March 16, 2021
Expensive Madam Secretary,
Your affirmation as Secretary of the US Division of the Inside is historic and may very well be an unimaginable alternative to cease systematic human rights abuses towards Indigenous and tribal peoples in worldwide conservation initiatives. It’s encouraging that you simply’ve dedicated to enhancing session about land use with tribal leaders within the US. The US authorities should make sure that Indigenous peoples’ rights are assured in all conservation initiatives worldwide.
The International Biodiversity Framework set forth by the events and secretariat of the Conference on Biodiversity calls to show 30% of the planet into “Protected Areas” by 2030. Nevertheless, in Asian and African international locations Protected Areas are sometimes created with out the consent of Indigenous and native peoples who reside there. Indigenous individuals are evicted from their lands and not allowed to make use of the pure setting to feed their households, collect medicinal crops or go to their sacred websites. They’re usually overwhelmed, tortured or killed in the event that they do.
With out sturdy and legally enforceable ensures for Indigenous land rights, increasing Protected Areas to 30% of the globe might hurt as much as 300 million folks. This may very well be the largest land seize in historical past.
The colonial and racist mannequin for conservation around the globe has American roots. A few of our well-known nationwide parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, had been created by the violent eviction of Native People. At present, many conservation NGOs proceed to deal with Indigenous peoples as threats to the setting, though proof exhibits they’re one of the best conservationists. Guaranteeing the safety of Indigenous lands should be the principal mechanism for biodiversity conservation.
We urge you to make sure that the US authorities upholds an ordinary that ensures Indigenous peoples’ rights in all conservation initiatives globally. Increasing protected areas to 30% of the world’s land and water with out these safeguards threatens the way forward for tribes, nature and all humanity.
Daniel Lavelle
US Director
Survival Worldwide
50 years preventing for tribal peoples’ rights
