Marrakech, Morocco
10 November 2008


Indigenous peoples' representatives from twelve African countries, representing hunter-gatherers, nomadic herders and oasis dwellers ended a four day conference in Marrakech, Morocco with a firm commitment to greater engagement with international and national policy forums on climate change.

The conference dealt with several major climate change themes:
1. The cause of climate change : - the science of Green House Gas emissions, the natural carbon cycle and the current context of soaring emissions which cannot be absorbed by nature.

2. Adaption: Adaptation was considered as a natural process, both from a Western scientific point of view and from the indigenous experience of natural rythmns, cycles and interdependence of all living things. Indigenous peoples recognised, described and affirmed their rich heritage of constant adaptation in arid, subhumid, dry forest and equatorial rainforest contexts. It was emphasised that nomadism / transhumance, so misunderstood and stigmatised under colonialism and contemporary national policies is the backbone of adaptation by indigenous peoples. Migrations allow for natural adaptive cycles to regenerate biodiversity of plants and animals.

3. Mitigation Mitigation was the hardest concept to fully understand. It refers to efforts to reduce the rate of Green House Gas emissions and / or finding ways to store carbon that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Important examples of carbon storage include protecting or re-establishing natural forests, protecting biodiversity overall, and stopping land degradation.

Batwa spokesperson Emmanuel Nengo expressed caution about the West's enthusiasm for mitigation by African states. ''How is it that the West created this crisis of carbon emissions and think that they will solve it by investing in African forestry. They are the ones cutting down the equatorial rainforests of Africa. How can you say on one hand you want mitigation, and yet you are the one causing the pollution and the destruction of our territories and livelihoods?''

World Bank representative Haddy Sey gave a presentation on the Carbon Forest Partnership Facility (CFPF). She emphasised that the World Bank is linking a series of key concepts together: market driven incentives for forest carbon conservation, human rights, livelihoods and equity for indigenous and local peoples. The Bank is keenly aware that indigenous peoples, particularly in African forests do not have secure tenure over their lands, and yet they are the stewards of rainforest biodiversity. Any agreement on funding Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and land Degradation (REDD) requires the involvement by indigenous peoples. She said the pace of REDD negotiations is fast and IPACC must do its best to inform indigenous peoples and help them get to the negotiating table nationally and internationally.

Ogiek delegate Kanyinke Sena who has been representing IPACC at the World Bank meetings on REDD expressed his concern that a lot of attention is going to humid rainforests which are under siege in Africa, but that the fragile dry forests of tropical Africa, such as those found in the indigenous territories of Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana are mostly being ignored.

Baka delegate Messe Venant told the Conservation International trainers: ''If you are saying that our equatorial rainforest are going to be protected, and that we can be paid for this service - then I think i am having the most beautiful dream right now. We Pygmies of the Congo Basin love our forest, we are only happy in the forest. We see great opportunities in securing the right to protect our traditional territories and contribute to mitigation.''

Delegates from the Sahara, Sahel and Kalahari deserts wanted to know more about carbon sequestration in desert environments. The science of carbon sequestration has been heavily tilted in favour of forest analysis. Though forests can store massive amounts of carbon, desert regions, and in particular the careful management of water sheds, salt pans, salt marshes, and pasturelands can play a major role in mitigation due to the vastness of the territories and their fragility.

Desert based delegates expressed grave concerns about the drying out of their territories, increasing desperation, violence and conflict. Not a single IPACC delegate had heard from his / her government about their National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA), even though states should be consulting with indigenous peoples in sensitive ecosystems.

The conference concluded with several major resolutions:
*Indigenous peoples must get informed about the risks of climate change. Climate change needs to be understood as a scientific and technical challenge, but equally it needs to be linked to rights, including the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

*Indigenous peoples have a lot to teach African governments about adaptation, and as stewards of biodiversity can play a major role in mitigation in Africa.

*For indigenous peoples to be involved in Adaptation and Mitigation they need to be proactive but also to seek strong partnerships with other elements of the civil society. Indigenous delegates expressed their satisfaction with the partnership with Conservational International. Delegates called on Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF to take more seriously the need help indigenous peoples prepare for climate change and ensure sustainable, equitable mitigation. Conservation NGOs need to adhere to IUCN standards and the resolutions of the 2003 Durban Vth World Parks Congress;

IPACC agreed to accelarate involvement in REDD at national and multilateral levels;
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The conference was hosted by Association Tamaynut, the national Amazigh network of Morocco. Delegates attended from indigenous peoples of Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Kenya, Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Namibia and South Africa. The conference was funded by Conservation International, FinnChurchAid and the World Bank. Technical support was provided by Susan Stone, Kristen Walker-Painemilla, Mario Chacon Leon and Jonathan Philipsborn of Conservation International. The conference was proceeded by 2 days Web2 training supported by CTA and with technical assistance from Shalin Ry.
IPACC agreed that there is a current gender bias in climate change negotiations. Indigenous women bear the brunt of the impact of climate change in rural Africa, but are marginalised in the policy environment;
IPACC members are to be educated on the NAPA and FCCC opportunities and insist that Developed Countries and African states take into consideration the skills, knowledge, cultures and needs of indigenous peoples;