Indigenous people and local communities
Why we should ALWAYS involve local communities in the management of their forests
Kibarisho Leintoi farmer
"It’s always better to involve us. Even though I cannot read or write, I know what I need for my family to live: water.”
A variety of vegetables (15 September 2019) by UN-REDDUN-REDD
Water
Water is essential for the irrigation of her tomato farm and for her 5 goats and 5 cows. Without water, her income shrinks and she loses the means to send 2 of her 8 children to school.
UN-REDD working with locals
Guidelines were created to develop stakeholder engagement and create free, prior and informed consent toolkits. Local people are involved in discussions around any changes that are proposed to their land. They understand the land and are crucial to any proposals under discussion.
Free, Prior and Informed Consent Process means...
that the local community can exercise their right to give or withhold consent to all proposed activities, projects, legislative or administrative measures, and policies that will take place in or impact their lands, territories, resources or livelihoods.
Community driven projects
These have a better chance for longevity since the community feels personally and collectively responsible for caring and maintaining the project, long after the funder has gone.
Human rights-based approach
The UN-REDD Programme has been a pioneer of innovative policies that value and protect forests and their social and ecosystem services. It is committed to human rights-based approaches, social inclusion and stakeholder engagement.
See also the following articles:
Managing forests with community participation in Kenya
The shamba system: an indigenous woman fights for the rights of her community
#BetterWithForests
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