Forever Sabah Workshop with Community Conservation Leaders

A selection of community conservation initiatives from

around Sabah and a timeline of key events.

From 21-22 June, Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) joined a Forever Sabah workshop of community conservation leaders. Forever Sabah is a 25-year initiative that aims to build a fair, prosperous and sustainable Sabah (Malaysia) by pioneering the state’s transition to a diversified green economy. It aims to change the development and economic trajectory of the State by rebalancing the economy from its historical over-reliance on and exploitation of natural habitats (particularly forests, rivers and seas).

The workshop focused on more than ten leading community conservation initiatives, including Native Forest Reserves, Community Use Zones (co-management with state protected areas), reforestation, eco-tourism, and natural resource-based enterprises. It used Open Space Technology to identify, explore, and brainstorm next steps on a range of key issues such as land, sustainable use of natural resources, economic opportunities, and leadership.

Council of the Global Environmental Facility Convenes 44th Meeting

During the week of 17 June, 2013, the Council of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) convened its 44th meeting at the headquarters of the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Prior to the start of the meeting, a GEF Council Consultation Meeting with was held with Civil Society Organizations on Monday, 17 June 2013. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF, noted that while progress had been made regarding CSO engagement with the GEF, more could be done in this area. More information on the CSO Consultation meeting can be found here. From 18 June to 20 June 2013, the Council of the GEF met to address a variety of issues at its 44th meeting. These included approval of the work programme and budget for the GEF Evaluation Office as well as a discussion on the GEF's role regarding synergies among multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification. The Council of the GEF also approved a decision for Mexico to host the fifth Assembly of the GEF. More information on this meeting can be found here and the IISD summary report can be found here. 

Will the European Union Legalise Biopiracy?

A new opinion piece, published on 18 June by Natural Justice and the Berne Declaration, sharply criticises the European Commission’s draft EC Regulation 2012/0278 (COD) to implement the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing in the European Union (EU). By excluding a significant category of genetic resources (GRs) from the scope of the regulation, the Draft fails to implement the main objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of GRs and associated traditional knowledge (TK). In addition it will lead to greater legal uncertainty for users, allow for unfair competitive practices and, in the long run, lead provider countries to implement more burdensome access procedures to GRs.

The ENVI Committee of the European Parliament will vote on the Draft Regulation on the 4th of July, with a final draft expected to be tabled in the European Parliament in October 2013. In the Draft Regulation, user obligations would only apply to GRs and associated TK that have been physically accessed in the country of origin after the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol. This implementation would be in sharp contrast to the large majority of existing ABS laws in provider countries where the utilisation of GRs and associated TK also triggers the obligation to share benefits, based on prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms. The European Commission’s narrow and biased interpretation of the Nagoya Protocol and subsequent national implementation is likely to have a number of very serious consequences:

Community Workshop in Melangkap, Sabah

On 16 June, Harry Jonas (Natural Justice) joined Lanash Thanda and Dorothy Lim (Borneo Conservancy Initiative) at a community workshop in Melangkap, Sabah, Malaysia. The participants discussed a range of issues, including their local governance systems and women's contributions to the transmission of traditional knowledge.

National Consultation in Sabah on Women's Rights in ASEAN

From 14-15 June, Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) attended a national consultation in Kinarut with women from East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) on human rights in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The consultation was organised by Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP) and the Women's Aid Organisation, with support from the Southeast Asian Women's Caucus in ASEAN (Women's Caucus).

The two-day consultation included the following topics and activities:

• Introduction to the Women's Caucus,
• Introduction to ASEAN and its human rights mechanisms, including the ASEAN Charter and Human Rights Declaration, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, and ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers,

African BCP Initiative meets in Kenya

On the 15^th of June 2013, Natural Justice held a meeting of the African BCP Initiative in Nairobi, Kenya with its Kenyan partners. Phase 2 of the African BCP Initiative has now begun and local partners took the opportunity to discuss their various project of work for 2013-2014. The meeting also heard from prominent human rights lawyer Korir Sing’Oei on the current discussions around the community land bill, Soikan Meitiaki of the Forest CarbonPartnership Facility on REDD+ in Kenya, Hjalmar Joffre-Eichorn a community based theatre expert on forum theatre in Kenya and Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, Global Co-ordinator of the ICCA Consortium, on ICCA’s in Kenya. Natural Justice thanks all its Kenyan partners and presenters for participation in the meeting. The short report for the African BCP Initiative 2011-2012 can be found here.

Indigenous Peoples and Community Conserved Territories and Areas in Kenya

On the 14^th of June 2013, Natural Justice participated in a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on Indigenous Peoples Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA). The meeting was organized by the ICCA Network in Kenya, with support of by the GEF Small Grants Programme, and attended by a number of civil society representatives in Kenya. Participants in the meeting heard from Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, General Secretary of the ICCA Consortium, Kanyinke Sena, a indigenous peoples rights lawyer and member of the UNPFII and Clement Lenachuru, Commissioner of the Kenyan National Land Commission. The Kenyan ICCA Network also discussed with participants their plans to raise awareness on ICCA’s and highlight various Kenyan ICCA examples over the next year. Natural Justice, as members and southern and eastern African representatives the Consortium have been asked to support to the ICCA Network in this process.

Energy Training Workshop Held in Cape Town

On 12 June, Cath Traynor (Natural Justice Associate) attended an Energy Training Workshop organised by Project 90x2030 and the Alternative Information Development Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The workshop started with an overview of energy governance in South Africa, including current policies and possible alternatives. Local governance was then discussed, including challenges for local governments to respond to community needs, and the importance of the Batho Pele “People First” principles. Group discussions focused upon the challenges for energy access in low-income communities and possible solutions. Practical actions were considered and a variety of low-cost and do-it-yourself energy options recently tested by local communities demonstrated. The meeting concluded by brainstorming how best to address community needs and how to enhance and extend partnerships for SMART energy actions.

Relevant resources for those in South Africa interested in learning more about these issues include Making Local Government Work: An Activist's Guide and Smart Electricity Planning, a civil society response to the South African Government’s Integrated Resource Plan.

Call for Applications for the Natural Justice Legal Researcher Fellowship in India

Natural Justice (Lawyers for Communities and the Environment) is a pioneering international team of legal practitioners. We do cutting edge work on environmental and human rights law, support communities and provide technical advice to governments to secure environmental and social justice. Natural Justice currently works in Africa, Asia and Latin America and has offices in South Africa, Ivory Coast, United States, India and Malaysia.

Natural Justice has been working with communities, civil society organizations and the government in India since 2009. It has its India office in Bangalore and a field office in Bhubaneswar.

Natural Justice is calling for applications for a one-year Legal Researcher Fellowship. The Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity to lawyers who are passionate about legal research in the area of environmental law with a focus on facilitating communities to assert their rights over resources. The Fellowship will allow the legal researcher to work in a multidisciplinary environment with an opportunity to integrate design thinking and visualization of the law as an integral part of his/her approach. The Fellowship will give the legal researcher an opportunity to provide teaching assistance to an interdisciplinary course in environmental law and policy to be taught at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. Over the year the Fellowship will also facilitate learning networks for the Legal Researcher that will include community based organizations, non-governmental organizations, legal practitioners, academics, designers, activists, interdisciplinary research centres, intergovernmental and international organizations.

Associate Lawyer Fellowship- India

Natural Justice (Lawyers for Communities and the Environment) is a pioneering international team of legal practitioners. We do cutting edge work on environmental and human rights law, support communities and provide technical advice to governments to secure environmental and social justice. Natural Justice currently works in Africa, Asia and Latin America and has offices in South Africa, Ivory Coast, United States, India and Malaysia.

Natural Justice has been working with communities, civil society organizations and the government in India since 2009. It has its India office in Bangalore and a field office in Bhubaneswar.

Natural Justice is calling for applications for a one-year Associate Lawyer Fellowship. The Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity to lawyers who are passionate about learning to use domestic and international environmental law to secure the rights of communities to their lands and waters.  The Fellowship will expose the Associate Lawyer to a range of innovative ways of effectively doing environmental law ranging from community based legal support and training to litigation and advocacy. Over the year the Fellowship will also facilitate learning networks for the Associate Lawyer that will include community based organizations, non-governmental organizations, legal practitioners, academics, designers, activists, intergovernmental and international organizations.

ICCA Toolkit Now Available

The UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has recently released a new resource entitled "A Toolkit to Support Conservation by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: Building capacity and sharing knowledge for Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs)". The toolkit documents sixteen case studies and a diverse set of innovative tools and approaches developed to help Indigenous peoples and local communities address critical challenges that affect their natural and cultural resources. The resources are organised around five key themes: documentation, management planning, monitoring and evaluation, communication, and finance and values. It also sets out tools to support the effectiveness and viability of ICCAs as governance structures for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems. Our review of international law and jurisprudence, the Convention on Biological Diversity's Technical Series No. 64 on recognising and supporting ICCAs, and the toolkit and website on biocultural community protocols are highlighted as tools for legal empowerment and securing legal recognition.

In addition to UNEP-WCMC, the toolkit was developed with the support of and in collaboration with the UN Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, the Government of Norway, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and the ICCA Consortium. It is available for download in English here.

Ashoka Summit on "Nutrients for All"

From 2-4 June 2013, Harry Jonas (Natural Justice and Ashoka Fellow) attended an Ashoka-hosted Globalizer Summit in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's Globalizer focused on the concept of 'nutrients for all'. On 4 June, over 100 leading experts convened to discuss the issues and to develop a strategic way forwards. Harry presented on Natural Justice's work in relation to the 'right to nutrients'. More information is available here. 

Natural Justice Participates in Workshop hosted by International Council on Mining and Metals

Sankar Pani of Natural Justice has participated in a workshop organized by International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) on human rights issues on 27 May 2013 and on indigenous peoples issues on 29 May 2013, held at the University of Western Australia, Perth. 

The multi-stakeholder workshop was attended by industry practitioners from ICMM member companies, civil society organizations, academia and experts from international organizations and research institutions from the entire Asia-Pacific region. The event was co-facilitated by the Institute of Business and Human Rights. 

The multi-stakeholder day on Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples has discussed the following aspects: 

• ICMM’s guidance in the area of Human Rights and Indigenous people
• Sharing of perspectives and to explore challenges and opportunities around implementing the UN Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework and Guiding Principles (including the due diligence and grievance mechanisms elements) 
• Sharing of perspectives and to explore challenges and opportunities around implementing effective engagement and decision-making processes with Indigenous Peoples (including Free, Prior and Informed Consent) 
• Facilitate peer-learning and exchange which contributes to the creation of regional networks around the key issues discussed 

The following points emerged from the discussion: