Asia-Pacific Regional Centre

Natural Resource Management and Land

The UNDP recognizes that land and resource rights are central to indigenous peoples throughout the world.  RIPP’s Inception Workshop, which brought together regional UNDP country offices, governments, and indigenous peoples’ organizations, confirmed this, asserting a need for clearer policies and laws relating to natural resource management and access to such resources. 

Bio-Cultural Diversity

Needs assessments and gap analyses conducted by RIPP in 2007 identified land rights, natural resource management and bio-cultural diversity as core concerns facing indigenous peoples in Asia-Pacific.  The 6th Session of the UNPFII (2007) had the special theme: Territories, Land and Natural Resources; and in 2008 the 7th Session focused on Climate Change, Bio-Cultural Diversity and Livelihoods: the Stewardship Role of Indigenous Peoples and New Challenges.

To be in accordance with the 2010 Biodiversity Target, bio-diversity must continue to be undertaken within a collaborative framework that recognises the close relationship between sustainable community livelihoods and bio-culturalism.  RIPP will use its convening power in 2008 and beyond to bring together different stakeholders including government and indigenous peoples to discuss collaborative strategies to bring about improved policies and practices of natural resource management and cultural preservation through the lens of bio-culturalism.

Dialogues on Indigenous Peoples and Natural Resource Management

In 2007 RIPP launched an inter-linked multi-dimensional strategy to provide space for dialogue between policy makers and indigenous peoples on land, natural resource management and cultural sustainability.  The long-term strategy combines a Regional Dialogue, a series of Community Dialogues, and a Global Dialogue, complemented by innovative projects on sustainable bio-culturalism and adaptation to climate change.

The Regional Dialogue was conducted from 10-14 November in Chiang Mai, Thailand, bringing together over 120 participants from 13 countries, representing indigenous peoples’ groups, governments, and civil society organizations. The Regional Dialogue highlighted the organic link between global warming, bio-cultural diversity and livelihood opportunities and practices while providing a space for participants to share victories and challenges faced by indigenous community-led action. 

The first two Community Dialogues were organized in 2007 in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, and West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. 

Two more Community Dialogues were organized in the year 2008 - in Sabah, Malaysia and in Ifugao, Cordillera Region, the Philippines.

Two more Community Dialogues are planned for 2009. 

The results and momentum of the Community Dialogues and Regional Dialogue was shared, and informed the Global Dialogue at the 7th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the 22nd April 2008. UNDP RIPP organized the inter-active Global Dialogue: Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples’ Bio- Cultural Diversity. Indigenous representatives and Governments, UN Permanent Forum members, UN Agencies and others exchanged ideas and views on how indigenous peoples have responded to the multi-faceted challenges of climate change and development.

Download:

• Global Dialogue: Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples
• Regional Dialogue
• Community Dialogue in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
• Community Dialogue in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Bridging the Gap: Policies and Practices on Indigenous Peoples' Natural Resources Management in Asia

Natural resources management and access to and control over resources are identified as a critical concern faced ny indigenous peoples throughout Asia. To address this, UNDP RIPP conducted analytical studies on natural resources systems and their interface with national laws and policies in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Consultations carried out with indigenous communities, governments, NGOs and academics have enriched and informed the studies and enabled the inclusion of a wide range of perspectives. The regional synthesis paper draws on the country assessments to identify gaps in policy and practice, and compiles key recommendations for further work on this issue.

The series provided substantive input at the 8th Conference of Parties (COP8) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Curitiba, Brazil in March 2006. They also inspired the Regional Dialogue between governments and indigenous peoples in November 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Please contact us should you need a copy of the publication or Download the PDF version:

• Full Chapters
• Cover and Preface
• Regional Synthesis
• Bangladesh: The Interface of Customary and State Laws in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
• Cambodia: New Laws for a New Approach in the Northeast Provinces
• Malaysia: The Changing Status of Indigenous and Statutory Systems on Natural Resource Management
• Thailand: The Challenges of Joint Management in the Northern Hill