La finalidad de este estudio es presentar la participación de los pueblos indígenas y las comunidades locales en el discurso de los mercados de carbono como una propuesta de solución emergente al cambio climático. En el estudio participaron seis países de Asia, África y Latinoamérica y comprendió investigación de fuentes de información (documental), consultas con las comunidades indígenas e interacciones con las autoridades del país. Mediante la investigación documental se compilaron los antecedentes del informe, incluida la situación de la actividad en torno a los mercados de carbono.

This study seeks to present the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the carbon markets discourse as an emerging solution to climate change. It involved six countries from Asia, Africa, and Central America. The scoping study was comprised of desktop research and consultations with indigenous communities and interactions with authorities at the country level. Desktop research was conducted to inform the background of the report, including the state of activity around carbon markets.

Cette étude vise à présenter l’engagement des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales dans le discours sur les marchés du carbone en tant que solution émergente au changement climatique. Elle a porté sur six pays d’Asie, d’Afrique et d’Amérique centrale. L’étude exploratoire a consisté en des recherches documentaires, des consultations avec les communautés autochtones et des interactions avec les autorités au niveau national. Des recherches documentaires ont été menées afin de documenter rapport, notamment l’état de l’activité autour des marchés du carbone.

The CHT Accord, signed on 2.12.1997, was meant to end armed violence in the CHT. It was welcomed by indigenous peoples in CHT as an opportunity to claim their rights as indigenous peoples and citizens of Bangladesh. Indigenous civil society leaders came together with NGO donors from Germany. They requested capacity-building and professionalisation to the extent of being in a position to access funds for their future activities. Given the trauma inflicted by the violent conflict, there was fear and mistrust against members and institutions of the mainland community. Therefore, involving experienced Bangladeshi NGOs in leading such a process was impossible. Donors had to think out of the box and go an extra mile in managing challenging funding procedures in order to support the post-Accord activities. Eventually it was decided to work with an international organization. This organization was considered to be neutral and given their focus on indigenous peoples worldwide, “like-minded”. This introduced Maleya Foundation to the international community of indigenous activists.

Transitional justice is an approach to address systematic and pervasive human rights violations. The Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) interprets Transitional Justice as that which “covers the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempt to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past conflict, repression, violations, and abuses, to ensure accountability, serve justice, and achieve reconciliation”.2 In Asia, the peace negotiation between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been viewed as a model for transitional justice in Southern Philippines. After decades of holding the peace process, both parties came up with the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with a transitional government known as the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). 

Ang transisyonal na proseso para sa katarungan (transitional justice process o TJP) ay isang pamamaraan para matugunan ang mga laganap at sistematikong paglabag ng karapatang pantao. Sa paliwanag ng Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), ang transitional justice ay “sumasaklaw sa mga proseso at mekanismo nakatipon sa pagtangka ng ating lipunan na pakitungohan ang kanyang pinamanang kaso ng mga pakikidigma, paghahadlang, paglalabag at pag-aabuso; masigurado ang pananagutan; maihain ng katarungan; at magkaroon ng rekonsilyasyon.”2 Sa Asia, ang negosasyon para sa kapayapaan sa pagitan ng Gobyerno ng Pilipinas (GPH) at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ay tinitingnan na isang modelo ng transitional justice process sa Timog Pilipinas. Matapos ng dekadang paghawak ng negosasyong pangkapayapaan, ang dalawang lupon ay nakalabas ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) at nakapagtatag ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) na may kasamang transisyonal na gobyerno na mas kilala bilang Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). 

Progress Report for the Period: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023

Submitted by: Philippine National Program

Submitted to: SwedBio at Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC)

Year 2023: Development Context

“Global efforts to mitigate the climate crises remains inadequate” according to State of Climate Action 2023. The World Meteorological Organization recorded 2023 as the hottest year in history. One expert designated the year as one characterized by an alarming surge in both the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, solidifying its status as a year marked by catastrophic events of a natural origin. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones harmed vital ecosystems and food sources, caused misery in the life of millions of people and inflicting many billions of dollars in economic losses. Humanitarian crisis worsened and needs such as water, food, dignity go unmet. December 10, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary. Its promise of dignity and equality in rights, has been under a sustained assault as the world faces numerous challenges, conflicts, exploding inequalities, climate change. Year 2023 crafted the Human Rights 75 initiative that seeks to shift the understanding and action towards greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR so that collective action to achieve the values, and rights enshrined will leave anyone behind. Amidst these crises, countries came together in unprecedented ways to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. An environmental multilateralism led to landmark pacts to end chemical pollution and transition the world away from fossil fuels; the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners launched the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans Accelerator Partnership. The UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) with nearly 200 Parties came together with a decision to ratchet up climate action to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. In the Philippines, natural hazards and conflict affected more than 13.7 million people in 2023. While only 11 tropical cyclones (TC) entered the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR) from an average of 20, the country experienced heavy rains causing floods and landslides; a series of strong earthquakes in Mindanao that caused extensive damage to infrastructures, displacement of people and loss of lives. The year was also seen as the start of a strong El Niño. The Philippine economy faced multiple hurdles last year including soaring food prices and persistent supply chain bottlenecks. However, data shows that the Philippines economy has continued to show robust expansion, with GDP growth of 5.9% year-over-year (y/y) in the third quarter of 2023. This is due to fast growth in the manufacturing sector, sustained remittance inflows from workers abroad, fast-growing IT-BPO and the continued recovery of the tourism sector.

This training course for community trainers was conceptualized to answer the particular needs of indigenous communities as they tighten their framework for development, based on their self-determination, by providing venues for trainers to come and learn together. First piloted among Tebtebba partners in October 2011, the course has since been shared by the partners with their respective communities (Nicaragua, Africa Tanzania, Kenya, and Nepal). This was also tested with global partners in Chiangmai, Thailand on July 14, 2013. During the community pilot tests, the partner facilitators were able to adjust the course guide into localized modules using their local languages and take into consideration the particular needs of the community.

With the establishment of the ELATIA Indigenous Peoples’ Training Institute in 2018, this training course underwent further review and revision with additional inputs coming from
key individuals in the ELATIA Partnership. Key contents, messages, and methodologies are thus enriched.

After the series of pilot tests and a facilitators’ training in 2019, the lessons that were learned enriched this framework. Given the affirmative results of the community trainings
on the integrated holistic approach, this training course will further be used and improved based on the practices and actual experiences of indigenous communities on the ground.

This training course for community trainers was conceptualized to answer the particular needs of indigenous communities as they tighten their framework for development, based on their self-determination, by providing venues for trainers to come and learn together. First piloted among Tebtebba partners in October 2011, the course has since been shared by the partners with their respective communities (Nicaragua, Africa Tanzania, Kenya, and Nepal). This was also tested with global partners in Chiangmai, Thailand on July 14, 2013. During the community pilot tests, the partner facilitators were able to adjust the course guide into localized modules using their local languages and take into consideration the particular needs of the community.

With the establishment of the ELATIA Indigenous Peoples’ Training Institute in 2018, this training course underwent further review and revision with additional inputs coming from
key individuals in the ELATIA Partnership. Key contents, messages, and methodologies are thus enriched.

After the series of pilot tests and a facilitators’ training in 2019, the lessons that were learned enriched this framework. Given the affirmative results of the community trainings
on the integrated holistic approach, this training course will further be used and improved based on the practices and actual experiences of indigenous communities on the ground.

Through time, the ever-growing multi-ethnic city populace has engulfed the Ibaloi clans. Likewise, the Ibaloi language has become increasingly limited in use, and the trend is towards the decline in the transmission of the language from one generation to the next. Ibaloi speakers have voluntarily or unwittingly shifted to English, Filipino, and Ilokano. Many families have chosen not to teach their native language to their children. Thus, we are now confronted with the endangered status of the Ibaloi language in Baguio City, though it is hoped that the language has retained its vitality in other Ibaloi towns such as Kabayan, Itogon, Tuba, etc.

This book also contributes to the bigger initiative of partner communities in the Philippine Traditional Knowledge Network to document, promote, and revitalize traditional knowledge. The ageold wisdom nurtured through generations is an invaluable body of knowledge, which can benefit humankind.

Esta infografía trata de recoger los resultados de los estudios de casos y también de presentar recomendaciones para la puesta en marcha de soluciones basadas en la naturaleza que respeten los derechos humanos, incluidos los derechos de los indígenas.

Cette infographie tente de saisir les résultats de l’étude exploratoire et propose également des recommandations en vue de l’opérationnalisation des Solutions fondées sur la nature tout en respectant les droits de l’homme, y compris ceux des peuples autochtones.

This infographic attempts to capture the results of the scoping study and also put forward recommendations towards the operationalization of Nature-Based Solutions respecting human rights, including indigenous rights. 

With the establishment of the ELATIA Indigenous Peoples’ Training Institute in 2018, this training course underwent further review and revision with additional inputs coming from
key individuals in the ELATIA Partnership. Key contents, messages, and methodologies are thus enriched.

After the series of pilot tests and a facilitators’ training in 2019, the lessons that were learned enriched this framework. Given the affirmative results of the community trainings
on the integrated holistic approach, this training course will further be used and improved based on the practices and actual experiences of indigenous communities on the ground.

This paper aims to increase appreciation for the Pidlisan tribe’s indigenous knowledge systems, practices and innovations on rice land ecosystems as habitat and production site; serve as a reference in advancing Indigenous peoples’ education; and contribute to advocacy work for the promotion, revival and strengthening of indigenous knowledge and innovations within the holistic perspective of Indigenous peoples.