Can you tell us why it is important for Indigenous Peoples to have self-determination regarding the governance of their territory, in relation to conservation?
Because we are the ones taking care of the forests, and I think we are making progress. We say we are making progress. The fact that Indigenous Peoples are now part of IUCN is a breakthrough, and the Marseille Congress will be an important step to show that IUCN is moving forward, because we are already included as stakeholders governing forests.
For the first time in a CAPLAC Congress there was a space where IUCN was able to dialogue with IPOs. In your opinion, what are some of the priorities of indigenous peoples during CAPLAC?
In this third CAPLAC Congress, in Peru, it has been estimated that, since 2016, the membership has been approved, and it was considered that there has been some progress, but there are also some challenges. Let's say, in conclusion, that there must be much more communication, there must be an issue of strengthening the IPOs. But it was also considered that cooperation has to contribute to this process and that the participation of IPOs within IUCN should also be much more visible. I think these are important points. It was also agreed to create a task force in charge of planning, by putting dates, activities, and objectives, the road map. I think it is also important that IUCN has people who support this IPO process agenda and that, at this CAPLAC Congress, a point has been made with the IPOs that were present, and that good planning work has been done. The team that has been confirmed is already going to present us with a plan, a road map, and that is important for us, IPOs that are members of IUCN.
At the next Congress in Marseille, for the first time in the history of IUCN, IPOs that are members will be able to vote. What would you like IPOs to contribute to the resolutions of the IUCN Congress 2020?
Yes, at the Marseille Congress, the Indigenous Peoples of the IPOs will have a voice and a vote, and this is important. The contribution that we would like to make, for example, is to understand the issue of conservation in relation to human rights, in this case of Indigenous Peoples, but also of communities that conserve forests. So, this is going to be important because we will contribute to a topic that has never taken into account the vote or participation of Indigenous Peoples at that level. I think it will be a very positive input, and that the contribution of Indigenous Peoples will bring some understanding between conservation and the rights of the Indigenous Peoples who are there, in the forest.
Starting in 2020, strategic policy events will take place. This is the IUCN Congress and the discussions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). What would you like to bring to these discussions as an IPO leader, in relation to the topic of nature and conservation?
The issue of the recognition of territories in protected natural areas. Many of the protected natural areas do not recognize territories, even though these are indigenous peoples' territories. It would be important for protected natural areas to have at least some recognition that they are on indigenous territory. The other topic is the issue of stakeholders, of us, indigenous peoples, and the governance of protected areas, because in terms of communal territories, we do have it, but it is still lacking in protected natural areas. So these are the important issues that we have to discuss at the Marseille Congress.
What specific things do you think IUCN should do to support IPO participation and incidence at the Congress and the CBD COP? What tasks do you leave IUCN with?
For example, the issue of facilitating a meeting with IPOs is very important. I believe that there, by setting up a meeting of the IPOs, it would allow for a roadmap, an agenda to be developed. So, we can ask IUCN to implement this roadmap at all levels. What would happen with technicians, including resources to gather the indigenous peoples communities' own requests in different countries? So, I think this is a challenge, and we, as Indigenous Peoples, also need to be more aware of following up on this topic of dialogue, of input, of proposals. Because I believe that, on a daily basis, proposals are important, not only making the problems known, but also what the proposed solution would be. We are ready, as IPOs, to contribute. This is a shared responsibility, because we are members of IUCN and I think it is also up to us. The challenge is for all of us to be able to implement and that in Marseille we already have many more results.
What message would you send to the world, about why indigenous peoples are important for conservation?
I think it is important that humanity, society, can contribute to this work that we are developing. The issue that we, as Indigenous Peoples, are conserving nature, now as members of IPOs, I think we have the moral duty of saying: we want that help from people everywhere in the world, because we must work together so that humanity can continue to live towards a future. This is my message, and we all have the duty of preserving nature for humanity.
About the Author
Julio Cusurichi Palacios is President of the Native Federation of the Madre de Dios River and Tributaries (FENAMAD) in Peru, a member of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA). Julio, from the Shipibo indigenous community, received the Goldman Environmental Award in 2007. FENAMAD and COICA are IUCN IPO members.
