A coordinating forum of the world’s indigenous peoples has confirmed its involvement in the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) over the next five years with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the latest event in Bonn, Germany.
The Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG) together with the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) signed the MoU at the closing of the GLF Bonn on Thursday, December 21, 2017 to confirm the group’s ongoing participation in the CIFOR-led multi-stakeholder platform on sustainable land use from 2018-2022.
“We highly appreciate this collaboration with CIFOR,” said Joan Carling, Co-convener of the IPMG, at the signing. “We look forward to further engagement, because we are also knowledge holders who can enrich the GLF. Collaboration is needed in order for us to advance in the interests that we share for sustainable landscapes.”
Carling signed the agreement alongside Robert Nasi, Director General of CIFOR.
“Involvement of indigenous peoples is crucial to the success of the Global Landscapes Forum, and the sustainable management of landscapes more generally,” Nasi said.
“Indigenous peoples are not only important rights-holders in their landscapes, but often keepers of crucial knowledge that can support sustainable management for environmental and human well-being. We welcome the IPMG’s commitment to bring indigenous voices to GLF activities going forward.”
A delegation of 18 indigenous leaders from around the world were nominated by IPMG to attend GLF Bonn, bringing their unique perspectives to discussions on action on climate change and sustainable development in the land sector. The IPMG is an international indigenous peoples forum for coordination and planning, with sustained engagement in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Recognising the importance of indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge to the sustainability of landscapes and action on climate change, the MoU with CIFOR sets out a common understanding of shared goals and cooperative action over the next half-decade.
Under the new agreement, IPMG will hold a permanent seat on the GLF Knowledge Committee, will regularly host discussions and exhibitions at GLF events, and will be involved in training courses, youth events and online forums, among other opportunities for participation.
The Global Landscape Forum is said to be the world’s largest multi-stakeholder platform of its kind that is designed to accelerate action and produce positive social change based on research, knowledge and data concerning forests and land use. It convenes partnerships of international organisations, civil society, scientific institutions, communities, women, and Indigenous groups, the media and the financial and corporate sector unified by the aim to create sustainable landscape solutions to achieve sustainable development and the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Aichi Targets.
CIFOR is a non-profit global organisation dedicated to advancing human-well-being, environmental conservation, and equity. It is also the secretariat and lead implementing organisation of the GLF.
