The Global Indigenous Peoples Consultation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) convened from 12-14 November 2008, in Baguio City, the Philippines.

The consultation was organized by Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education), the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies Traditional Knowledge Initiative, the UN REDD Programme and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat. 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, and the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples. With regard to international processes and organizations, recommendations address: coordinating and sharing information with the 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 more synergy between the CBD and 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/UNCCD. 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.
Links to further information
The report of the meeting
CBD Executive Secretary statement