The pledge we need

Recommendations for Pledge 2.0 of the Forest Tenure Funders Group
To: Forest Tenure Funders Group

The historic commitment that the Forest Tenure Funders Group made at COP26 – to invest $1.7 billion to advance forest tenure rights in tropical forest countries between 2021-2025 – has benefitted Indigenous Peoples in tropical forest countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and has been crucial in drawing international attention to the key role that Indigenous Peoples can play in finding solutions to the challenges presented by global climate change and in safeguarding the world’s biological diversity.

We understand that the Forest Tenure Funders Group has begun discussing the framework for a second pledge (“Pledge 2.0”). In this letter, we offer our recommendations and encourage you to use them to inform the discussions related to a second pledge. We view these recommendations as necessary elements in order for the second pledge to provide a realistic assessment of the enormity of the challenges presented by global climate change, and to learn from and build upon the successes and the deficiencies in implementing the first pledge. We write this letter in the spirit of collaboration and with a commitment to contribute to an effective Pledge 2.0.

1. Expand the scope of the fund to ensure protection of biological diversity, and to cover all biomes throughout the world’s seven socio-cultural regions.
   Like the nature of human rights, climate change and the loss of biological diversity are interrelated, interdependent, and indivisible. This is a global phenomenon, and it must be addressed globally. Unfortunately, political economy and the adverse impacts of climate change make no distinction between the “developed” and “developing” world, despite Indigenous Peoples facing its most severe consequences. The drivers are the same and impact ecosystems across every region on Earth. The biomes of the Earth are interconnected. What happens in one ecosystem affects all other ecosystems. The permafrost soils, ice and glacial underside melt, and deep ocean temperatures of the polar regions influence mid-latitude conditions.¹ The health of the Andes is directly linked to the health of the Amazon. Just as the jet streams that carry North African dust nourish the Amazon Basin, the impacts on the African deserts are reflected in the Amazon basin. What impacts the weather Serengeti impacts the Congo forest; destruction of coastal zones in Indonesia negatively impacts the forests of Papua.
   
   Maintaining the ecological integrity of the Earth’s remaining intact, large-scale, landscapes is necessary for global climatic stability. Given that Indigenous Peoples are the guardians of these remaining landscapes, it is our hope that the Forest Tenure Funders Group will engage Indigenous Peoples from around the world while developing the scope and goals of Pledge 2.0, and that any new funding will recognize the interconnectedness of global climate change and biological diversity, and be made available to Indigenous Peoples from the seven socio-cultural regions.
   
2. Promote respect for, recognition of, and full realization of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
   Echoing the Outcome Document from the meeting of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which took place February 26 – 28, 2024, “The respect for and recognition of the inherent rights, status, and role of Indigenous Peoples are directly related to the language and methods of work of the UN Entities, including the Secretariats of treaties, Member States, multilateral and bilateral financial institutions, intergovernmental organizations, international organizations, foundations, funders and Non-Governmental Organizations..”
   
   Respect for the distinct rights and status of Indigenous Peoples, consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other international human rights instruments, requires acknowledging Indigenous Peoples as collective rights-holders, distinct from “stakeholders”, “minorities”, or “local communities”. Recognizing the distinct status, rights, and role of Indigenous Peoples in a Pledge 2.0 will advance the realization of the UNDRIP, avoid perpetuating the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples due to conflating them with other populations, and facilitate more accurate data collection, and empower Indigenous Peoples from every region to advance their diverse perspectives, distinct Knowledge systems, and their solutions for the benefit of humankind.
   
3. Prioritize support for Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination.
   Tenure rights alone do not guarantee protection of Indigenous Peoples’ territories. The Maasai of Loliondo Division and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), who are being violently evicted from their territory, hold legal title to their land. The Yanomami, who are being decimated by the continuing invasion of miners, hold legal title to their land. The Mayagna People of Awas Tingni won their land title by litigating their historic case in the Interamerican Court on Human Rights in 2001, yet today over 90% of the people who live in their territory are colonists. The comprehensive, modern day treaties between Inuit and the government of Canada are not shielding them or their lands from further marginalization and exploitation, compounded by an Arctic that is warming almost four times faster than the rest of the planet.²
   
   Ensuring secure tenure rights requires recognition of, and respect for, Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination, which is recognized as the pre-requisite for the exercise and enjoyment of all other human rights. Achieving self-determination is a political struggle that remains elusive. Pledge 2.0 cannot shy away from this struggle. Supporting the strategic political work and alliance building of Indigenous Peoples is key, as is support for Indigenous Peoples’ governance structures, knowledge systems, community mapping, physical demarcation of territories, and legal and administrative support. Safeguarding territorial integrity and ensuring the long-term health of Indigenous Peoples’ resource management systems also requires building local, sustainable economies. These efforts should be prioritized in Pledge 2.0.
   
4. In every phase of identifying, developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Pledge 2.0, engage Indigenous Peoples’ organizations that have mandates to represent their communities.
   Direct ongoing, effective, inclusive and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, as partners in Pledge 2.0, will ensure efficiency, impact, transparency and accountability. Their effective participation will also enable the development of regional and thematic strategies that are based on Indigenous Peoples’ own priorities. Consistent with international human rights norms, a process of co-creation will facilitate the development of criteria to ensure that intermediary organizations have the capacity to strengthen and support the visions and autonomy of Indigenous Peoples, and allow for the development of relevant indicators that can measure the quality of Pledge 2.0 investments. An inclusive and participatory oversight mechanism, composed of funders and Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, will ensure that the right of Free, Prior and Informed Consent is adhered to in all projects and programs supported by Pledge 2.0. Such an approach may result in a significant contribution to the actual realization of the rights affirmed in the UNDRIP, a challenge faced by Indigenous Peoples in every region of the world.
5. Invest in Indigenous women and girls.
   Meaningful and sustained engagement with, and support of, Indigenous women and girls (as key knowledge holders, not simply victims of the climate crisis) is essential to ensuring gender equality, sustainable management of resources and equitable benefit sharing. Funding should prioritize supporting Indigenous women and girls’ livelihoods, organizations, and their ongoing participation in national, regional and international decision-making processes regarding climate change, biodiversity protection, and sustainable management of natural resources.
   
   The recommendations are endorsed by the following Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations.
   
   1. Land is Life
   2. Sami Parliament Finland
   3. Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact – AIPP
   4. Tin-Hinane Association
   5. Inuit Circumpolar Council
   6. Organización Wiwa Yugumaiun Bunkuanarua Tayrona – OWYBT
   7. Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance – CPA
   8. Pueblo Originario Kichwa de Sarayaku
   9. InterTribal Committee
   10. Pastoral Women’s Council- PWC
   11. Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement & Conflict Transformation –
       IMPACT
   12. Ngetha Media Association for Peace – NMAP
   13. Center for Research and Advocacy in Manipur – CRAM
   14. Gobierno Territorial Autónomo de la Nación CHAPRA
   15. Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association – MBOSCUDA
   16. Benet Mosop Community Association – BMCA
   17. Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas – CAOI
   18. Central de Comunidades Indígena Tacana II del Río Madre de Dios – CITRMD.
   19. Enkishon Indigenous Initiative
   20. Chepkitale Indigenous People Development Project – CIPDP
   21. Koibatek Ogiek Women’s and Youth Network – KOWYN
   22. African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development – AIFES
   23. Federation Des ONG SAFAL
   24. Asociación de Mujeres Saparas de Ecuador ASHIÑWAKA
   25. Confederación Indígena Tayrona CIT
   26. Cooperative Allah Wallou Transformation De Produits Laitiers
   27. Autoridades Tradicionales Indígenas de Colombia Gobierno Mayor
   28. Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program – OPDP
   29. Association Acal El Hajeb Pour La Culture Et Le Développement
   30. Jamii Asilia Centre
   31. Action pour le Développement Durable – ACDD
   32. Cabildo Indígena del Resguardo kankuamo
   33. Dignité Pygmée (DIPY) – Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
   34. Pastoralists Indigenous Non Governmental Organizations Forum – Pingos
   35. Forum des Femmes Autochtones Du Cameroun – CAIWOF
   36. Unissons Nous Pour la Promotion Des Batwa – UNIPROBA
   37. Yayasan Anak Dusun Papua – YADUPA
   38. Indigenous Amazigh Network – AZUL
   39. Organización Payipie Ichadie Totobiegosode – OPIT
   40. Federación de Comunidades Nativas Fronterizas del Putumayo –
       FECONAFROPU
   41. Sengwer Indigenous Community Trust
   42. Traditional Ecosystems Survival Tanzania -TEST
   43. Snowchange Cooperative – Arctic Circle
   44. Indigenous Community Conservation Initiatives
   45. Comisión Nacional de Territorios Indígenas – CNTI

1. See https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/about/faq/faq-chapter-3/#:~:text=The%20polar%20regions%20influence%20the ,potentially%20 influence%20 mid%2d Latitude%20 ↩︎
2. See https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00498-3 ↩︎