Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 42
42
Accepted
Paragraph: 158
Ensuring full and meaningful participation of indigenous communities in anti-deforestation negotiations is crucial
Conclusion
Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) are vital protectors of forests: but they themselves are victims of the negative effects of deforestation activity, which can include violence and deprivation of livelihoods. Ensuring the full and meaningful participation of IPLCs in negotiations to address deforestation activity is therefore crucial: it is encouraging that this appears to be recognised in Government.
Government Response Summary
The government confirms its recognition of the crucial role of IPLCs and outlines extensive ongoing efforts through various ODA programmes to improve IPLC tenure rights and ensure their participation in global and national negotiations, including establishing dedicated platforms like the FCLP.
Paragraph Reference:
158
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
As clarified under recommendation 17, FCDO shares responsibility with all of Government to uphold the commitments made under the IPLC Forest Tenure Pledge. This includes addressing measures to improve tenure rights, or support IPLCs in the protection and restoration of forests. Improving the tenure rights of IPLCs is an important focus of a number of UK ODA programmes, including the Global Land Governance Programme; Forest Governance, Markets and Climate programme; and Forest, Communities and Sustainable Growth (TEFOS) programme. In addition, the UK’s contribution to the REDD Early Movers programme, the Brazilian Amazon Fund and the Central African Forests Initiative (CAFI) supports several project activities which seek to strengthen IPLCs’ forest tenure security. The UK Government is committed to developing new projects and programmes in this area. For example, in autumn 2023, FCDO officials carried out a scoping mission across five Amazon countries, meeting with 18 IPLC organisations and 17 partner NGOs, in order to better understand IPLCs’ needs and priorities for donor support. This will inform the design of future HMG policy and programmes. The UK Government is also taking action to promote the inclusion of IPLC representatives in key global and national negotiations. For example, through the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), which the UK co-launched with other members at COP27, a Platform for Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities (IPLCs) is being established as an inclusive and constructive dialogue between governments, funders and representatives of IPLCs organisations. This will allow IPLCs to actively participate in high-level discussions, emphasising the importance of securing forest tenure rights. The UK also supports greater inclusion of IPLCs within the formal UNFCCC negotiations, including language that both recognises the important role that IPLCs play in climate action and respects their rights. During the UK’s COP26 Presidency, the role of IPLCs was recognised in both decision text and non-negotiated outcomes, and Parties agreed the three-year Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) workplan, which is now being implemented.