WCC 2016 Res 072 - Activity Report

Whakatane Mechanism (WM) was reviewed at: CEESP’s Feb 2017 meeting in Gland, & the Nov 2017 Global Dialogue on Conservation & Human Rights, Kenya (report: http://www.forestpeoples.org/en/environmental-governance-rights-based-conservation/news-article/2017/recognising-real-conflict

One strong hope expressed in the CEESP meeting was that such a grievance mechanism could become housed, recognised and resourced within the UN HR system. Little has moved forward. Another hope was for national dialogue processes, one such happened in Kenya in March.

Out of the CEESP meeting a small task force (CEESP, FPP, Natural Justice, WWF, WCS) formed to examine how to prevent conflict between conservation and communities (e.g. conservation standards) and how to resolve current conflicts (e.g. the WM).

The Global Dialogue (organised by FPP, Swedbio, Natural Justice, CEESP and CIPDP) brought together communities (incl. from Kenya, DRC & Thailand where the 3 Whakatane processes have taken place) and conservation and human rights organisations. Despite being invited, few government/ large donor reps attended. The Dialogue considered why conflicts between conservation and communities arise, how they can be prevented, and how ongoing conflicts can be resolved.

It was highlighted that, despite the seriousness of the issue, only THREE WMs have happened since 2011, and that the real conflict is not between ecological integrity and community well-being but is driven by powerful state and private forces who divide and rule the better to exploit both. Does the lack of progress on the WM and the lack of willingness to resource it, suggest that conservation organisations are by and large preferring the short term easier route of allying with state and private interests to impose protected areas that are completely unsustainable? How can conservation instead champion a healthy relationship with communities against such forces?

In 2017, FPP received further requests to follow up on the Whakatane Assessment that was held in Thailand in 2012 (see: http://whakatane-mechanism.org/thailand), including at the Global Dialogue where the Karen of Thailand spoke of the huge discrimination against indigenous peoples who are not recognised by the Government, and whose forests are being decimated.

In 2017, the stalling dialogue in DRC that the WM had enabled since 2014 (between evicted Batwa at Kahuzi-Biega National Park (PNKB) and ICCN/ PNKB) ground to a halt when one Batwa man searching for medicines on his ancestral lands was shot dead by PNKB eco-guards (see http://www.forestpeoples.org/en/environmental-governance-rights-based-conservation/news-article/2017/symptom-deeper-malaise-killing). However the conservator has since been replaced and current dialogue involving the Batwa, CAMV and ICCN/ PNKB may help allow the stalled WM to resume.

In 2017, the slow but steady progress initiated by the 2011 WM with the Ogiek at Mt Elgon, Kenya, continued. County Government continues to engage positively, but Ministry of Environment has show no willingness. Meanwhile, the nearby Sengwer indigenous peoples of Cherangany Hills have been suffering violent displacement from their ancestral lands by the Ministry’s Kenya Forest Service, now including the shooting and killing of peaceful community members. Only after the killing, and after 3 UN SRs called for suspension, did the EU suspend its forest conservation focused WaTER project (see: http://www.forestpeoples.org/en/rights-based-conservation/press-release/2018/eu-suspends-funding-kenya-government-over-indigenous) however the violent evictions continue.

THREE WM processes are so few for the task that needs to be undertaken to turn conservation round so it allies with, rather than tramples on, such communities rights. Will the big Conservation organisations recognise the need to urgently resource and multiply such processes?