How can environmental impact assessments respect indigenous peoples' rights?

My two cents. The CBD on-going consideration of indigenous knowledge in the context of Digital Sequence Information and benefit-sharing points to two issues: - IT infrastructure for data collection and reuse is essential to realizing indigenous knowledge rights; - existing databases are to recognize data provenance and stable standards are needed to consistently tag datasets.

Indigenous peoples should certainly be consulted in EIAs. Perhaps requirements should be expanded to explicitly include social impacts.

By recognizing their rights, you are indirectly acquiring such right. This is so because the indigens will willingly lead your process since you have recognized and respected their rights.

Certainly! it's essential to acknowledge and honor the inherent rights of indigenous peoples, as emphasized by international agreements like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Respecting their lands, cultures, and self-determination is crucial. Incorporating the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) goes beyond a procedural necessity; it represents a core commitment to ensuring meaningful involvement of indigenous communities in decisions that impact their lives.

Indigenous people should be consulted in the EIA process. The aim of the assessment should be explained to them. The benefits associated with carrying out EIAs should be explained to them in totality as this will help them to have trust in the process. This can lead to them willfully compromising some of their values for a better environment.

In EIAs, Public Participation requires that people who may be affected or may have an interested in the project, be consulted and kept informed about the potential impacts of the project, this includes indigenous people. In return, indigenous people (may) have valuable knowledge about the environment and other aspects of the project area, which will help ensure that the impacts of the project are thoroughly assessed and mitigated.

Indigenous people have often developed a totally sustainable lifestyle in harmony with the local environment; from which we can learn valuable lessons to better shape a sustainable future.

By understanding the environment in which Indigenous people live and then ensuring meaningful and inclusive participation of indigenous communities in the decision-making process. Its also important to recognize and incorporate traditional knowledge

In EIAs, Public Participation requires that people who may be affected or may have an interested in the project, be consulted and kept informed about the potential impacts of the project, this includes indigenous people. In return, indigenous people (may) have valuable knowledge about the environment and other aspects of the project area, which will help ensure that the impacts of the project are thoroughly assessed and mitigated.

Embracing the rich shade of indigenous knowledge is critical importance for holistic environmental assessments. Indigenous peoples frequently retain precious insight into ecosystems and biodiversity. There are many resource persons within every community like Assembly members, unity committee men and even individuals who have in-depth knowledge about the community and past project challenges and success. EIA should rather start with a proper community entry and engagement to foster understanding and seen by the people as their own. Incorporating their traditional knowledge not only enhances the exquisiteness of assessments but also promotes sustainable practices that have been proven effective over generations.

Empowerment of indigenous voices, particularly women, is key to ensure equitable EIAs, as well as viable projects. This implies raising awareness, trainning and monitoring and evaluation throughout the project cycle.

Precisamos emponderar os povos indígenas para que sua representatividsde e sua voz se fortaleçam junto as demais comunidades.

Scholars have found out that participation of "learners" produces better results. So the joint productivity of the EIA team and the indigenous people is improved when both parties are involved.

One thing I've found helpful is that "TRUST" is a good start point for any form of transaction. So every EIA team should use the TRUST game, be transparent, listen to the people. Such approach with result-oriented programs organized and executed to finish will go a long way in making the indigenous people willing and ready to give whatever help is needed for the whole process.

Lembrando que estabelecer diálogo é maia do que saber ouvir suas demandas. É preciso fazer com que elas fiquem como o objetivo central da discussão já que eles estão em seu lugar de fala.

There is significan amount of knowledge EIA team can obtain from indigenous people in regards to environment. EIA team has to show respect and consideration towards the inputs from indigenous people and include their opinion as a integral part of study. This improves trust and produces great results.

Building trust through translucent communication and genuine dialogue is trifler. Involving indigenous communities in meaningful exchanges enhances a cooperative atmosphere. This ensures that their voices, opinions and preferences are heard, admired, and integrated into decision- making processes, contributing to a further inclusive and effective environmental impact assessment frame. For example, I did a research at Atwima Kwanwoma which was about recharging groundwater with rainwater harvesting technology, though groundwater was drying up in many wells in the community but only few households approved for their wells to be used for the project. And interestingly as the project prosper many households were requesting for the implementation

Indigenous communities aren't passive participants in EIAs; they're co-pilots steering the process with their ancestral knowledge. Ongoing dialogue, shared monitoring, and using data as a shared torch are crucial. Weaving indigenous wisdom into monitoring, analysis, and feedback ensures projects benefit both land and people, creating a future where sustainability and cultural integrity resonate in harmony. By respecting this sacred covenant, we pave the way for a healthy planet where environment and society blossom together.

Communication after the fact is something I believe is quite underplayed after EIAs have been carried out. Indigenes need to be informed about the outcomes and findings of the assessment in a way that is structured and suited to the related local community.

An example I have seen is a company established and then, the indigenous people are not carried along, let alone allowed to monitor what actually goes on. Right now that company has stopped production, because the people of the land were cut off. In a nutshell, if the indigenous people are trained and allowed to participate to the point of analysis and feedback, then such projects would last and that's the sustainability we are talking about. Feedback is very important in any project or transaction. And so if it coming from the indigenous people who are more or less a part of the "raw materials", then it's a good lead.

Extractive development is destroying society.. Inclusive development model empowers society & environment. Connecting indigenous people with inclusive development should be the primary focus. Rights and laws should not be on paper only.

Devemos considerar que os povos indígenas, são os povos originários de muitos locais e sua cultura tem sido destruída ao longo do tempo, sua voz calada e suas leis e direitos desrespeitados, muitas vezes pela intenção de usarem as terras pertencentes a eles.

To many times projects are proposed and the EIA is prepared to justify the desired outcome. That is my experience working on Dept of Interior EIAs.