Yo guys. Im here now in the Blue Mountains in Australia for the general assembly of the Consortium of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCA) and the World Indigenous and Local Community Land and Sea Managers (WIN). Who are they, you might ask and whats a congressman doing here?!? ICCA (where Im an honorary member) and WIN are global organizations pushing governments to recognize and hopefully even legalize successful protection and management efforts of forests and water bodies by indigenous peoples and local communities. Most often, it is the state that has authority over forests through protected areas and parks. But there is a strong argument that local communities and IPs have been more successful in preserving the forests and its biodiversity. So in Australia, gathered today are UN staff, civil society groups, IPs, scientists, international agencies and experts to share experiences and success stories and push for a common agenda in the upcoming World Parks Conference in Sydney 4 days from now. And me? Im the only legislator and politician here I think and Im expected to talk about the role of parliament in making policies and laws that strengthen community and IP involvement in conservation and protection. Hope I will earn this privilege to be in this exalted group in the coming days.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:19:30 +0000
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