20 November 2008: Organized by Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education), the UN University (UNU) Institute of Advanced Studies Traditional Knowledge Initiative, the UN REDD Programme and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, the Global Indigenous Peoples Consultation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) was held from 12-14 November 2008, in Baguio City, the Philippines. Participants adopted a global indigenous peoples strategy on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The strategy makes reference to a number of overarching principles,
including a human-rights approach to all REDD activities on the basis
of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and
International Labour Organization Convention no. 169 on indigenous and
tribal peoples, and the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous
peoples in REDD activities.
With regard to international processes and
organizations, recommendations address: coordinating and sharing
information with UN agencies, specialized bodies and initiatives that
are considered relevant for implementing action on climate change and
indigenous peoples; recognizing the close links between traditional
knowledge, biodiversity and climate change, and ensuring close
cooperation and enhanced synergy between the CBD and the UNFCCC on
traditional knowledge and climate change; supporting the establishment
of a working group on local-level adaptation with the full and
effective participation of indigenous peoples; and establishing a
working group/expert body on traditional knowledge and climate change
under the joint liaison group of the CBD/UNFCCC/UN Convention to Combat
Desertification. It is also recommended that the UN-REDD programme and
other funders develop compliance guidelines, as well as a grievance and
recourse mechanism to ensure that indigenous peoples’ rights are
observed at the national and international levels.
Other recommendations include: engaging indigenous peoples and
forest-dependent communities in all UN processes relevant to tackling
climate change; strengthening the existing indigenous organizations and
networks to address REDD issues; undertaking case studies, field
research and developing information packages to influence discussions
on REDD; establishing an indigenous peoples global coordinating body on
climate change; developing a legal framework and consultation
mechanisms for indigenous peoples at the national level; requiring each
REDD pilot country to report on the legal situation of indigenous
territories, lands and resources and rights of forest-dependent
communities; empowering indigenous peoples and forest-dependent
communities by raising awareness on REDD issues; promoting subnational
processes that decentralize REDD; and subjecting all REDD and climate
change mitigation activities to environmental impact assessments and
social/cultural impact assessments. [Report of the Consultation]