Agreement on implementing Article 8(j) special for world’s indigenous peoples: Luis Guillermo Izquierdo Mora

Sub : Env

Sec: Int conventions

Context:

The 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) highlighted the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in conserving biodiversity.
- A new Subsidiary Body was established to implement Article 8(j) of the CBD, enhancing engagement and participation of IPLCs in all convention processes.
  - It aims to speed up actions and achieve the goals set by the biodiversity agreement.
- A new Programme of Work was adopted for Article 8(j) and related provisions, focusing on the needs and contributions of IPLCs.

Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

Article 8(j) recognizes the vital role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in conserving biodiversity. It states:
Respect, Preserve, and Maintain Knowledge:
- Contracting parties are encouraged to respect, preserve, and maintain the traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of IPLCs that are crucial for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
- Such actions must be subject to national legislation and involve the approval and participation of the knowledge holders.
Promotion of Knowledge:
- The article calls for the wider application of IPLCs’ traditional knowledge, with the active involvement of the communities.
- It emphasizes equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of this traditional knowledge and practices.

Local Biodiversity Outlooks 2 (LBO-2) Report:

Launch: The Local Biodiversity Outlooks 2 (LBO-2) report was launched in September 2020.
Collaborative Research:
- LBO-2 is a significant collaborative effort, featuring contributions from over 50 indigenous and local authors and communities.
Key Highlights:
- It underscores the critical roles of IPLCs in maintaining and enhancing both biological and cultural diversity.
- The report presents indigenous and local perspectives on the transformational changes needed to achieve the vision of a world living in harmony with nature.

How It Will Benefit Communities?

Although the creation of the subsidiary body won’t solve all the issues faced by IPLCs, it strengthens their involvement in major decisions.
It provides a platform for IPLCs to propose actions that are more aligned with their realities, helping to protect their ancestral lands and traditional knowledge.

Connection of Indigenous Communities to the Environment:

IPLCs depend on local biodiversity not just for food and medicine, but also for spiritual practices.
Spiritual guides, or “mamos,” play a vital role in advising the community on sustainable use of local biodiversity, which has been preserved for centuries.

Example: The Role of Frailejón (Espeletia sp.)

Frailejón, a slow-growing shrub native to Colombia, holds great cultural and ecological importance:
- Used in rituals for key life events (births, deaths, sickness, etc.), it is seen as a symbol of life and connected to nature’s cycles.
- It contributes to water availability by capturing moisture from clouds and releasing it into the soil, helping form lakes and rivers that supply water to urban areas.

Threats to Biodiversity in Colombia:

Forest fires in the Andean regions have put frailejón and other species at risk.
Illegal agriculture, particularly the use of pesticides and fertilizers, is destroying the alpine tundra ecosystem.
Extractive industries, such as mining for construction materials, threaten the habitat. Indigenous beliefs view rocks as the earth’s bones, and mining is seen as breaking these natural structures.