A/67/301
and regulatory frameworks, policies and practices for the mining sector, including
effective safeguards that reduce social and environmental impacts, as well as
conserving biodiversity and ecosystems, it does not make any specific mention of
the effect of mining activities on human rights generally or the rights of indigenous
peoples in particular. The relative lack of focus on human rights in the outcome
document was viewed by indigenous peoples as especially disappointing,
considering that international, regional and national courts and human rights bodies
are increasingly acknowledging environmental damage as a source of human rights
violations and have established that States have a responsibility for environmental
protection in the context of respect for human rights.
7.
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation programmes
69. Proposals for the establishment of programmes to reduce emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation have arisen out of discussions at the
international level regarding climate change, especially in the context of the
Framework Convention on Climate Change. These programmes were created to
address the significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the
destruction of forests. They are designed to support countries, especially developing
countries, in their efforts to decrease emissions from deforestation and other forms
of forest degradation, in addition to conserving forests and sustainably managing
forest carbon stocks.
70. Given the high number of indigenous peoples living in forested areas and the
potentially far-reaching effects of such initiatives, indigenous peoples have been
active in efforts to ensure that their rights are safeguarded as specific projects to
reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation are designed and
implemented. In this regard, in its decision 2/CP.13, adopted at its thirteenth session
in December 2007, the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on
Climate Change affirmed the urgent need to take further meaningful action to reduce
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, while
also recognizing that the needs of local and indigenous communities should be
addressed when action is taken to reduce those emissions.
71. There are currently two principle initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation: (a) the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership
Facility and the associated Forest Investment Programme, launched in 2007 and
(b) the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, launched in 2008 by
UNDP, the United Nations Environment Programme and FAO. Both the Forest
Carbon Partnership Facility and the Collaborative Programme have developed
various initiatives for dialogue with indigenous peoples in the context of
programmes aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
72. Indigenous peoples say that they were not adequately involved in the initial
design of these initiatives and continue to call for greater participation in the
development and implementation of such programming at all levels. Specifically,
they have lobbied to ensure that indigenous peoples are consulted at all stages of the
planning and implementation of projects aimed at reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation and that they are represented in the governance
structures of such projects.
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