Save Lamu Holds Stakeholder Meetings

On 25 and 27 April 2012, Natural Justice partner Save Lamu held two stakeholder meetings for Lamu County’s two districts: Lamu West and Lamu East. The meetings were designed to facilitate dialogue among community members, civil servants, and other organizations and individuals involved in and affected by the Lamu Area Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transit corridor (LAPSSET) project. Over thirty stakeholders attended the 25 April meeting for Lamu West,...

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Ulu Papar Community Congress

Harry Jonas attended a Community Congress focusing on biocultural diversity from the 18-22 of April. The Congress was hosted by the communities of Ulu Papar, held in Buayan and organized by the Global Diversity Foundation's community researchers. It was attended by a range of community members, including from Batu Puteh, Kudat and the Kinabalu area. Over the two main days of work, community representatives, NGOs and Sabah Parks representatives...

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Resource Kit on PA Governance Update

From IUCN.orgAfter an in-depth review of the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Programme of Work on Protected Areas, the CBD and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas identified a lack of progress on governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing. The CBD requested that GIZ lead the development of a resource kit on protected area of governance with support from...

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New IUCN Academy e-Journal

From IUCN.orgThe third issue of the IUCN Academy e-Journal, which focuses on innovations in social justice and environmental governance and was edited by Elizabeth Kirk and Alexander Paterson, is now available online. The journal includes interesting articles and country reports from scholars in more than 25 nations. The first article, ‘Neoliberal Land Conservation and Social Justice’ by Jessica Owley, explores some of the social and economic...

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South Africa Consultation on BABS Regulation

On 18 April 2012, Johanna von Braun and Laureen Manuel of Natural Justice participated in a half day workshop organised by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) of South Africa on the proposed amendments to South Africa’s bioprospecting, access and benefit sharing (BABS) regulations. The workshop is one of many stakeholder consultations being held nationwide during April and May 2012. South Africa is a global leader in its bioprospecting...

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New Contributions on Forest Peoples' Rights from RRI

With immense historical injustices and significant challenges around forest rights and tenure for forest peoples, an incredible amount of work needs to be done to address these challenges. In this context, a new report entitled ‘Turning Point: What Future for Forest Peoples and Resources in the Emerging World Order?’ has been released by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). According to the abstract, the report ‘takes stock of the...

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BIOPAMA Programme Inception Workshop

© Jim ThorsellThe BIOPAMA (Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management) Programme started at a global inception workshop held at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. Over fifty programme partners and experts participated in the workshop to better understand the project’s aims and contribute to programme planning. The programme will be implemented in two components, one focused on Protected...

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New Website on India's Forest Rights Act

Via fra.org.in/The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, is a vital tool for communities in India to claim restitution for the deprivation of forest rights and begin to undo the historic injustices done to these communities. Unfortunately, implementation of the Act has been limited. To support communities and their allies to proactively claim the rights granted to them by the Forest Rights...

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Manila Declaration on ICCAs

Signing of the Manila Declaration via iccaforum.orgThe “Nature in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors” Conference in the Phillipines, attended by leaders of indigenous communities, government representatives, local and international NGOs and UN agencies in Manila over the 29-30 March, 2012, adopted the Manila Declaration on Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCAs). The adoption of the declaration was the culmination of...

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Supporting Bhutan's ABS Policy Drafting Process

Kabir Bavikatte from Natural Justice and Morten Tvedt from the Fridjof Nansen Institute were in Bhutan from the 28th of March to the 7th of April to provide legal assistance to the Bhutan's National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) to develop Bhutan's Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Policy. Bhutan, which is a signatory to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, began the process of developing its national ABS Policy in April 2011 with the assistance...

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New Book on Extractive Industries, Indigenous Peoples, MNCs and States

The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development has released a new book titled "The Politics of Resources Extraction: Indigenous Peoples, Multinational Corporations, and the State" by Terence Gomez and Suzana Sawyer. From the website, "International institutions, including the United Nations and World Bank, and numerous multinational companies (MNCs) have voiced concern over the adverse impact of resource extraction activities on...

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NGT Cancels Clearance for Orisha Steel Plant

Photo credit: green.in.msn.comIndia’s National Green Tribunal cancelled clearance for a major South Korean steel plant in Orisha on Friday. The steel plant was being constructed despite a committee of enquiry constituted by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) finding that environmental and forest clearance permits had been illegally issued. Communities continued to protest the plant in the face of numerous arrests. The National...

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Gaharu for Social and Ecological Justice

Harry Jonas of Natural Justice spent the day with Dr. Anthony Tibok (pictured) in Kuala Penyu, Sabah. Dr Tibok demonstrated how growing Agarwood (a type of tree) in community forests promotes the conservation of forests while providing community members a good revenue stream. Gaharu, a resin produced by the tree, is prized for its aromatic qualities and is highly sought after in, among other places, the Middle East. Interestingly, Gaharu grows best...

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