A/HRC/18/35 understanding of indigenous peoples’ rights that is effective and practicable within the domestic policy frameworks and business practices in which these projects are implemented. 80. Many debates will ensue, and are surely required, concerning the existing extractive model and its broader social and environmental impact. In the meantime, indigenous peoples will continue to be vulnerable to human rights abuse, which erodes the basis of their self-determination and, in some cases, endangers their very existence as distinct peoples. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur fully adheres to the kind of “principled pragmatism” assumed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises: “an unflinching commitment to the principle of strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights as it relates to business, coupled with a pragmatic attachment to what works best in creating change where it matters most – in the daily lives of people.”14 IV. Conclusions and recommendations 81. The Special Rapporteur gratefully acknowledges the continuous support of States, indigenous peoples, international organizations and bodies, business enterprises and other civil society actors in fulfilling his mandate. In particular, he expresses his gratitude to the reaffirmation of the trust vested in him by the Human Rights Council, as shown by the renewal of his mandate in May 2011 for an additional period of three years. 82. On the basis of the experience gained during the first term of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur has come to identity natural resource extraction and other major development projects in or near indigenous territories as one of the most significant sources of abuse of the rights of indigenous peoples worldwide. In its prevailing form, the model for advancing with natural resource extraction within the territories of indigenous peoples appears to run counter to the self-determination of indigenous peoples in the political, social and economic spheres. 83. The many responses received from Governments, indigenous peoples and organizations, business corporations and other actors to the questionnaire distributed by the Special Rapporteur in 2011 point to a state of shared awareness and concern about the past negative effects of extractive operations for indigenous peoples in many situations, in the light of the particular attachment of indigenous peoples to their traditional lands, territories and natural resources. However, the responses to the questionnaire also provide a strong indication of the existence of conflicting points of view concerning the potential adverse impact and benefits of extractive or development projects in indigenous territories; the practical implications in this context of international standards affirming the rights of indigenous peoples, and the kind of measures required to fulfil the responsibilities of States, corporate actors and indigenous peoples themselves. 84. In this connection, while the existing problems and challenges ahead are significant and complex, the Special Rapporteur is encouraged by what he perceives to be a growing degree of awareness and assumption of responsibility on the part of States and corporate actors. This growing awareness opens a historical opportunity for advancing towards a common normative understanding and the operationalization of indigenous peoples’ rights and related institutional safeguards in the context of natural resource extraction and development projects in indigenous territories. This process would not only contribute to enhanced implementation of the 14 18 E/CN.4/2006/97, para. 81.