International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2024

 The following is a statement prepared by the CIC’s IPLCs Working Group on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2024.

As part of today’s festivities, the CIC is also pleased to announce our upcoming podcast series, Our Voice!

Produced in collaboration with Blood Origins, the series will spotlight the powerful stories of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, as well as their vital contributions to conservation.

Join us for engaging conversations that highlight unique perspectives, challenges, and successes in protecting our natural world. Tune in to be inspired and discover how these voices are shaping the future of wildlife management and sustainability.

Details on the first episode will be coming soon, so make sure to watch this space!

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2024, the CIC’s Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) Working Group would like to acknowledge the essential role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable wildlife management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems.

This year, we focus on the theme of “Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact.”

Indigenous Peoples in these situations are among the most vulnerable communities, living in harmony with their environments and maintaining rich cultural traditions.

Their ways of life are crucial for preserving biodiversity as they inhabit ecosystems often untouched by modern development. Protecting their rights is essential, as they face threats from resource extraction, land encroachment, and climate change.

Their perspectives are vital for shaping conservation strategies that respect their autonomy and promote their well-being. By integrating their traditional ecological knowledge into conservation efforts, we can foster sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and Indigenous communities. Amplifying their voices ensures a more equitable approach to conservation that honours their contributions and safeguards their futures.

Eighty percent of the world’s biodiversity and 40% of all terrestrial protected areas and ecologically intact landscapes are found in the territories of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Indigenous Peoples have an unmistakable connection to their traditional territories and the wildlife that inhabits them. We call on governments and global organisations to ensure that Indigenous voices are heard and amplified in decision-making processes that affect the management of lands, waters, and wildlife.

We also call on governments to consider the impact that their domestic decisions may have on Indigenous Peoples in other countries. Restricting legal and sustainable trade in wildlife can have severe impacts on Indigenous and local communities continents away, affecting their ability to steward their traditional territories and create prosperity for their members.

Sustainable use of wildlife is an essential part of Indigenous ways of life around the world – their knowledge and management capacity must be respected. Once again, Indigenous voices must be heard and amplified to inform decision-making, even if it occurs halfway around the world.

– Bupe Ritah Banda, Chair of the IPLCs Working Group

– Doug Chiasson, Vice-Chair of the IPLCs Working Group