DATE / TIME:

2014•11•12 - 2014•11•19

Location:

Sydney

The IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) is a landmark global forum on protected areas held every ten years. As the world’s most influential gathering of people involved in protected area management, it sets the global agenda for the following decade. The most recent IUCN World Parks Congress was held from 12 – 19 November 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

During the WPC, the United Nations University’s Traditional Knowledge Initiative in conjunction with the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), the Mesoamerica Indigenous Leaders Coalition (SOTZ’IL) and the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) led Stream 7: Respecting Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge and Culture.

Stream 7: Respecting Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Culture. Photo: IUCN

Stream 7 focused on the role of traditional and indigenous knowledge and practices, as well as recognising cultural and spiritual values, in sustaining and enhancing the socio-environmental resilience of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and the lands and seas in their care. In addition Stream 7 sought to engage members of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, governments, non-governmental and international organisations, and the private sector to collaborate in recognising the role of indigenous and local communities in protected area management. Ultimately, the stream sought to build long-term partnerships to demonstrate how these management systems contribute to the achievement of conservation goals, as well as to the well being of communities around the world.

Patrick Dodson, Australian Aboriginal leader. Day#2 – Photo 1. Photo by IISD/ENB

Stream 7 was an important landmark for the IUCN and the WPC particularly as Indigenous Peoples were given a recognised role in the process. There were 45 sessions, over 200 presenters from more than 50 different countries and representatives from around 100 organisations. Many people also participated in other WPC Streams and provided the bulk of participants for various World Indigenous Network (WIN)/ Equator Initiative events leading up to and during the WPC which were also successful. There was also a strong cross-stream collaboration between Stream 7 and 6 (Governance), as well as 3 (Health and Wellbeing) and the New Social Compact, where many indigenous participants participated in various discussions, working groups and discussions.

For further information, see the following links:

• Programme of the WPC Sydney 2014
• Information about Stream 7 (ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL / FRANÇAIS)
• Daily WPC coverage including photos by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)/ Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)

With the generous support of the MacArthur Foundation and other partners, UNU supported several indigenous and local community representatives to participate in key discussions, particularly regarding indigenous and traditional knowledge and culture including:

• Mr Ricky Archer (Indigenous Australian from Australia);
• Ms Skye Augustine (Stz’uminus nation from Canada);
• Mr Alfred Chadau (Kwe San from Namibia);
• Mr Patrick Dodson (Yawuru from Australia);
• Mr Paul Josif (Facilitator from Northern Australia);
• Dr Noa Lincoln (Hawaii from USA);
• Ms Henrietta Marrie (Yidinji from Australia);
• Dr Tero Mustonen (representative of Saami indigenous people living in Finland, Siberia and Russia);
• Mr Bayron Bin Quej (Maya from Guatemala);
• Dr Bevyline Sithole (Ndau from Mutuwedzu area in Chief Chikukwa’s area, Manicaland province, Zimbabwe);
• Mr Peter Yu (Yawuru from Australia).