High Level Segment of COP-11 to CBD

17. October, Hyderabad, India

IIFB Statement- Second statement

 Panel II  Biodiversity for Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction

Madam Chair,

Thank you very much for giving the International Forum on Biodiversity a chance to contribute in this panel discussion which is very important for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Madam Chair many speakers in this Conference have clearly said that our Mother Earth, who is a living and sacred Mother from the point of view of indigenous peoples cannot be given a monetary value. We believe that our physical, cultural and spiritual continuity as indigenous peoples depends on our lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources. Our indigenous and local Communities depend on Biodiversity for medicinal plants for their wild fruits and food. They depend on it to keep healthy safe and secure.  The destruction of Biodiversity as experienced by many communities is worrying, coupled by impacts of Climate change, land degradation Pollution and encouragement to Biodiversity hot-spots like the Forest areas have increased desperations among the Indigenous and local communities. You all know in most countries of the world, those communities are among the poor of the poorest.  Read the rest of this entry »

High Level Segment of COP-11 to CBD – IIFB Statement- Second statement

17. October, Hyderabad, India

Implementation of Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and benefit

Thank you Mr Chairman.

Am presenting this short input on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and Indigenous   Women’s  Biodiversity Network.

Mr Chairman, Indigenous peoples and local communities consider that our active participation is important thus the reason for us being here today. Even though we been present throughout the negotiations of the Nagoya Protocol, there is still a long way towards its implementation.

During the six years of negotiations, in and after Nagoya, we all continued working   together building bridges to the implementation of the Protocol. We are however worried and concerned that there seems to be no strong commitment to the ratification. Countries should be more committed and finalize the formulation of their national ABS laws so as to speed up the ratification Process. We do not want to break the bridges, we want them strong.  We as a Forum urge the Parties to do so. We consider that the Nagoya Protocol is a measure to re-establish our rights as indigenous peoples. We cannot achieve any Biodiversity set goals or even the strategic plan unless Nagoya protocol is ratified and implemented.

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