SUPPORTING THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF WILD SPECIES

BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES (IPLCs)
There are many threats to the maintenance and revitalization of sustainable use by IPLCs.
Recommended actions that could better support sustainable use by IPLCs include

RECOGNITION OF RIGHTS

  • Develop policies that respect and promote the rights of IPLCs
  • Support IPLC land tenure and Indigenous territories
  • Promote equitable access to land, fisheries and forests
  • Ensure free, prior and informed consent for activities that will impact sustainable use
  • Recognize gendered differences in knowledge and practice
  • Establish fair and equitable distribution of costs and benefits from sustainable use of wild species

KNOWLEDGE CO-CREATION

  • Recognize the validity of both science and Indigenous and local knowledge
  • Support the co-production of knowledge by scientists and Indigenous knowledge holders
  • Build policies based on diverse forms of knowledge

PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE

  • Recognize, support and strengthen customary governance, institutions and rules
  • Engage IPLCs in biodiversity decision-making and policy design
  • Build participatory mechanisms into local and national governance
  • Develop legal and regulatory instruments based on both science and Indigenous and local knowledge
  • Engage IPLCs in planning processes for protected areas and other conservation measures

ENHANCED MONITORING

  • Promote and support IPLC monitoring systems, which interlink social and ecological elements
  • Use local and global ecological, economic and governance indicators developed
  • by IPLCs
  • Develop inclusive monitoring systems based on scientific and IPLC approaches

TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE OF HUMAN-NATURE RELATIONSHIP

  • Move conceptualizations towards a common vision of sustainable use while recognizing different value systems and conceptualizations
  • Recognize that humanity is part of nature
  • Develop education, communication and awareness programmes that: 
  • Respect and support IPLC cultures and language
  • Increase ecological knowledge through learning in nature
  • Promote harmonious human-nature relationships and: spiritual values over monetized and commodified values