March 16, 2021
Pricey Madam Secretary,
Your affirmation as Secretary of the US Division of the Inside is historic and could possibly be an unimaginable alternative to cease systematic human rights abuses towards Indigenous and tribal peoples in worldwide conservation tasks. It’s encouraging that you just’ve dedicated to bettering session about land use with tribal leaders within the US. The US authorities should be sure that Indigenous peoples’ rights are assured in all conservation tasks 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 dwell there. Indigenous persons are evicted from their lands and not allowed to make use of the pure atmosphere to feed their households, collect medicinal vegetation or go to their sacred websites. They’re typically crushed, tortured or killed in the event that they do.
With out robust and legally enforceable ensures for Indigenous land rights, increasing Protected Areas to 30% of the globe might hurt as much as 300 million individuals. This could possibly be the largest land seize in historical past.
The colonial and racist mannequin for conservation all over the world has American roots. A few of our well-known nationwide parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, had been created by means of the violent eviction of Native People. Immediately, many conservation NGOs proceed to deal with Indigenous peoples as threats to the atmosphere, though proof reveals they’re the perfect 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 a regular that ensures Indigenous peoples’ rights in all conservation tasks 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 combating for tribal peoples’ rights
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