The fight against biopiracy and its injustices was the main impetus for the push to have an international treaty to be developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Convention’s third objective of fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the utilization of genetic resources is itself the result of tough negotiations in the early 1990s when the misappropriation, even theft, of the resources of developing countries and of indigenous peoples and local communities gained international attention.

After almost 20 years, when the Convention’s broad provisions proved to be inadequate, the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing was forged in October 2010. This new legally binding international treaty, however, was born in an atmosphere of controversy when its core content was ultimately decided by a few during the final days of the 10^th meeting of the CBD’s Conference of Parties in Nagoya, Japan.

This book, co-authored by six civil society participants who were actively engaged with the government negotiators and negotiation process, provides a rich account of the background and development of the Protocol. It analyzes the main provisions of the Protocol and recommends several actions that can be taken at the national and international levels to ensure that the Protocol objective of fair and equitable benefit-sharing can be delivered with justice restored. 

We, Indigenous Peoples, are rightsholders, with an inextricable link to their lands, territories and resources, which we have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired...We have a right to self-determination of our political condition and to freely choose our economic, social and cultural development. 

- The Manila Declaration International Conference on Extractive Industries and Indigenous Peoples

To put an end to these dynamics of destruction and violence, the international community—particularly international investors—must...recognize indigenous communities’ basic rights to chart their own development paths, to manage their own resources, to pursue their traditional livelihoods and cultures, and to say “no” to multinational operations on their lands. The failure to respect communities’ basic right to ‘‘just say no’’ exists at the heart of the nexus of human rights violations, environmental degradation and conflict.

- John Rumbiak, West Papuan activist

With this book we introduce ourselves to the public, both inside and outside the country. We, people of the Dayak world in Kalimantan participate in the great celebration and effort of the global community to gain recognition for the existence and dignity of the indigenous peoples who have long been marginalized by governments, corporations and the culturally dominant. 

The modern credit union shares the same direction and goal as the Pancur Kasih Empowerment Movement. The movement aims to liberate the Dayak indigenous peoples from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and inequity to a life of solidarity, gender equality and sustainable environment. 

Understanding the Lumad

A Closer Look at a Misunderstood Culture

This book hopes to help readers gain better insight into the Lumad (indigenous peoples of Mindanao, southern Philippines) culture. It celebrates the Lumads’ right to be different. It hopes to contribute to the effort of correcting the historical injustice done to the Lumads for centuries.

About the Book:The stories in this book tell of first-hand experiences of members of the Baguio Vermi Growers (BVG), both indigenous and non-indigenous, as they practice sustainable waste management in an urban setting in the Philippines. Vermiculture is a method of composting that uses earthworms - or Eugene, as members of BVG call them - to speed up the process. The stories narrate how vermiculture is done as one of the proven effective waste management techniques for biodegradable garbage. By processing biodegradable wastes, vermiculture contributes to the reduction of emissions of chemical compounds into the atmosphere...and significantly decreases the biodegradable garbage in the dumpsites, which is one source of greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides. These GHGs are the major cause of global warming and climate change.

William “Billy” Funa-ay Claver is an Igorot and it is his “Igorotness” which molded most of his perceptions, thoughts and arguments. The main themes of his speeches are: ancestral domain, right to self-determination, Cordillera autonomy, collective and individual human rights, and peace.

As indigenous women who are dependent and who live in forests, we continue to play significant roles in protecting the biodiversity and other ecosystem services our forests provide. Our reciprocal relationship and our rights to these forests and resources should be the defining elements to consider in any initiative around forests and climate change.
- Mandaluyong Declaration of the Global Conference on Indigenous Women, Climate Change and REDD Plus, November 2010

VOLUME 1 - The South East Asia Experience

The first  Decade is one factor which led to the establishment of more indigenous peoples’ formations within the countries. The existence of the UN Permanent Forum,   the UN Working Group on the Declaration and the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations provided the venues for indigenous activists and leaders from all the parts of the world to come together. One cannot underestimate the role these spaces played in cementing unities among indigenous peoples who are very diverse.

VOLUME 2 - The South Asia Experience

The first  Decade is one factor which led to the establishment of more indigenous peoples’ formations within the countries. The existence of the UN Permanent Forum,   the UN Working Group on the Declaration and the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations provided the venues for indigenous activists and leaders from all the parts of the world to come together. One cannot underestimate the role these spaces played in cementing unities among indigenous peoples who are very diverse.

This report shares the results of the project, “Support for Community Development within the Framework of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and the Ecosystems Approach,” piloted in Tinoc, Ifugao province.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and its aftermath have again taught us that building peace is not just about arriving at a political settlement to an armed conflict. It is about creating an environment that will enable both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples to live with dignity and in harmony with each other, based on social justice.

This book contains the case studies in three countries: Kenya, Nicaragua and Indonesia. One vital element about these case studies is that the ones who did the research and wrote the cases were indigenous researchers, themselves.

These studies covered the drivers of deforestation and existing national laws and policies on forests, land tenure, indigenous peoples and their rights, climate change and REDD+ from nine countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The reports also provided recommendations on how to address issues and challenges affecting forests and indigenous peoples.

Nepal REDD Book

This publication is a result of a series of global consultations and meetings on indigenous peoples self-determined development. These include indigenous peoples experiences in Latin America, Asia, Africa, North America, and the Arctic. This was published in 2010 with the support from the Christensen Fund, EED, IFAD and UNESCO.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing countries (REDD): A Guide for Indigenous Peoples

The popular Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples aims to enhance indigenous peoples knowledge on climate change so that indigenous peoples will be better equipped to participate more effectively in shaping relevant policies and actions taken to address this issue. It also aims to enlighten non-indigenous peoples on our own experiences and perspectives on climate change. This Second Edition includes updates on Part III: Climate Change Mitigation Measures: Impacts on Indigenous Peoples; Part IV: Adapting to Climate Change: Indigenous Peoples Show the Way; Part V: REDD/REDD+ and Indigenous Peoples; Part VIII: The Current State of Climate Change Negotiations; and Part IX: Ways Forward: The UNDRIP, the Human Rights Based Approach and the Ecosystem Approach. Date of Publication: September 2009.

Report of the Asia Summit on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples

This book is an initial collection of indigenous peoples’ declarations covering the themes of Economic and Social Development, Culture, Education, Human Rights, Health and Environment.