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In a landmark decision, the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members’ Assembly has voted to create a new category of membership for Indigenous peoples’ organisations. This will open the opportunity to strengthen the presence and role of Indigenous organisations in ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� – a unique membership union gathering 217 state and government agencies, 1, 066 NGOs, and networks of over 16,000 experts worldwide.

“Today’s decision to create a specific place for Indigenous peoples in the decision-making process of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� marks a major step towards achieving the equitable and sustainable use of natural resources,” says ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General Inger Andersen. “Indigenous peoples are key stewards of the world’s biodiversity. By giving them this crucial opportunity to be heard on the international stage, we have made our Union stronger, more inclusive and more democratic.”

“This decision is historical in that it is the first time in ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s history that a new membership category has been established,” says Aroha Te Pareake Mead, Chair of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��'s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP). “It also marks a turning point for the inclusion and full participation of Indigenous peoples in all aspects of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��'s work.��

“For Indigenous peoples this provides an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to global policy on biocultural conservation, indigenous issues, traditional knowledge and the future direction of conservation as distinct peoples. I am proud of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� and its members for doing the right thing and enabling Indigenous peoples to speak for themselves as full members of the Union.”��

������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members have also called today for all protected areas to be considered as no-go areas for environmentally damaging industrial activities and infrastructure developments. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members emphasized the need for respect of Indigenous peoples’ rights as a high priority, to ensure their free, prior and informed consent in relation to activities in sacred natural sites and territories conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities. To date, only World Heritage sites have been recognised as off limit.��

The need for consideration of the rights of Indigenous peoples has also been emphasized as part of the decision to increase the coverage of marine protected areas in order to achieve effective conservation of the oceans.��

Tomorrow ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members are expected to vote on a motion related to primary forests, which highlights the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in conserving intact forest landscapes. Ecosystems such as primary forests are vital for the protection of Indigenous cultures and livelihoods of the poorest and most marginalised communities.

Other motions important for Indigenous peoples have also been adopted on a wide range of topics.��

The Members' Assembly is the highest decision-making body of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��. It brings together ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members to debate and establish environmental policy, to approve the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Programme and to elect the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Council and President. ��

Motions are proposed by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members every four years to set priorities for the work of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s membership currently stands at over 1,300 and includes some of the most influential government and civil society organisations from more than 160 countries, giving the decisions taken at the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Congress a powerful mandate.��

Resolutions and Recommendations on important conservation issues are adopted by this unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs, guiding ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s policy and work programme and as well as influencing many other organisations around the world.
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About ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��
������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. ��������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s work focusses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation, with almost 1,300 government and NGO Members and more than 15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s work is supported by almost 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.��www.iucn.org

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