RRI has collaborated with the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) for Sustainable Development to produce a simple set of principles that applies existing international legal requirements and best practice standards to guide all landscape-level actions and investments supported by civil society organizations and institutions, companies and investors – whether local, national or international.
These emerging principles shall serve as the “Land Rights Standard” for best practice for recognizing and respecting Indigenous Peoples’, Local Communities’ and Afro-Descendant Peoples’ land and resource rights in landscape restoration, management, conservation, climate action, and development projects and programs.
There is growing interest and action to restore and conserve the world’s forests, landscapes and natural resources, as well as growing recognition that this must be done in a manner that recognizes and respects the land, territorial and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Afro-descendant Peoples. A wide range of social and environmental frameworks, standards, and certification systems have been developed, with many organizations setting up their own systems and commitments.
While this is encouraging, efforts to date have largely been uncoordinated, and lack a common set of globally recognized principles, grounded in international human rights law and developed in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and women within these groups. This creates the risk of confusion and potential weakening of aspirational goals that can trigger a race to the top.
Non-state actors, including investors and donors who wish to adopt the Standard to guide their work, should fill out the Land Rights Standard’s Endorsement and Adoption Pledge. This document specifies the voluntary commitments of non-state actors and outlines expectations for rights-holders, their representative organizations, and allied institutions and civil society organizations who endorse the Standard to advance their priorities across landscapes.
The GLF, the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development, and RRI are currently seeking endorsements and commitments on the Land Rights Standard principles from climate, conservation and development institutions, organizations, private companies and investors. They are also working to ensure ongoing discussions of the principles as a standing agenda item in key conservation and climate arenas and other events as appropriate, as well as inclusion of annual updates on the status of the Land Rights Standard’s adoption, endorsement, and implementation.
For more information on the status of consultations, contact Alain Frechette.