Biodiversity for Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction

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.

If we have to make change we must ensure that the different indigenous Peoples and local communities out there must be recognized and included in activities that are targeted towards the poverty reduction and Biodiversity conservation. Unfortunately most countries where these communities live have not been keenly relating Biodiversity destruction and the increase of Poverty among the communities. There is need Madam Chair to ensure that Parties Mainstream Biodiversity ecosystems services, livelihoods and poverty reduction into economic, social and political processes starting from the National, Regional and international levels. Most of the countries have Poverty reduction strategies, and have recently started to plan activities on Natural capital all geared to reducing Biodiversity loss. These strategy programmes should be reviewed to include Biodiversity and livelihood.

Considering the cultural link to Biodiversity of livelihoods there is need for this issue to be discussed and Communities have skills and they can give ideas and contribute to Policy decisions on alternative livelihoods that make a difference in saving Biodiversity

We urge you all as you implement the Aichi targets and the strategic plans we have to ensure that Biodiversity Livelihoods and poverty reduction are part of the process.

Madam Chair just before I wind up IIFB would like to remind you all that Indigenous Peoples have critical role to play in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable development. We must all work together and be part of the train  that has been moving around this incredible country all India since June 5^th on the world environment day creating awareness on the need to protect nature. This time the train we take will be across our continents, lands and territories in the hope to keep Mother Earth better for the next generation.