ICCA Newsletter Focuses on Activities in Philippines, Madagascar and Panama

The Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCAs) Forum published its September 2012 newsletter, focusing on ongoing work and events hosted by ICCA. It includes articles on: the First National Conference on ICCAs in the Philippines; ICCA activities on sustainable management of natural resources in Madagascar; and a workshop in Panama on connecting indigenous and scientific knowledge systems.
According to the newsletter, the First National Conference on ICCAs in the Philippines convened in March 2012, and led to an agreed Declaration asserting the need for appropriate recognition and support to ICCAs in the Philippines. The Declaration asks the government to “support the indigenous peoples’ capability to manage their ICCAs [and] to not invent new systems or processes from somewhere else that will undermine them,” and asks NGOs to “simplify things” and “respect spiritual relationships of the Indigenous peoples.”

[ICCA Forum website]

[Newsletter September 2012]

Source: IISD