STATE OF THE WORLD's INDIGENOUs PEOpLEs - CINU

EMBARGOED UNTIL 14 January 2010STATE OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLESNot for distribution degradation of wetlands due to changing freeze-thaw cycles; glacial melts in high-altitude regions and subsequent inundations of valleys and hill areas; increased fires in tropical rainforests; changes in precipitation and desertification.Despite having contributed the least to GHG, indigenous peoples are the ones most at risk from the consequencesof climate change because of their dependence upon and close relationship with the environment and itsresources. 45 Although climate change is regionally specific and will be significant for indigenous peoples inmany different ways, indigenous peoples in general are expected to be disproportionately affected. Indigenouscommunities already affected by other stresses (such as, for example, the aftermath of resettlement processes),are considered especially vulnerable. 46Some of the consequences of climate change can already be felt, and indigenous peoples across the world haveexperienced changes in: the migratory pattern of fish, birds and mammals; the timing of many life-cycle events, such as blooming, migration and insect emergence; the population size of certain plants and animals; the availability of water resources; the availability of grazing areas, the size of crop yields, etc.These changes or even losses in the biodiversity of their environment will adversely affect or disrupt: the traditional hunting, fishing and herding practices of indigenous peoples, not only in the Arctic, butalso in other parts of the world; the livelihood of pastoralists worldwide; the traditional agricultural activities of indigenous peoples living in mountainous regions; the cultural and ritual practices that are not only related to specific species or specific annual cycles,but also to specific places and spiritual sites, etc.; the health of indigenous communities (vector-borne diseases, hunger, etc.); the revenues from tourism.The Arctic has been called “the world's climate change barometer” and indigenous peoples “the mercury in thatbarometer”—especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 47 As noted by the IPCC Fourth Assessment45Nilsson (2008), 9.46IPCC (2007b), 11.47IPCC (2007b), 56.96 | CHAPTER III