The ICCA Consortium announces an upcoming report on the territories of life of indigenous peoples and local communities

Territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities through their customary and local governance systems and cultural practices are sometimes known as 'ICCAs' or 'territories of life'.
The report was released on May 20, 2021, coinciding with the International Day for Biological Diversity.

The ICCA Consortium is proud to announce the upcoming publication of the first local-to-global report on the state of territories of life.

The Territories of Life: 2021 report highlights 17 outstanding examples of how indigenous peoples and local communities contribute to the diversity of life on earth through their governance systems and cultural practices – from bringing endangered species back from the brink of extinction in small communities in China to conserving hundreds of thousands of hectares of tropical rainforest and watersheds in the Amazon. It highlights some key examples of grassroots initiatives and policy and legal recognition of Indigenous Peoples' and community conservation rights in specific national contexts. It also features the latest global analysis of how much of the planet is likely conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities, produced in collaboration with the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

This report adds to the growing body of literature on the crucial role of indigenous peoples and local communities in local-to-global conservation efforts. It also underscores the importance of centrally recognizing and upholding their rights, especially for their collective lands and territories and self-determined ways of life, and supporting their visions and priorities for present and future generations. Essential partners of positive recognition and support are stopping threats and violence against communities and their territories, especially from industrial drivers of biodiversity loss and top-down conservation actions. Key recommendations and frameworks for action are directed at policymakers involved in the negotiations of the post-2020 UN global biodiversity framework, which is expected to shape conservation laws and policies for the coming decade.

Another important feature of this report is that the Community authors and national case studies are from and based in their respective countries and have worked closely with community custodians for many years. Some cases are co-written by community leaders or their representative organizations and through extensive consultations to provide free, prior, and informed consent to the publication.

In conjunction with the International Day for Biological Diversity, Indigenous Peoples and local communities invite government officials, conservationists, and the general public to join the online launch event on May 20 at 13:00 UTC to learn more about their experiences and opportunities for action.

Contact

Kathia Carrillo
Campaigns and Multimedia Coordinator
ICCA Consortium
kathia [at] iccaconsortium [dot] org
WhatsApp / Signal: +51 945894234

Note for media and journalists

Case study authors and Indigenous and local community leaders are available for interviews.

About territories of life

Territories of life, also known in some contexts as ICCAs, are territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities. They are as diverse as the peoples and communities that shape and sustain them through their unique cultures, governance systems, and practices.

About the ICCA Consortium

The ICCA Consortium is a global association, currently with 178 grassroots and non-profit organizations and 421 Honorary Members belonging to and supporting indigenous peoples and local communities and movements for their collective rights, justice, and equity in conservation.

About this report

The Territories of Life: 2021 Report is a multimedia report comprising local, national, regional, and global analyses of territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities worldwide, with recommendations for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework currently being negotiated. It is produced by the ICCA Consortium and hosted at https://report.territoriesoflife.org. The 2021 report is the first in a regular series.

Reporting: https://www.iccaconsortium.org/index.php/2021/05/03/territories-of-life-report-2021/