European Union

Highlights for Friday, 22 November 2019 The 11th meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) concluded its deliberations, approving final recommendations to the Conference of the Parties (COP) on: the development of a new programme of work and institutional arrangements on Article 8(j) related to indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs); options for possible elements of work aimed at an integration of nature and culture in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; recommendations from the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII); and the in-depth dialogue on the thematic areas. Regarding the development of a new programme of work and institutional arrangements, consensus could not be reached and the final recommendation contains bracketed text. A number of options were tabled regarding institutional arrangements, including establishing a permanent subsidiary body on Article 8(j), retaining the Working Group in its current form, or integrating it in the Convention’s subsidiary bodies. Following lengthy discussions, all suggestions remained on the table and the issue will be further discussed in COP 15 in Kunming, China, including the potential establishment of an ad hoc technical expert group (AHTEG) on IPLCs and the post-2020 framework.  In closing statements, Elizabeth Mrema, Officer-In-Charge, CBD Secretariat, reminded delegates that the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, on whose land the meeting took place, holds the philosophy that deliberations must consider the impacts of their decisions “on the next seven generations.” She highlighted that, during the meeting, contributions of the traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of IPLCs in addressing biodiversity loss were recognized as fundamental, as well as that the traditional knowledge and languages are essential to social and ecological resilience. Regional groups stressed that “this is a crucial moment for biodiversity,” emphasizing the need to take stock of progress on the Aichi Targets and develop an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Observers, including indigenous organizations, emphasized that the full and effective participation of IPLCs is crucial for a strong post-2020 framework; underscored that the post-2020 framework needs to be inclusive; expressed concern about potentially moving away from environmental and human rights standards as recognized by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); and lamented the number of brackets still remaining in some of the approved recommendations. Co-Chairs Lakpa Nuri Sherpa (Nepal) and Hamdallah Zedan (Egypt) underscored that collaboration is key in fighting biodiversity loss and climate change. They emphasized the fruitful relationship with IPLCs, who are “the guardians of most of the remaining biodiversity,” and stressed that the post-2020 global biodiversity framework provides an opportunity to further this relationship. Zedan gaveled the meeting to a close at 4:58 pm.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.  IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from SBSTTA 23 and WG8J 11. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Working Group Co-Chair Hamdallah Zedan, Egypt Working Group Co-Chair Lakpa Nuri Sherpa, Nepal CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper, with Working Group Co-Chair Hamdallah Zedan, Egypt Moustafa Fouda, Egypt Elizabeth Mrema, Officer-in-Charge, CBD Secretariat Elise Murphy, Australia Luciana Melchert, Brazil Lyna Al-Awathi, Kuwait Andrea Cruz-Angón, Mexico Norbert Bärlocher, Switzerland Somaly Chan, Cambodia Charlotta Von Troil, EU, and Linda Lund, Norway Norbert Bärlocher, Switzerland, and Tim Badman, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Linda Lund, Norway Scott Wilson, Canada Edward Netshithothole, South Africa Delegates conferring during a break in negotiations Lennart Kümper-Schlake, Germany Lio Ando-Bourguet, CBD Secretariat Linn Appelgren, Sweden Ricarda Steinbrecher, Federation of German Scientists From L-R: El Khitma El Awad Mohammed, Sudan; Genene Tefera Belihu, Ethiopia; and Melesse Maryo Salamo, Ethiopia Around the Venue

Highlights for Wednesday, 20 November 2019 From L-R: CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper; Working Group Chair Hamdallah Zedan, Egypt; and John Scott, CBD Secretariat Delegates to the 11th meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) met throughout the day to hear opening and regional statements, address organizational matters, conduct the in-depth dialogue on the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, assess progress towards Aichi Target 18, and discuss the links between nature and culture in the post-2020 framework. In the opening plenary, Mohawk elder Charlie Patton, Kahnawake, welcomed participants onto Mohawk territory and noted the need to “work of one mind to help heal our Mother Earth.” Elizabeth Mrema, CBD Secretariat Officer-in-Charge, emphasized that no wisdom can be left out, and that traditional knowledge transferred between generations is key to understanding nature. Inger Andersen, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, underscored that IPLCs have been deploying the solutions that “we need to rediscover to secure a sustainable future,” and stressed that environmental defenders, who work to protect nature, often pay for their efforts with their lives. Working Group Co-Chair Hamdallah Zedan (Egypt), for the COP Presidency, emphasized the need to be ambitious, inclusive, and optimistic. Regional groups, indigenous peoples’ organizations, and civil society organizations emphasized the importance of full and effective participation of IPLCs in the work of the Convention and the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Seven IPLC representatives were designated as “Friends of the Bureau,” representing the geo-cultural regions recognized by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), and Lakpa Nuri Sherpa (Asia) was designated as Working Group Co-Chair. Plenary then addressed an in-depth dialogue on the contribution of cultural diversity and the traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of IPLCs to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Panelists highlighted the importance of: IPLCs’ inclusion in policy and decision-making; an international alliance for nature and culture; and nature-culture indicators. Delegates and participants were introduced to the concept of "ili", the place where one is born, including its natural, cultural, and spiritual identity. In the afternoon, the Working Group unpacked almost all of the items on its agenda. Delegates and participants reviewed progress towards Aichi Target 18 (traditional knowledge); deliberated on the role of IPLCs in the development and implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; and exchanged ideas for possible elements of work aiming at reintegration of nature and culture in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Regarding possible institutional arrangements, some parties recommended that a permanent subsidiary body on aspects relating to IPLCs be created, while others suggested delaying relevant decisions until the content of the new programme of work is finalized.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.  IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from SBSTTA 23 and WG8J 11. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Working Group Chair Hamdallah Zedan, Egypt Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) John Scott, CBD Secretariat, with CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper Vinod Mathur, Rapporteur Elizabeth Mrema, Officer-in-Charge, CBD Tiina Sanila-Aikio, Finland Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network Charlie Patton, Mohawk Elder Phepsile Maseko, Traditional Healers Organisation, South Africa John Scott, CBD Secretariat Joaqin Salzberg, Argentina Moustafa Fouda, Egypt Josefa Cariño Tauli, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Marina von Weissenberg, Finland Alejandra Loría Martínez, Costa Rica Tim Badman, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Belal Alhayek, Syrian Arab Republic Charlotta Von Troil, EU Aslak Holmberg, Saami Council June Batang-ay and Dibara Sharipova, Tebtebba Foundation Raed Bani-Hani, Jordan Gillian Dunuan, Philippines Gunn-Britt Retter, Saami Council Around the Venue