Significant shift at COP16: Indigenous groups and local communities secure a perpetual role in biodiversity policy-making processes
New Permanent Body Recognizes Indigenous Leadership in Biodiversity Conservation
The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) is celebrating a significant milestone in the fight against biodiversity loss. At the recent Conference of the Parties (COP), a Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) (SB8j) was approved, marking a crucial step towards recognizing, protecting, and promoting the traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity conservation.
The SB8j, a dedicated, permanent space within the Global Biodiversity Framework, is designed to elevate Indigenous leadership and rights as holders of traditional knowledge and stewards of biodiversity. By institutionalizing a mechanism to ensure Indigenous Peoples' rights and knowledge are central in biodiversity governance and policy implementation under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, it formalizes a commitment to equitable biodiversity conservation.
The SB8j's significance lies in several key areas:
- Elevating Indigenous leadership and rights: The SB8j ensures that Indigenous contributions are respected and integrated into global conservation efforts, positioning them as key players in biodiversity conservation.
- Implementing Article 8(j) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity: The Subsidiary Body institutionalizes the mandate to respect, preserve, and maintain IPLCs' traditional knowledge and promotes its wider application with their approval and involvement.
- Supporting lawful governance over Indigenous knowledge: The SB8j safeguards Indigenous Peoples’ intellectual property, data sovereignty, and helps prevent misappropriation or cultural harm, especially as new technologies like Artificial Intelligence are employed in conservation.
- Guiding policy options for recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories: The SB8j will help shape policy options for recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories, including community-led conservation approaches, aligned with Target 3 of the Framework.
- Producing global reports on progress: The SB8j will produce global reports on the implementation of Article 8(j) and the integration of traditional knowledge in biodiversity strategies, increasing transparency and accountability.
For Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the SB8j represents enhanced agency and participation in decision-making processes concerning biodiversity. It provides a strengthened platform for the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, customary use of resources, and sustainable livelihoods grounded in traditional practices. The SB8j also helps ensure that conservation initiatives respect Indigenous data governance principles and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), protecting communities from exploitation and fostering fair benefit sharing.
The IIFB, who have been engaging in the Convention on Biological Diversity for over two decades, views the SB8j as a historic win. Jeniffer Corpuz from the IIFB states that the establishment of the SB8j is a watershed moment in the history of multilateral environmental agreements. Adamu Adija of the IIFB expresses excitement about the step forward in the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The SB8j will be led by the Indigenous Caucus, and the Ad-Hoc Working Group on 8j (WG8j), which has existed for over 20 years, has been addressing issues related to Article 8j on Traditional Knowledge. The first meeting of SB8J will advance without delay, where the modus operandi will be worked on.
John Locke states that the developments in the room will resonate around the world, and Viviana Figueroa from the IIFB states that the SB8j is a huge progress because the Convention is a legally binding instrument for parties. Viviana Figueroa also states that the SB8j will provide a space for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to develop a new international law to protect, promote, and conserve traditional knowledge.
Indigenous Peoples and local communities have been caring for and protecting biodiversity on their lands since time immemorial. The SB8j is a pivotal step towards more equitable, effective, and culturally appropriate global biodiversity governance, recognizing the critical role of Indigenous territories in ecosystem conservation.
- The SB8j's establishment within the Global Biodiversity Framework prioritizes environmental-science, as it promotes the traditional knowledge and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, which have been crucial in biodiversity conservation for centuries.
- The policy-and-legislation advancement in the recognition of Indigenous leadership through the SB8j signifies a shift in climate-change discourse, where political action is now aligned with the empowerment of Indigenous communities in environmental governance.
- General-news outlets have reported extensively on the significance of the SB8j, underscoring its potential impact on global biodiversity conservation efforts and the role of Indigenous Peoples in shaping future environmental-science policy.
