We have launched a new section on Global Goals and MEA Strategic Plans-Mapping Linkages. Click here to visit.➜
14/16

Methodological guidance concerning the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities

Date: 17-11-2018
Treaty
Convention on Biological Diversity
Meeting
Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Type
Decision
Status
Active

Skip to full text

Visit on MEA website

Share meeting

Keywords
Indigenous peoples and local communities, Global strategies

From the same meeting

14/1
Updated assessment of progress towards selected Aichi Biodiversity Targets and options to accelerate progress
14/2
Scenarios for the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity
14/3
Mainstreaming of biodiversity in the energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing sectors
14/4
Health and biodiversity
14/5
Biodiversity and climate change
14/6
Conservation and sustainable use of pollinators
Browse all decisions

Other meetings

Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Part Two)
Browse all meetings
The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decision XIII/20, in which the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to develop elements of methodological guidance, concerning the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities,
Recognizing the importance of the holistic collective actions of indigenous peoples and local communities in achieving the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-20201 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets within a framework of rights, ethical principles and values, governance, and differentiated roles of women and men among indigenous peoples and local communities,1Decision X/2, annex.
1.Takes note of the indicative, non-exhaustive list of elements of methodological guidance for identifying, monitoring and assessing the contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities to the achievement of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, contained in the annex to the present decision;
2.Encourages Parties, other Governments, and relevant stakeholder organizations to make use of the guiding principles on assessing the contribution of collective action of indigenous peoples and local communities, contained in the annex to decision XIII/20, to consider using the indicative, non-exhaustive list of elements methodological guidance contained in the annex to the present decision, when designing and applying methodological approaches for assessing the contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities to the achievement of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and when reporting through the financial reporting mechanism;
3.Invites the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to take into account the list of elements of methodological guidance contained in the annex to the present decision.
AnnexList of elements of methodological guidance
Methodological approaches for identifying, monitoring, and assessing the contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities to the achievement of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets are encouraged to make use of the guiding principles contained in decision XIII/20 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, depending on national circumstances, to frame and guide the design and application of such methodologies, and are invited to consider the following indicative, non-exhaustive list of methodological elements in their design and application:
(a)Recognize and fully include traditional knowledge, ensuring the complementarity of knowledge systems, the creation of conditions for effective dialogue among knowledge systems, including science, and processes that allow the co-creation of knowledge from the start;
(b)Include a broad range of methodological approaches as required by the specificity of the contexts, taking into account the diversity of national circumstances and the cultural diversity of indigenous peoples and local communities, and apply them in a tailored manner in accordance with local circumstances;
(c)Recognize the multiple perspectives and world views related to values, including social, economic, cultural and spiritual values, attached to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and reflect them in the choice of methodological approaches and tools;
(d)Use mixed-methods for research and other methodologies that can work with different types of data, in particular the combination of quantitative and qualitative information and data;
(e)Apply multi-scale approaches, processes and tools, to capture and assess the situation at the local level and at the same time consider the links in the landscape and with national and subnational policy frameworks;
(f)Test and refine methodological approaches through pilot projects, as appropriate, recognizing that this is an emerging field and that they need to be developed through lessons coming from experience and from a diversity of contexts;
(g)Ensure full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities throughout the process of developing and applying the approaches, with particular attention to the involvement of women, youth, elders and all other groups that are part of the communities;
(h)Encourage intergenerational interactions in the assessment processes, through the involvement of youth, elders and other groups, in order to stimulate learning and to contribute to protecting and promoting the intergenerational transfer of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices;
(i)Include in assessments the analysis of gender-differentiated roles, and explore opportunities and conditions for enhancing gender equality;
(j)Recognize that collective actions are related to customary sustainable use and that the outcomes may be broad, encompassing such matters as livelihoods and food security, as well as mental and physical well-being;
(k)Seek to contribute to the recognition of rights, particularly land tenure2 and access to customary resources3 and their influence on the effectiveness of collective action, and through community empowerment to advance security of tenure and access;2In decision X/43, the Conference of the Parties adopted “trends in land-use change and land tenure in the traditional territories of indigenous and local communities” as one of four global indicators for traditional knowledge, under the Convention on Biological Diversity. “Tenure” on traditional territories of indigenous peoples and local communities, may include lands and waters.3In decision XII/12 B, annex, the Conference of the Parties adopted a global Plan of Action for Customary Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity.
(l)Include other relevant elements of governance assessments, specifically the role, features and vitality of customary governance systems;
(m)Include, in the assessments, identification of actual or potential conflicts affecting collective actions, use the assessment processes to enhance dialogue among groups that may have competing interests, and explore further opportunities for resolving conflicts through dialogue and cooperation, including through culturally appropriate conflict resolution mechanisms;
(n)Consider area-based assessments that focus on the lands and resources owned, occupied or used by indigenous peoples and local communities, and on specific components of biodiversity, such as species occurring across habitats and which are subject to collective action;
(o)Consider, taking into account national technical and sustainability capacities, the use of various forms of geospatial analysis for area-based assessments, in a way that combines technological tools with traditional knowledge, and seek to make them accessible to the communities, with their direct involvement;
(p)Advance the development of robust sets of indicators and metrics systems for the assessment of collective action, combining indicators of different types — quantitative and qualitative, process and outcome, single and aggregate, etc. — and integrating culture-based indicators that reflect the value systems of the communities and the particularities of the contexts, also noting that use of consistent indicators over time will enable comparisons at temporal scales and that establishing a baseline allows for a greater assessment of changes or trends;
(q)Integrate approaches to analyse the state and trends of change in the assessments, as well as understanding of the drivers of change and the conditions for successful outcomes;
(r)Advance, as appropriate, the work on valuation methodologies that are relevant and applicable to the contexts, ensuring consideration of the full range of values of biodiversity for the communities and their collective action, and use the results of valuation to make the case for greater respect, recognition and support of collective action;
(s)Consider including, in the assessments, an analysis of strengths and threats in the specific contexts, with a view to improving understanding of factors and conditions requiring strengthening or additional support;
(t)Encourage collaboration, exchange, cross-learning, networking among different approaches, and seek greater synergies and concurrent outcomes.
(u)Consider, as appropriate, capacity-building and technology transfer to ensure that new information, including science and technology, contributes to the empowerment, resilience and self-sufficiency of indigenous peoples and local communities.