Asia
“If We Are Still Alive, Then Let’s Go”: Reflections on COVID-19 Pandemic From Taiwan Indigenous Peoples
How can traditional indigenous knowledge help us cope with the pandemic? Sutej Hugu, our Regional Coordinator for East Asia, tells us of the Indigenous Taiwan Self-Determination Alliance and their reflections on the current situation. Read more ▸
2020: Super Year for Women in Biodiversity?
“It is time to go beyond a focus on women’s vulnerabilities to the recognition of women as agents of change and active participants in caring for the environment, restoring and recovering biodiversity, and healing our relationship with nature.” On Earth Day, our Honorary member Cristina Eghenter offers her reflections on women in conservation. Read more ▸
Farmers’ Rights Activists Released After Arbitrary Arrest and Detention in Assam
The ICCA Consortium issued a letter to the Chief Minister of Assam and other officials in India to condemn the arbitrary arrest of two farmers’ rights activists, including a nominated Honorary member who attended our recent GA. We are relieved they were subsequently released on bail, but concerns remain. Read more ▸
The ICCA Consortium Urges Authorities to Immediately Release and Drop Charges Against Indigenous and Peasant Leaders in Assam, India
Indigenous peoples’ rights and peasants’ rights activists Pranab Doley and Soneshwar Narah were arrested on 7 April 2020 in Assam, India. The arrests appear to be politically motivated with the intention of intimidating and silencing these community leaders, who have dedicated their lives to social justice and supporting Indigenous peoples, forest dwellers and peasant communities. Read more ▸
One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet
One Earth profiles Black, Indigenous and People of Color who live and work as environmental defenders. Here, twenty short biographies introduce readers to diverse environmental defenders from around the world. Our dear Ghanimat Azhdari is among these young inspiring people interviewed by the author, Anuradha Rao, who describes the experience of writing this book and her meeting with Ghanimat. Read more ▸
Inclusive Development, an Imperative for the Future: Building Broader Partnerships for Better Informed Decisions
There is ample evidence that more inclusive approaches to conservation and sustainable development lead to greater success, both in human and environmental terms. Five different ways to build, broaden and strengthen appropriate and genuine partnerships – including through recognising ICCAs–territories of life – are described in this article by Marc Foggin, representative of ICCA Consortium Member Plateau Perspectives. Read more ▸
A Photographic Journey: the Tsum Territory of Life in Nepal, Himalaya
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Concluding a collective process spanning five years, this photo story presents the Tsum territory of life, highlighting its institutions and practices of biocultural conservation, as well as the external and internal threats to the land, and the responses of the Tsumba people, guided by their determination to sustain their territory for current and future generations. Read more ▸
KRAPAVIS Develops Strategies to Document, Secure and Sustain Orans with Partners
ICCA Consortium Member KRAPAVIS and its partners deepened the elaboration of their strategy to document, secure and sustain Orans, the “sacred groves” of India, with a variety of concrete initiatives and proposals to address the main concerns territories of life are facing in India. Read more ▸
Webinar: What Do OECMs Mean for Territories of Life?
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In the second webinar organised by ICCA Consortium Member NTFP-EP to build shared capacity and understanding of ICCAs—territories of life in Southeast Asia, Harry Jonas presented ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ and the challenges and opportunities this new framework for Indigenous peoples and local communities represents. Read more ▸
Ray of Hope and Challenges for Rawang Indigenous Peoples’ Territories of Life
In Myanmar, the Rawang Youth group and its allies are working hard to raise awareness about the value of territories of life, and seeking better recognition for these territories and the rights of the Indigenous Rawang people. Htonphu Nin Htay and Aye Myat Thandar tell us about their work and the emergence of the Rawang Youth group. Read more ▸
100 Years of Declaring Non-Violence in the Tsumba Territory of Life in the Nepalese Himalaya
The Indigenous Tsumba people of the sacred Tsum Valley (Nepal) will reaffirm their collective commitment to the conservation of nature and culture during a cultural Shyagya festival, celebrating the centennial of their commitment to non-violence. Sudeep Jana Thing, ICCA Consortium Council Member, tells us more about this coming event. Read more ▸
Peer review mechanism and indicative map of ICCAs in Indonesia: Important steps to strengthen national advocacy
The Working Group on ICCAs Indonesia, an ICCA Consortium Member, is stepping up advocacy efforts with the government for the appropriate recognition of ICCAs. As part of this effort, the Working Group is strengthening the documentation and registration of an estimated 3 million hectares of ICCAs in the archipelago. Read more ▸
Dr. Marc Foggin
Auditor of the accounts and Ombudsperson
Indian Villagers Declare their Forest Community Conserved Area
In a move to conserve a forest area with a vital repository of endangered wild animals, the villagers of Chug, under the guidance of the WWF-India, have declared nearly 100 square kilometers of their forest area a community-conserved area. Read more ▸
Sutej Hugu
Former Regional Coordinator for East and North Asia (2013-2022)
Former Inter-regional Coordinator (2023)
Diana San Jose
Internal Team Support Co-coordinator
Indigenous Youth in Action: First National ICCA Youth Exchange in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines
Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (ICCA Consortium Member) organized the first Philippine ICCA Youth Camp. Bringing together 22 youth leaders representing 12 different indigenous peoples’ organizations and indigenous cultural communities, it spurred plans for more youth participation in the promotion of ICCAs in the country. Read more ▸
