Recognition and defence of the commons from the organisations perspective
Across Europe, there is an increasing awareness and commitment to recognising and engaging with local communities that govern and manage natural resources. This session is part of a sequence of four sittings dedicated to the theme of recognition and support of the commons from the perspectives of local communities, organisations and researchers. Representatives of organisations advocating for commons and territories of life will be allowed to briefly present their activity, highlighting the vital role of local community stewardship of land and sea resources.
These organisations reinforce the importance of community-based land and marine governance by engaging with local communities and promoting practices that respect local knowledge and rights. This strengthens the community’s capacity to engage in larger political arenas, to act more efficiently in new policy environments, and to resist external pressures that negatively affect the environment and disempower local actors.
Moderator of the session: Giorgio Scalici
Rapporteur of the session: Marco Bassi
PART 1. Presentations (7 to 10 minutes max each)
- ICCA Consortium/Europe: Sergio Couto and Marco Bassi
- Landcare Europe: Concha Salguero
- International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists Global Alliance: Engin Yilmaz
- Terra Sylvestris: Ted Karfakis
- IUCN: Jennifer Kelleher
PART 2. Open debate (30 minutes min)
The presentations will introduce key themes that will be debated in the second part of the session. They are interrelated and do not necessarily need to be discussed as subsequent points. They include:
- How to achieve inclusive conservation (within and beyond PAs), as opposed to ‘fortress conservation’, and to secure land and other natural resource-related community rights
- Community-based governance and management systems
- building a collective approach in a policy frame based on individual farmers (such as the EU CAP).”
- Global and regional-level policy frameworks
TRANSCRIPT DRAFT
Meeting summary for Recognition and defence of the commons from the organisations perspective (09/12/2024)
Quick recap
XXX introduced the Indigenous Peoples’ Consortium and an umbrella organization in Europe, discussing their goals and strategies for supporting small farms, traditional farming methods, and advocating for the rights of local communities. He also highlighted the challenges faced in defending the Commons, the importance of inclusive conservation, and the need for better communication and support for local communities involved in conservation efforts. The conversation ended with a discussion on the importance of conservation and the need for a more inclusive approach to environmental projects.
Next steps
- XXX to consider organizing a European roadmap for inclusive conservation, similar to the global roadmap discussed.
- Jennifer (IUCN) to continue developing a petition for a motion and new resolution to acknowledge fortress conservation and historical land grabbing.
- Foundation for Common Land to share findings from their recent project across 12 commons in England.
- All participants to explore ways to create synergy between existing conservation efforts and organizations.
- All participants to consider how to make the needs of commons and indigenous people in Europe more explicit in policy frameworks.
- All participants to identify key regional and national policy frameworks that need to be addressed to support commons and community-based conservation.
- IUCN to continue work on reforming national policies and laws to better recognize community conservation.
- All participants to explore ways to defend the rights of local communities within the IPLC (Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities) framework.
- All participants to consider how to better communicate the conservation work being done by communities that may not explicitly use conservation terminology.
Summary
Indigenous Peoples’ Consortium and Europe
XXX presents an organization called the Indigenous Peoples’ Consortium which represents local communities and indigenous people from 150 countries around the world. The organization aims to advocate for the recognition and support of these communities. XXX then introduces another speaker representing an umbrella organization in Europe called Europe that promotes biodiversity, resilience, ecosystems, and quality of life in European communities. The meeting continues with a discussion among the participants.
Expanding European Agriculture and Politics
XXX discussed the organization’s goal of engaging with European politics and expanding to other countries. He emphasized the importance of supporting small farms and traditional farming methods, as they contribute to agriculture and biodiversity. XXX also mentioned the need to focus on European consumption and the need for support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He briefly touched on the organization’s support for collective approaches in European towns, using the example of a colleague’s work in the Netherlands.
Environmental Payments and Community Rights
XXX discussed the environmental payment system for nature in his country, which organizes farmers into groups to collectively reach environmental targets. He also highlighted the importance of advocating for the rights of local communities in managing and governing their lands, and the need to defend these rights at the global level. XXX mentioned the United Nations’ proclamation of 2026 as the International Year of French Lands and Pastoralism, and the development of a position paper on the rights of commons and lands. He expressed concerns about the enlargement of protected areas and the potential negative impact on mobile pastoralists and other commons. XXX also mentioned the importance of recognizing the value of mobile pastoralists in sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. He concluded by emphasizing the need to challenge the exclusion of communal communities in Europe from global discussions on indigenous peoples and local communities.
Defending the Commons and Conservation
XXX discussed the challenges faced in defending the Commons, particularly in the context of the World Economic Growth and the privatization of areas. He highlighted the need for community participation and the importance of not working with the management body or the ministry. XXX also mentioned the issue of community abandonment and the potential for revitalizing communities. He expressed concern about the impact of the World Economic Growth on the area and the need for alternative approaches to conservation. XXX concluded by emphasizing the importance of conservation in the European continent, not just in Africa. He then invited Jennifer Keller from IUCN to present next.
IUCN’s Shift to Protected Areas
In the meeting, XXX from IUCN discussed the organization’s work on social justice issues and the shift from the term “Protected Areas Program” to “Protected and Conserved Areas Program”. He highlighted the importance of recognizing and advancing the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in conservation efforts. XXX also mentioned the development of a roadmap for Europe to support the recognition and support of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. He emphasized the need for a stronger voice for commoners in England and the importance of collaboration and sharing solutions at a national level. The conversation ended with a discussion on the guiding topics for future discussions.
Inclusive Conservation and Policy Frameworks
XXX discussed the challenges and potential solutions for inclusive conservation, particularly in relation to protected areas and policy frameworks. He highlighted the need for a collective approach, involving individual partners and making the needs of indigenous people and communities explicit. XXX also mentioned the importance of identifying regional policy frameworks to address and organize around. He suggested that the European Union’s policy, which assumes everything takes place based on private interests, needs to be adapted. XXX concluded by mentioning the possibility of bringing communities into the Iplc governance systems and the discussion about removing the Iplc framework.
Addressing Conservation Gaps in Governance
XXX discussed the challenges faced by local communities in Europe and Africa, particularly in relation to conservation efforts. He highlighted the invisibility of local communities and the need to defend their rights against fortress conservation and state policies. XXX also pointed out the importance of identifying and addressing gaps in governance structures that have been deliberately suppressed. He shared a specific example from his area, where a large area of significant biological diversity had not been addressed for decades due to political and power games. He concluded by expressing his hope that the situation would improve through proper practice and not just politics.
Frustration Over Conservation Efforts and Support
XXX expressed frustration about the lack of understanding and support for conservation efforts. He highlighted the importance of transgenerational work and the need for a broader perspective on conservation beyond just financial returns. XXX also pointed out the mismatch between the conservation work done by communities and the lack of awareness among the general public about their contributions to environmental issues. He emphasized the need for better communication and support for these communities, as well as technical advice from the State.
Inclusive Conservation and Societal Shifts
XXX discussed the importance of conservation and the need for a more inclusive approach to environmental projects. He emphasized the need for local communities to be involved in decision-making processes and the importance of understanding the context of conservation efforts. XXX also highlighted the need for a shift in societal attitudes towards conservation, with a focus on the role of pastoralism in habitat conservation. He concluded by expressing hope for the future of conservation efforts and the potential for change in the way these efforts are approached.