A. Progress report on the implementation of the programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions and mechanisms to promote the effective participation of indigenous and local communities in the work of the Convention
The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling its decisions X/43 on the Multi-Year Programme of Work on the implementation of Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention and XI/14 on Article 8(j) and related provisions,
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The Conference of the Parties
1. Endorses the plan of action on customary sustainable use of biological diversity, contained in the annex to this decision;
2. Invites Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations, indigenous and local communities and stakeholders to implement the plan of action on customary sustainable use of biological diversity, taking into account diverse national circumstances including legal and policy regimes, and to report on progress to the Executive Secretary as well as through the national reporting process;
3. Decides that the development and implementation of all activities of the plan of action on customary sustainable use of biological diversity should be undertaken with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in particular women and youth, taking into consideration the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
4. Acknowledges that other initiatives, such as the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), consistent with decisions X/32 and XI/25, and in accordance with other international obligations, are contributing to the facilitation of the customary sustainable use of biological diversity;
5. Invites Parties to include in requests to donors, support for indigenous and local communities to organize themselves to develop community plans and protocols to document, map, and register their community conservation areas, as well as to prepare, implement and monitor their community conservation plans and for support to countries to strengthen recognition of indigenous and local community conservation areas;
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Annex
PLAN OF ACTION ON CUSTOMARY SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
I. OBJECTIVE
1. The objective of this plan of action is to promote, within the framework of the Convention, a just implementation of Article 10(c) at local, national, regional and international levels and to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities at all stages and levels of implementation.
II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
2. The development and implementation of all activities under the plan of action on customary sustainable use of biological diversity should be undertaken with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, particularly women and youth.
3. Traditional knowledge should be valued, respected and considered as useful and necessary for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use as other forms of knowledge.
4. The ecosystem approach, a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in an equitable way, is consistent with the spiritual and cultural values as well as customary practices of many indigenous and local communities and their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices.
5. Recognizing that indigenous and local communities are the holders of their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, access to their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices should be subject to their prior informed consent or approval and involvement.
III. CONSIDERATIONS OF SPECIAL RELEVANCE
6. Special considerations for this action plan include the following:
(a) Biodiversity, customary sustainable use and traditional knowledge are intrinsically linked. Indigenous and local communities, through customary sustainable use of biological diversity, constantly shape and reshape social and ecological systems, landscapes, seascapes, plants and animal populations, genetic resources and related management practices, and are therefore well placed to adapt to changing conditions such as climate change, and to contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and the strengthening of the resilience of the social and ecological systems. Indigenous and local communities and holders of traditional knowledge related to customary sustainable use of biological diversity also contribute to the generation of new knowledge for the benefit not only of indigenous and local communities but of human well-being at large;
(b) Indigenous and local communities depend directly on biodiversity and its customary sustainable use and management for their livelihoods, resilience and cultures and are therefore well placed, through their collective actions, to efficiently and economically manage ecosystems using the ecosystem approach;
(c) Cultural and spiritual values and practices of indigenous and local communities play an important role in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and transmitting its importance to the next generation;
(d) The full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, in particular women, is of primary importance for the successful development and implementation of policies and programmes for customary sustainable use of biological diversity;
(e) The development and implementation of policies and programmes for customary sustainable use of biological diversity should take fully into account Aichi Biodiversity Targets 14 (ecosystem services) and 18 (traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use), the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization and the programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions, with a view to avoiding duplication and ensuring complementarities;
(f) Cultural, social, economic and ecological elements associated with the traditional management systems of lands, waters and territories of indigenous and local communities and their involvement in the management of these areas should be recognized, secured and protected, as they contribute to customary sustainable use of biological diversity;
(g) Traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biological diversity are central to the full implementation of the ecosystem approach, which provides an important tool to strengthen the capacity of indigenous and local communities to fully practice customary sustainable use of biological diversity, as appropriate;
(h) Customary sustainable use of biological diversity is useful in facilitating learning of socio-ecological systems and possible innovations for productive ecosystems and continued human well-being;
(i) Measures should be taken to address unsustainable use of biological diversity and revitalize and restore degraded ecosystems.
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