A call to action by Rain Forest UK.

Call to action for a “zero tolerance” policy concerning human rights abuses in conservation programmes.

Themes: FPIC, Conservation, Indigenous people, Human rights, Parks, Poverty

This is an important campaign for justice but we ask whether all the potential parties to the injustices claimed are represented here. For example the letter fails to mention the French company Rougier or the French Government which ought to be concerned about the behaviour of an important French company whose interests the eco-guards were protecting.

Tanzania has scrapped Otterlo Business Corporation’s hunting tourism concession in Loliondo

Themes: FPIC, Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, Poverty

Tanzania has ended a 25-year-old hunting tourism deal with a United Arab Emirates company called Otterlo Business Corporation. The deal, set up in 1992, was reported to be in exchange for millions of dollars to Tanzania’s armed forces.

Guest Post by Survival International:

“If the indigenous people haven’t given their consent, then WWF has no business being there”

Themes: Conservation, FPIC, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, Policy

For decades, alarm bells have been ringing over the human rights abuses that WWF is contributing to in the Congo Basin. In its attempt to defend itself (14 October), WWF shows that it is still deaf to these concerns, and prepared to mislead the public.

Wildlife Conservation Society partners with loggers in the Republic of Congo.

Indigenous Bayaka dispossessed

Themes: Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, FPIC, Conservation

Kenya: Conservation and Indigenous peoples’ rights – not a zero sum game.

Themes: Conservation, FPIC, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks

The preamble of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples sets out that “…respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment”. Despite this emphatic international human rights standard, and the global leadership and commitment demonstrated by Indigenous Peoples throughout the world, some Indigenous communities in some parts of world continue to have their rights denied in the name of conservation.

WWF responds to Survival International’s criticisms:

“Protecting our planet is as much about respecting the rights of the people that depend on it as it is about protecting wildlife”

Themes: Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, Conservation, FPIC

Recently, Survival International published a report titled, “How will we Survive?” It documents in detail the impact on indigenous communities of the national parks, logging concessions and trophy hunting zones that have been imposed on vast areas of land in the Congo Basin. The report is critical of the roles of the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society have played in conservation in the Congo.

WWF Violating Indigenous Rights – Complaint Abandoned

Stephen Corry of SI explains how the process unwound.

Themes: Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, FPIC, Policy, Poverty, Conservation

Survival International has today abandoned trying to get a resolution to our formal complaint that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is violating international standards about corporate responsibility, and is reverting to using public pressure to try and stop the abuses.

Protests in Bolivia Against Renewed Road Plans for TIPNIS Rainforest.

Community leaders and environmentalists rally to protect Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory, cause of massive 2011 protests.

Themes: Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, Conservation, FPIC