Following the approval of the principles of collaboration signed in San Francisco in the framework of the GCF with 38 governors of the world and indigenous peoples from different regions of the planet. Indigenous and local leaders from Mesoamerica, Brazil and Indonesia urge political, economic and civil society actors to engage with peoples at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit to stop the destruction of the forests they have all pledged to protect.
For indigenous and local leaders in Mesoamerica, this is a great opportunity to demonstrate su capacidad de mitigar el cambio climático por medio de la conservación de los bosques. Según un estudio de 2017 en las Actas de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias, la conservación de los bosques representa la «solución climática natural» más rentable y podría contribuir significativamente a mantener el calentamiento global por debajo de los 2 °C.
For Gustavo Sanchéz, president of the Mexican Network of Peasant Forestry Organizations Red MOCAF, this approval is a great achievement for the indigenous peoples and local communities of the planet.
"This is a clear sign that agreements can be reached between indigenous and community organizations and governments, and that the idea that there can be no climate and forest policies without respecting the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples is moving forward," he said.
For his part, Cándido Mezúa affirms that this approval is an achievement for the entire indigenous community that has been responsible for protecting the forests and managing these necessary spaces for negotiation with governments and state institutions.
Indigenous and local community leaders recognize that working with governments is critical to ensure the fulfillment of land and human rights and community benefits linked to their efforts and leadership around forest conservation and low-emissions development.
"There are countries where the most felt need is the recognition and demarcation of indigenous territories. In other places, such as Mexico, where this right is already recognized, the repercussion will be to strengthen the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the definition of climate and forest policies," said Sánchéz, president of the MOCAF Network.
"We cannot talk about a serious climate policy that guarantees results without recognizing that the indigenous communities are the ones who take care of the forests and conserve them. We are the ones who are fighting against climate change," concluded Sánchez.
“Mucho se discute sobre cómo mitigar el cambio climático, qué nuevas tecnologías se van a usar para lograr parar este cambio. Se habla de cómo hacer para que no suba la temperatura. Nosotros como comunidades indígenas y locales, proponemos un modelo forestal comunitario, para continuar manteniendo esa reserva de carbono. Nuestras comunidades han protegido los bosques durante años en Asia, Suramérica y Brasil. Es importante que nuestros gobernantes tomen de ejemplo la decisión que está haciendo el gobierno de California” comentó Sergio Guzmán, gerente del proyecto «Reducción de Emisiones por Deforestación Evitada en la Zona de Usos Múltiples de la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya en Guatemala – GUATECARBON».
