran Price, Lead, WWF Global Forest Practice, said: 

“The announcement today by the governments of the UK, US, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands that at least $1.7 billion of funding will be given directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) is a much-needed recognition of the important role of IPLCs in nature conservation. It must be followed through by full and effective participation of IPLCs in policy and decision-making processes, including in national climate plans, and direct funding to organizations representing IPLCs.

At WWF, we strongly believe that recognising the rights, territories, laws and culture of IPLCs is crucial to delivering inclusive and sustainable development and finding the most effective solutions to the most pressing environmental problems. At least 32% of global land and associated inland waters is owned or governed by IPLCs, either through legal or customary means. Achieving the ambitious goals and targets in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework or countries’ climate commitments will not be possible without recognition of the rights of and the lands and territories sustained, protected and restored by IPLCs.”

See new blog published today by Yolanda Teran, Network of Indigenous Women for Biodiversity, and Delfin Ganapin, Lead, WWF Governance Practice. 

Tuntiak Katan – Deputy Coordinator, COICA and General Coordinator of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities:

“These funds really need to reach the communities and Indigenous organizations in their territories. We must implement this financing in the best way and guarantee that they protect rights, land titling, and help restore and preserve the forest and biodiversity that Indigenous peoples protect. A committee should be created with different voices from Indigenous peoples to make decisions about funding.”

Fermin Chimatani, Harakbut Indigenous leader and President of ANECAP (National Association of Executors of the Communal Reserves Administration Contract):

"Indigenous peoples are key to increasing the climate ambition of countries. In Peru, Indigenous organizations and their native communities are advancing in this with clear examples of implementing the indigenous economy and stopping the true drivers of deforestation. Climate funds do not reach the communities in the best way; however, today’s announcement is a great step, we need to involve Indigenous peoples in the implementation of the funds. There are already initiatives such as the REDD+ Indigena Amazónico with a Management Contract approach that we have been implementing in Indigenous territories, led by the organizations themselves and developed with the government and contributing to the NDCs.”

In Spanish

Tuntiak Katan, Vice coordinador de la COICA y Coordinador General de la Alianza Global de comunidades territoriales:

“Se requieren de fondos que realmente lleguen a las comunidades y a las organizaciones indígenas en el territorio. Debemos implementar de la mejor forma estos financiamiento  y garantizar para que protejan los derechos, titulación de tierras, ayude preservar los bosques y la biodiversidad que los pueblos indígenas protegen y además puede restaurarse. Se debe generar un comité con las distintas voces de los pueblos indígenas para la toma de decisión del fondo.”

Fermin Chimatani -  Líder indígena Harakbut – Presidente de ANECAP (Asociacion Nacional de Ejecutores de Contrato de Administración de Reservas Comunales):

"Los pueblos indígenas son claves para lograr incrementar la ambición climática de los estados, en el Perú, las organizaciones indigenas y sus comunidades nativas estan avanzando en ello con ejemplos claros de implementar la economía indígena y detener a los verdaderos impulsores de la deforestación.  Los fondos climáticos no llegan de la mejor forma a las comunidades sin embargo este es un gran paso, necesitamos involucrar a los pueblos indígenas en la implementación de los fondos, por ello para eso ya existen propuestas como REDD+ Indigena Amazónico con un enfoque de Contrato de Administración  que venimos implementando en los territorios, liderado por las propias organizaciones y articulado  con el Estado y aportando a las NDC.”