Conservation violence:

More evictions of the Sengwer in the Embobut Forest, Kenya.

Themes: Conservation, Indigenous people, Parks, Human rights

On 2 April 2017, Kenya Forest Service guards violently attacked Elias Kimaiyo, a Sengwer community leader. The Forest Guards were burning houses belonging to the Sengwer. Kimaiyo was taking photographs.

Respecting human rights: the key to elephant conservation

"It’s time for a new model of conservation: one that holds human rights at its core."

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks

First Nations call for more say in park system at national conference

'Indigenous protected areas reach their full potential when there are people in them, taking care of them'

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks

Giving Indigenous people a greater say in the operation of national parks and the creation of new protected areas is on the agenda at a major conference in Alberta this week. First Nations leaders and officials from the federal and provincial governments will review proposals that could give more legal weight to protected areas designated by bands, said Steve Nitah, a delegate to the Canadian Parks Conference being held over four days starting Wednesday in Banff.

View from the Termite Mound.

Susanna Nordlund's blog about threats against Maasai land in Loliondo - Thomson Safaris, OBC and ruthless hypocrisy.

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

Minister Maghembe Declares War on the Maasai of Loliondo - The dry season became catastrophic. There were more meetings by the RC’s committee. Herders were shot by Senapa rangers. The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism made a declaration that the land had to be taken - flanked by OBC’s journalists. The councillors protested the minister’s declaration. The situation is terrifying.

Leaked WWF report on the Baka in Cameroon.

“Many cases of abuse and human rights violations are reported by the communities”

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

Earlier this week, Survival International announced that it has received a leaked copy of a 2015 WWF report into the impact of its conservation activities in Cameroon on the Baka indigenous peoples. WWF had previously denied the existence of the report.

Amazon Indigenous REDD+: an innovative approach to conserve Colombian forests?

An authority that represents indigenous organizations of the nine Amazonian countries proposes a conservation initiative in which cultural traditions and ancestral knowledge form the basis for development.

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, REDD

The Amazon Indigenous REDD+ (RIA) initiative led in Colombia by the indigenous organization OPIAC is being implemented in the departments of Amazonas and Guainia, territories made up of 169 indigenous reservations of 56 different villages, not counting the populations that are in voluntary isolation. In 2012, the reservation of the Upper Basin of the Inírida River (CMARI), inside the Puinawai Nature Reserve, was chosen as the location of the first pilot implementation project of RIA in Colombia, which had its official presentation at COP18, the 18th meeting of the UN Climate Change Conference. For indigenous communities in the Amazon, it is important that their ancestral traditions are recognized as the basis for the implementation of RIA and used as a mechanism to safeguard Amazonian biodiversity.

Human rights abuses complaint against WWF to be investigated by OECD.

In unprecedented move, OECD will look into allegations that world’s largest conservation organisation facilitated abuse of Baka people of Cameroon.

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks

Hunting must be regarded as a human right for indigenous and tribal peoples.

Hunting remains a vital means of subsistence and is central to many communities’ identities, so why should they require permission to hunt?

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks