Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples

governance of forests (e.g., Tropical Forestry Action Plan, Forest Projectsand Policies supported by the World Bank and other regional banks,work of the UN Forum on Forests, some forest and conservation projectsof conservation and environmental NGOs).• In most tropical forest countries, indigenous peoples’ rights to theirforests are not recognized and itis also in these countries wherepoor environmental and forestgovernance persists. Illegal loggingor illegal deforestation is prevalent.Since most of these forests areAnchorage Declaration declared as state-owned, politicians5. All initiatives under ReducingEmissions from Deforestation anduse the forests as gifts to theircronies or their families.Degradation (REDD) must secure the • Many indigenous peoplesrecognition and implementation of the have negative experiences fromhuman rights of Indigenous Peoples, the “plus” activities added to REDD.including security of land tenure,Conservation projects have led toownership, recognition of land titlelarge-scale evictions and violationsaccording to traditional ways, uses andcustomary laws and the multiple benefitsof their basic human rights.of forests for climate, ecosystems, and Sustainable forest managementPeoples before taking any action. (SFM) is a jargon used by the forestindustry to undertake massivelogging operations in old-growthforests which are part of traditional territories of indigenous peoples.Enhancing carbon stocks could easily be translated into establishment oflarge-scale, monoculture industrial plantations.• There is no common position among indigenous peoples in relationto whether they should engage ornot with REDD+. However, mostindigenous peoples organizationsand networks are united intheir stand that their rights ascontained in the UNDRIP shouldbe respected and protected in allactivities related to forests andclimate change, including REDD+.The position on REDD whichgathered unanimous support atthe Indigenous Peoples GlobalSummit on Climate Change (April20 – 24, 2009) is contained inParagraph 5 of the AnchorageDeclaration.56 <strong>Guide</strong> on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples