Is Maya Kaqchikel, with postgraduate studies in Local Environmental Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences, and is a journalist. He serves as Director of Cooperation at Saqb’e ...
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP
IUCN CEESP Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Working Group
Group leadership
Mr Francisco Ramiro BATZIN CHOJOJ
Is Maya Kaqchikel, with postgraduate studies in Local Environmental Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences, and is a journalist. He serves as Director of Cooperation at Saqb’e Centro de Distinción, Political Secretary of Coalición Juyu, an Environmental and Social Management Specialist, a member of IUCN CEESP, a member of the MARFUND Board of Directors, and an Honorary Member of Asociación Tikonel. He has served as Coordinator of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (2015–2026), Vice-President (2022–2025) and IUCN Global Indigenous Peoples’ Councillor (2018–2025). He is Guatemala’s National Focal Point for Article 8(j) and Related Decisions on Traditional Knowledge and Customary Sustainable Use under the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010–2026), and served as a member of Guatemala’s National Council on Climate Change (2014–2024).
The emphasis of the CEESP Indigenous Peoples, Customary & Environmental Laws & Human Rights Specialist Group has been to contribute in the development of improved conservation practices with indigenous peoples based on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and linking it to existing IUCN commitments and mandates to ensure concrete recommendations for a rights-based approach, with specific emphasis on indigenous peoples' human rights within conservation.
The Indigenous Peoples, Customary & Environmental Laws & Human Rights Specialist Group (SPICEH), at its core, has a focus to deepen awareness, provide analysis, and offer recommendations for conservation that take into account indigenous peoples’ distinct human rights as it relates to their environment, lands, territories, and natural resources.
For indigenous peoples, their human rights are not separate from their lands and environment, therefore environmental and human rights must be fully integrated in all aspects of work.