The Guna General Congress in Panama and the Bribri and Cabécar Indigenous Network (RIBCA) in Costa Rica will begin piloting the Territorial Governance Mechanism (MGT), an initiative to strengthen the governance of indigenous peoples and local communities in their territories.

The Mesoamerican Alliance of Forests and Peoples (AMBP) became part of the MGT, which seeks to strengthen the political, economic, territorial and cultural governance of indigenous peoples and local communities. This strengthening will be expressed through technical and financial support, and one of the ways in which it will be reflected in improved access to climate funds for indigenous peoples.

These efforts are key to confront the threats that surround indigenous territories, as well as to confront the climate crisis, aspiring to achieve Good Living and indigenous autonomy. Currently, these funds do not reach indigenous territories in a timely and sufficient manner, diluting them in the hands of intermediary actors.

Between July 26 and 30, the MGT team developed a participatory process to initiate the implementation of the Mechanism and select the pilot territories. This process consisted of three workshops: in Panama City, Panama, with leaders and technicians from the Emberá Wounaan General Congress and the Guna General Congress; in Escuintla, Guatemala, with the Community Forestry Association of Guatemala Utz Che'; and in Petén, Guatemala, with the Association of Forestry Communities of Petén (ACOFOP).

The selection of the pilot projects prioritized criteria such as having political conditions that allow the mechanism to operate, that they are experiences that strengthen the AMBP, and that the territories are close to each other to improve the possibility of replication, scaling and impact. It was also sought that they have outstanding governance experiences, their own spokesperson and representativeness, as well as a self-management dynamic, among other evaluations.

Como punto focal político se designó a Sara Madriz (miembro directivo de la AMPB) y a Déborah Sánchez (Coordinadora Bosques, Clima y Biodiversidad de la AMPB), como punto focal técnico.

The AMBP is defining a work path to initiate actions in both pilot territories in the first quarter of 2023.

The Mechanism is an initiative promoted by Forest Trends; it has a board of directors made up of its partners: AIDESEP, CONFENIAE, AMBP and Forest Trends.