Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework may destroy indigenous peoples worldwide, says Chakma leader
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework may destroy indigenous peoples worldwide, says Chakma leader Syllad
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About 89 out of the 106 notified national parks in India i.e. about 84% were established in the areas inhabited by the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and indigenous people across the world will suffer destruction if Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to increase global protected areas at least to 30 per cent from the current 16 per cent,” said Suhas Chakma, regional campaign manager of IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (the Framework), which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, was adopted in December 2022 at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Impact on Indigenous Peoples
Addressing the “Symposium on Conservation, Racism and Indigenous Peoples Human Rights” organized by the University of Arizona on Saturday, Chakma said the remaining 17 national parks not inhabited by the STs in India, two national parks (South Button Island National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park under Andaman and Nicobar Islands) are marine areas and do not have any human habitation; four are zoos (Van Vihar, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali and Salim Ali); on four national parks (Col. Sherjung Simbalbara, Neora Valley, Singalila and Fossil) information about inhabitance of the STs could be verified and while only in seven national parks, general category people were impacted.
The current expansion of protected areas whether Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan or Nauradehi Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh mainly impact the STs and other forest dwellers. Assam’s notification for the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary of June 19, 2022, stated that “the area is free from encroachment as per record, there are no rights and concessions of any person in the area” but indigenous Khasi people living inside the proposed sanctuary have records including Kachukhal Part-2 Khasi Punjee village being established in 1914.
“Across Asia, indigenous peoples face massive human rights violations in the protected areas. In the Ujungkulon National Park of Indonesia, indigenous peoples are denied the right to proper housing, health, education, electricity and security while indigenous leaders such as Heng Saphen living inside the Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary of Cambodia have been convicted by a Kangaroo court for cultivating on her land.
After the Botum Sakor National Park of Cambodia was handed over to the Royal Group in 2021, its forest coverage was reduced to just 18% of the park as of July 2023 because of the massive logging,” Chakma said.
Disproportionate Targeting of Indigenous Peoples
“The STs who constitute about 8.6% of the total population of India also constitute about 84% of the communities impacted by the protected areas reflecting the disproportionate targeting of indigenous peoples for saving the world’s biodiversity and ecosystem. Worse, their lifestyles and livelihood practices have been criminalized from colonial times such as the Forest Act of 1927. On 21 February 2024, the Chief Minister of Odisha ordered the withdrawal of over 48,000 cases against tribal community members relating to excise (making country liquor), forest offence, and land encroachment. These 48,000 pending cases expose the extent of the criminalisation of their lifestyles and livelihood practices and if 48,000 cases are pending in one State i.e. Odisha alone, one can conjure up the number of cases pending against the STs in India,” Chakma further said.
Human Rights Violations and Privatization
“If indigenous peoples win the right to stay inside the protected areas, they live under constant human rights violations such as restrictions of the freedom of movement, little or no access to development initiatives, excessive surveillance, sexual violence and criminal cases for alleged making country-liquor (excise) cases, forest offences, poaching etc. If they accept relocation, the world simply has not seen a single successful case of rehabilitation and resettlement,” he said.
The most serious emerging challenge is the increasing privatisation of the
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article discusses the issues related to the impact of protected areas on indigenous peoples and their rights. It also highlights the disproportionate targeting of indigenous peoples for conservation efforts. These issues are connected to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, and SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Additionally, SDG 17 is relevant as it emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaboration to achieve the goals.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
- Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.
The article highlights the need to address the impact of protected areas on indigenous peoples and their rights. This aligns with Target 15.1 of SDG 15, which emphasizes the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The article also mentions the human rights violations faced by indigenous peoples in protected areas, which relates to Target 16.3 of SDG 16, promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice. Furthermore, Target 17.16 of SDG 17 is relevant as it calls for enhanced partnerships and collaboration to achieve sustainable development.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area
- Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms
- Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. Indicator 15.1.1 measures the forest area as a proportion of total land area, which can indicate the conservation and restoration efforts in protected areas. Indicator 16.3.1 measures the proportion of victims of violence who report their victimization to competent authorities, which can reflect the access to justice for indigenous peoples in protected areas. Indicator 17.16.1 measures the progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks, which can assess the effectiveness of partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. | Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources. | Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals |
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Source: syllad.com
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