In 2019, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) started a new project. This project aimed to give more financial support to Indigenous and local community organisations. The goal was to help protect biodiversity and support cultural and economic development initiatives. This project, known as the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI), was officially approved in January 2022. It is part of the GEF-7 Biodiversity focal area strategy.
The unique thing about the ICI is that it puts Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPs and LCs) in the driver’s seat. They are the main authors and implementers of the project. The ICI doesn’t define what inclusive conservation is – it believes that this should be decided by IPs and LCs.
The project is heavily funded, with over US$ 22.5 million invested and over US$ 90 million expected in co-financing. The main objective of the ICI is to support the leadership of IPs and LCs in looking after lands, waters, and natural resources.
Indigenous-led Initiatives
Inclusive Conservation Initiatives (ICIs) represent a critical advancement for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs), aiming to preserve and enhance their stewardship over approximately 7.6 million hectares of landscapes and seascapes. These areas are rich in biodiversity and host irreplaceable ecosystems.
ICIs are operational in nine geographical areas within 12 countries, working in conjunction with partners to oversee high-biodiversity lands traditionally governed by IPs and LCs. These lands may or may not have formal legal recognition.
The territories governed by ICIs are diverse, encompassing large tracts of tropical forests, mountainous areas, temperate and boreal forests, drylands and grasslands, and marine and coastal ecosystems.
ICIs acknowledge and continue the historical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in protecting natural ecosystems.
To bolster these efforts, ICIs are providing direct financial aid to 10 Indigenous and locally led initiatives in Africa, Central and South America, and Asia and the Pacific.
Why Inclusive Conservation Matters
- Indigenous peoples are custodians of approximately 25% of the Earth’s land surface, which encompasses 40% of terrestrial protected areas and 37% of ecologically intact landscapes.
- Indigenous peoples and local communities currently oversee more than one-third of the world’s remaining irrecoverable carbon. This highlights their crucial role in managing this valuable resource.
- Research suggests a strong correlation between linguistic and biological diversity in biodiversity hotspots and high biodiversity wilderness areas.
- Lands and waters overseen by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities help preserve biodiversity and aid in carbon sequestration.
- This stewardship also supports local livelihoods, sustains cultures, and protects valuable traditional knowledge. This knowledge is key for maintaining local ecosystems and contributing to global environmental benefits.
- A study was conducted in 14 countries rich in forests. The study found that areas inhabited by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities have less deforestation and subsequently, lower carbon emissions.
- These areas have been recognized and protected by their governments. This protection plays a vital role in reducing deforestation and limiting the impacts of climate change.
- Research shows that Indigenous people’s ways of managing land often reduce deforestation as much as, or more than, protected areas managed by the state.
- The Global Assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) points out that Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) often have better local knowledge about biodiversity and environmental changes than scientists.
- This assessment also recognized the important contributions of men and women in IPs and LCs to biodiversity conservation at different levels.
- The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underlines that including groups like women and IPs and LCs improves decision-making about climate.
- Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) have knowledge and skills valuable for managing natural resources.
- IPs and LCs are facing increasing harassment and violence while trying to protect their lands and environments.
Decision-making processes at national, regional, and global levels often fail to incorporate the full participation of IPs and LCs. This exclusion leads to decisions and programs that do not consider IPs and LCs’ perspectives or priorities, undermining their conservation capabilities. - Funding to IPs and LCs is insufficient. Most project executions are done by globally accredited institutions, while projects led significantly by Indigenous peoples are a minority.
- The Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) aims to inspire other funders and governments by demonstrating that traditional approaches can be modified to include IP and LC leadership, innovation, and governance.
- ICI offers both practical and global experience, supporting IPs and LCs in crafting and demonstrating an inclusive conservation model. This helps the world envision conservation in a new way.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international organization that was created in 1992, right before the Rio Earth Summit. Its purpose is to act as an environmental catalyst, making strategic investments with partners to address the most pressing environmental issues worldwide.
The GEF stands out due to its unique partnership model encompassing 18 agencies. These consist of United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks, national entities, and international NGOs, working collectively with 183 countries.
It has established a broad network with civil society organizations and maintains a close working relationship with the global private sector. In addition, it benefits from the ongoing insights of an independent evaluation office and a top-tier scientific panel.
The GEF serves as a financial conduit for five key international environmental conventions: the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).