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IUCN CEESP Indigenous Peoples, Customary, Environmental Law, Human Rights Specialist Group

IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN CEESP Indigenous Peoples, Customary, Environmental Law, Human Rights Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
Indigenous Peoples, representing 6.2 percent of the total population, contribute to safeguarding 80% of the world’s biodiversity. The 2022 IPCC report highlighted the recognition of the rights of ...
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Indigenous Peoples, representing 6.2 percent of the total population, contribute to safeguarding 80% of the world’s biodiversity. The 2022 IPCC report highlighted the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) for forest adaptation and other actions to manage the climate crisis. Although the global discourse on climate change, conservation and biodiversity started prioritizing the theme of Indigenous Peoples as guardians of forests and natural resources, this discourse is hardly reflected at country level. Therefore, Indigenous Peoples and women urge for a rights-based approach to conservation to maintain traditional livelihoods while also offering a sustainable solution for the global crisis. The objective of this group is to do the documentation and sensitization on the importance of rights-based conservation with full recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ customary institutions, self-governance systems for continuation of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge, skills, and sustainable livelihoods.

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Group leadership

Ms Pasang SHERPA

Chair

Pasang Dolma Sherpa, Executive Director of Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research & Development (CIPRED) has been working with Indigenous Peoples, Women and Local Communities for the recognition of ...

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Pasang Dolma Sherpa, Executive Director of Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research & Development (CIPRED) has been working with Indigenous Peoples, Women and Local Communities for the recognition of the indigenous peoples’ knowledge, cultural values and customary institutions that contributed for sustainable management of forest, ecosystem, biodiversity and climate resilience for more than a decade. Ms. Sherpa has obtained her PhD at Kathmandu University in 2018 on Climate Change Education and its Interfaces with Indigenous Knowledge. She has already served as Co-Chair of International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), Co- Chair of Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples’ Platform (LCIP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to the board of UN- REDD, Participant Committee of FCPF, World Bank. Presently, she is the Chair of Specialist Group on Indigenous Peoples' Customary and Environmental Laws and Human Rights (SPICEH) within CEESP-IUCN, visiting faculty at Kathmandu University, Steering Committee member to the White Papers lead by IPCC, UNESCO and ECOMOS, Advisor to the Once Ocean Hub based in UK, Advisor to the CMA based in Canada as well as representing in the different forums, networks and institutions both at national and international levels.

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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.  

At a glance

Official name:
IUCN CEESP Indigenous Peoples, Customary, Environmental Law, Human Rights Specialist Group
Associated Commissions:
Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy
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