Christian Chatelain
Former Technical Advisor for Africa (Until 2024)
World
Chile: Indigenous Mapuche Williche and artisanal fishing communities join forces to govern and take care of coastal and marine territories of life
In the Aysén region, the latest meeting between the Mapuche Williche People and the local community of small-scale artisanal fishers was held at a critical juncture in which the archipelagic marine ecosystem and those who inhabit it are threatened by salmon aquaculture, overfishing, poverty, and inequity. Read more ▸
Aquilas Koko Ngomo
Former Policy and Advocacy Co-coordinator for Africa (2022-2024)
Central Africa regional coordination team, managed by ANAPAC-RDC
Recap: Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the 2nd Asia Park Congress
Indigenous Peoples and local communities from nine countries in Asia shared their aspirations and recommendations in a preparatory meeting and a forum that led to the launch of the Api-Api Declaration. Read more ▸
Recap of 2022 UN Ocean Conference: the power of collective action and community resilience in the face of local-to-global challenges
The 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 27 to July 1, 2022. The ICCA Consortium and several Members and community partners from twelve island and coastal countries attended the conference. Together, we highlighted the self-determined priorities of Indigenous and community custodians of island, coastal and marine territories of life, and of artisanal and small-scale fishers, in a conference that was otherwise focused on status quo approaches to ocean conservation and economic priorities. Read more ▸
The South Asia Community Conserved Areas portal is officially launched
There are innumerable examples around the world of community-based conservation initiatives with unique governance and management systems and the use of traditional knowledge. These efforts have gained recognition on the national level and within global environmental policies, but there is still a huge gap that exists in bringing visibility to Community Conserved Areas (CCAs), especially in the context of South Asia. Read more ▸
UNGA Declaration on the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment and what this could mean for us in Africa
The UNGA Declaration focuses on tackling the three planetary crisis issues: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. This blog by Natural Justice illustrates how the Declaration recognizes that these threats are interlinked and need to be collectively resolved to ensure the realization of the right to a clean, sustainable and healthy environment. Read more ▸
Community fisheries and the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference
During the recent United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, the ICCA Consortium supported the participation of various Member organizations, fishers, and representatives of Indigenous and local communities. Vivienne Solís Rivera and Marvin Fonseca (CoopeSoliDar R.L, ICCA Consortium Member) recount how participants from Indigenous and local communities made an impact in securing better recognition of their rights and more holistic conservation of the oceans. Read more ▸
Reflections from the 2022 UN Ocean Conference: A long way to go
Many UN member states participating in the UN Ocean Conference still have a long way to go towards recognizing Indigenous Peoples and local communities as part of the solutions to restoring our aquatic ecosystems. Read more ▸
New report on implications of COVID-19 and government recovery plans on Indigenous Peoples’ rights and well-being
Published by Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) in August 2022, the report features analyses of global trends and national experiences from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (overseen by ICCA Consortium Member ANAPAC-RDC), Brazil, India, and the Philippines. Read more ▸
Post-2020 global biodiversity framework: grassroots consultation on domestic implications in India
Consultation organized by ICCA Consortium Members KRAPAVIS and Kalpavriksh delves into communities’ concerns with protected areas, potential implications of draft global targets on area-based conservation, and domestic legal tools and locally determined strategies to strengthen community rights in this context. Read more ▸
Alert: ICCA Consortium condemns the red-tagging, harassment and abduction of Indigenous defender Stephen Tauli in the Philippines
Stephen (“Steve”) Tauli – a staunch defender of the Indigenous Cordillera Peoples in the Philippines – was abducted on 20 August 2022 by armed men believed to be state security forces and found alive more than 24 hours later. Read more ▸
Video: In Costa Rica, the Cahuita people want shared governance in the national park to continue
Government agencies in Costa Rica have announced a plan that will undermine the shared governance model in the Cahuita National Park. Read more ▸
Urgent update: Sinjajevina highland pastures in Montenegro face greater threats with new UK support for militarization
The latest public announcement of the civic initiative Save Sinjajevina, concerning the new moves of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Montenegro. Read more ▸
Local diving and ecological monitoring teams bring new hope for marine conservation in Madagascar
Articles illustrate how communities in southwestern Madagascar’s locally managed marine areas have made progress to build their capacity for ecological monitoring and expansion of the marine reserves. These LMMAs are part of the MIHARI Network (ICCA Consortium Member) and are supported by Blue Ventures (ICCA Consortium Member). Read more ▸
Mangrove, moon, and the tides: the story of progress in the Mumiang Locally Managed Marine Area of the Suluk People
By Neville Yapp with LEAP – Land Empowerment Animals People (ICCA Consortium Member),Persatuan Komuniti Kampung Mumiang, andForever Sabah In the mangroves of the Kinabatangan estuary, fluorescent… Read more “Mangrove, moon, and the tides: the story of progress in the Mumiang Locally Managed Marine Area of the Suluk People” ▸
Indigenous women are leading transformative change, from within their communities to global halls of power
The ICCA Consortium’s solidarity statement for International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022. Read more ▸
Welcoming the newest members of our team!
We are pleased to announce a new regional coordination team for East Austronesia and the Pacific Islands, and a new African regional focal point for international policy. Read more ▸
FAO side event calls for support for mobility and seasonal migration of pastoralists
During the latest session of the FAO’s Committee on Agriculture, Nahid Naghizadeh delivered a side event presentation on the importance of mobility and nomadic and pastoral peoples in managing biodiversity and food systems, drawing from deep experience in Iran. Read more ▸
India: Rengma Village leadership body commits to community conservation and “green development pathway”
In Nagaland, India, the Rengma Village Council Chairman Forum (RVCCF) resolved to have a community conserved area in each village in the Tseminyu District, which already boasts 70% forest cover. Read more ▸
