We welcome today’s global commitment to strengthen the forest tenure of indigenous peoples and local communities. Should this investment lead to appropriate policies and channel financial support directly to indigenous and local communities, we envision profound changes on the ground. We expect this commitment to ensure forest tenure and the conservation of at least half billion hectares of forest managed by Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities. We should also support actions to protect boreal forests.
As guardians of the forests, we look forward to a new partnership based on respect, solidarity and cooperation, expressed in concrete policy actions and investments that will protect our rights and enhance our reciprocal and interdependent relationship with nature - and thereby propel the conservation of forest and ecosystems – not only for us but for all humanity.
We need to ensure that this commitment is fully aligned to broader policies and actions taken to combat climate change. We call for policy coherence and strong implementation by states and other actors to deliver on their commitments and obligations to reduce carbon emissions, reduce and halt deforestation while fully respecting the human rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. These actions are imperative to save the planet now.
Indigenous peoples’ conservation of forest is very evident. Yet each day we are losing our forest and we are persecuted due to powerful vested interest and a lack of political will. We urgently need you-- the world leaders in this room today—to act now to stop this devastation and criminalization.
Finally, we urge you to build with us the transformative partnerships that begin with respect for our rights. With nature reaching a tipping point, your collective actions now to save the world’s forests and biodiversity will determine our future. Thank you.
