IIFB Closing Statement
Geneva, Switzerland 14 - 29 March 2022
Agenda item: WG2020-3 Item 8
Date: 29.03.22
Statement on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), delivered by
It has been 30 years since the Convention on Biological Diversity and 12 years of the adoption of the Aichi Targets and little progress has been made to implement Articles of the Convention related to IPLCs.
IIFB welcomes the work undertaken by the Geneva meetings. Despite the many challenges, there have been some improvements and progress on the GBF, particularly for Targets of high priority for IPLCs.
IIFB established various Working Groups to engage in the development of the GBF. We will continue to actively participate in this process including on the monitoring framework.
The IIFB is concerned with the slow progress in the negotiations. Delaying discussions until COP 15 and intersessional processes will be financially burdensome for IPLCs. The lack of translation into UN Languages limits our full and effective participation.
In the GBF, it is necessary to recognize, and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Currently, hardly 1% of the funds that are available for the climate and the environment goes to IPLCs despite growing evidence that supporting IPLCs directly is one of the most cost-effective measures for conservation. Therefore, it is necessary to increase funds to support our strategies. We require flexibility and specific guarantees to access resources directly, that the allocation of funds prioritizes the recognition and respect for indigenous land, territories and the strengthening of governance. It is time that greater resources are directed to IPLC's self-determined priorities for the implementation of the GBF. We urge the GEF and other financial mechanisms to facilitate the direct access to financial resources that are inclusive for all bio-cultural regions, transparent, culturally appropriate and participatory.
The DSI decision takes us closer to the establishment of a global system for sharing benefits from uses of DSI and recognition of the roles and rights of IPLCs. We urge the Parties to ensure that benefit sharing from DSI on GRs is included in the Post-2020 GBF
IIFB firmly believes that for this framework to be successful and inclusive it will require a Human Rights based approach and the full and effective participation of IPLCsin the process up to COP 15. We hope that the GBF will be truly transformative and will recognize the contributions and rights of IPLCs to protect Mother Nature.
We thank all our supporters and look forward to your continued collaboration.
Thank you