A motion co-sponsored by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) to establish an Indigenous Peoples’ Organization (IPO) membership and voting category in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was overwhelmingly approved by IUCN members today at the 5th World Conservation Congress on the South Korean island of Jeju.

“The passage of this motion is an important step in acknowledging the role Indigenous peoples play in conservation. This is a victory for the world’s Indigenous cultures and for our unique knowledge of the natural world,” said National Inuit Leader Terry Audla, President of ITK. “For Inuit, it could mean a significant shift in the way conservation organizations view our relationship with Arctic species, which will help in the wider recognition of our knowledge about wildlife and the environment.”

The motion, co-sponsored by the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) and a contingent of South American and African organizations, calls on the IUCN to establish a working group to consider how IPOs could be better represented within the structure of IUCN, including the option of creating a distinct membership and voting category.

“Indigenous peoples have historically been grossly underrepresented in world forums such as these, and have had limited ability to exercise any influence, said Vernon Amos, of Sachs Harbour, who, along with fellow Inuvialuk Larry Carpenter, represented ICC at the congress.

“Those days have come and gone. Governments and conservation groups now have to make room for us at the table, and in this new climate of inclusion, we have to rethink our relationships with governments and other management bodies, as they will have to readjust the nature of their interactions with us.”

IUCN’s 1,200 members currently fall into one of two main categories: governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). ITK and ICC are national and international NGO members respectively, but this does not reflect the role of IPOs and Indigenous knowledge in the conservation and sustainable use of nature.

IUCN is the world’s largest environmental network, and the World Conservation Congress, held every four years, is its highest decision-making body. Motions adopted in this forum have the potential to influence the global conservation agenda.

Yet to come to vote are a motion encouraging respect for the ecologically sustainable use of abundant biological resources, sponsored by the Fur Institute of Canada and co-sponsored by ICC, and a motion aimed at implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the IUCN.

Download the full motion here: Establishing an Indigenous Peoples Membership and Voting Category (.pdf) .

Tags: IUCN  environment  conservation