Peoples Forests Partnership

Desde Peoples Forests Partnership (PFP) nos complace anunciar que estaremos participando en la decimosexta reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes en el Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica (COP16 Colombia), también conocida como la Conferencia de Naciones Unidas sobre biodiversidad. PFP estará presente en Cali del 21 de octubre al 1 de noviembre. Nuestro objetivo es contribuir a aumentar y amplificar la gran cantidad de voces comunitarias que hablarán desde su conocimiento y experiencia como guardianes de la naturaleza. Apoyaremos el trabajo de uno de nuestros miembros fundadores, la Organización de Pueblos Indígenas de la Amazonía Colombiana (OPIAC), que tiene un espacio en la Maloca, ubicada en la Zona Verde de la COP 16. ¡Ven a visitarnos! Suma tu voz a la conversación y participa en los dos paneles que tendremos para amplificar las voces de las comunidades en los procesos de tomas de decisiones:   Lunes, 28 de octubre, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Financiación directa para la naturaleza en juego: cómo las comunidades atraen flujos financieros emergentes para la naturaleza, abordan los riesgos y protegen sus derechos. Martes, 29 de octubre, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Guardianes de la naturaleza en acción – Co-creación innovadora que utiliza conocimiento ancestral, prácticas tradicionales y nuevas tecnologías para la conservación de la naturaleza. En los paneles participarán miembros de PFP y voces Indígenas reconocidas dentro de las discusiones ambientales y de los mercados de carbono. Entre ellas, el recién formado grupo G9 de organizaciones Indígenas Amazónicas, la Asociación de Pueblos Amerindios, la Aboriginal Carbon Foundation, los pueblos Indígenas Yawanawá, la Asociación de Autoridades Tradicionales Indígenas de la Zona Yapú y la Asociación de Autoridades Tradicionales Indígenas de Querarí. En el primer panel, "Financiamiento directo para la naturaleza en juego", escucharemos las perspectivas de líderes comunitarios sobre el diseño de mercados de la naturaleza que apoyen planes de vida autodeterminados, honren las tradiciones y cosmovisiones, y salvaguarden los derechos tanto de las comunidades como de los ecosistemas. El segundo, "Guardianes de la naturaleza en acción", analizará las iniciativas actuales que combinan con éxito el conocimiento ancestral y las prácticas tradicionales con las nuevas tecnologías y los enfoques contables requeridos por financieros y compradores. El 16 de octubre, junto con Pollination Foundation, también organizaremos una fiesta para celebrar la belleza de la comunidad y las conexiones que se forman cuando nos reunimos y compartimos. El evento se llevará a cabo en el Café El Guayabo de Cali, a partir de las 17 horas. Puede confirmar su asistencia aquí, ¡Son todos son bienvenidos! https://lnkd.in/eBgtZJqn 🗓 Fechas: 21 de octubre - 1 de noviembre Organizado por el Convenio de Naciones Unidas sobre la Diversidad Biológica 📍Lugar: Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacífico #Biodiversidad

Peoples Forests Partnership (PFP) is thrilled to be involved in the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16 Colombia), the United Nations Biodiversity Conference. The PFP is coming to Cali from 21 October to 1 November to help increase the number and diversity of community voices who will be speaking from their knowledge and expertise as nature guardians. We will be supporting the work of one of our founding members, Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC), holding space at ‘La Maloca’ in the Green Zone of COP 16. Come and add your voice to the conversation and connect with us! While we will be constantly using the momentum of COP 16 to bring forward community voices to be heard and effectively included in decision-making processes, we would like to present two events particularly focused on this mission. Please come and add your voice to the PFP’s two panels at the Maloca:   👉🏽 Monday, 28 October, 11AM  Direct financing for nature at play – How communities attract emerging financial flows for nature, navigate the risks and safeguard their rights 👉🏽 Tuesday, 29 October, 10AM  Nature guardians at work today – Innovative co-creation using ancestral knowledge, traditional practices and new technologies for nature conservation The panels will see contributions from panellists from PFP members and other important Indigenous voices from the world of biodiversity and carbon markets. These include the recently-formed G9 group of Amazonian Indigenous organizations, the amerindian peoples association, the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation, the Yawanawá Indigenous Peoples, the Association of Indigenous Traditional Authorities of the Yapú Zone, and the Association of Traditional Indigenous Authorities of Querarí. In the first panel, ‘Direct financing for nature at play’, we will hear perspectives from community experts on designing nature markets that support self-determined life plans, honour traditions and cosmovisions, and safeguard the rights of both communities and ecosystems. The second, ‘Nature guardians at work today’, will look at existing initiatives where ancestral knowledge and traditional practices are being successfully combined with new technologies and accounting approaches required by financiers and buyers. We will also host a party on Saturday 16 October, together with Pollination Foundation, to celebrate the beauty of community and the connections that are formed when we meet and share. The event will be held at Cali’s El Guayabo Café from 5PM. You can RSVP here – all are welcome to join us! https://lnkd.in/e2tzadKb We look forward to seeing you at COP 16 next week. Stay tuned for our special COP16 live updates and news via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. 🗓 Date: October 21 - November 1 Organized by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity 📍Location: Centro de Eventos Valle Del Pacífico (CEVP), Cali #Biodiversity

The Peoples Forests Partnership (PFP) are pleased to have contributed to a major new paper calling for community compensation to be at the core of carbon credit projects. The paper, being launched at #ClimateWeekNYC, represents the first comprehensive toolkit for design and implementation of community compensation plans that are equitable, transparent, and accountable. Along with several other contributing organizations, the PFP repeats its consistent call for community compensation to be embedded as a core benefit of projects to rebuild trust in carbon finance. The paper, From Co-Benefits to Core-Benefits: How to Ensure Carbon Finance is Fairly and Transparently Delivered, guides buyers, developers and community organizations to ensure that carbon finance delivers its intended benefits to the Indigenous peoples (IPs) and local communities (LCs) on the frontlines of nature stewardship and the climate crisis. The paper underlines what should be paid to IPs and LCs, best practice for making payments, and how to effectively audit community compensation payments. Apart from the PFP, contributors include Terraspect, IUCN CEESP Natural Resource Governance Framework, Conservation Finance Alliance, Climate Asset Management, One Acre Fund, Ponterra, ERS - Ecosystem Restoration Standard and Renoster. Upon the report’s launch, the PFP’s Executive Director Anna Lehmann said: “This paper makes an important contribution to the conversation on recognizing communities as co-investors. Our research shows many examples where the financial (and legal) systems developed and advanced in the global North over the past 500 years are driving disconnection between people and nature. Land reforms around the world have continuously weakened community land stewardship and driven land purchases by individuals and companies, which keeps driving habitat destruction and disconnection between people and the land. Our prevailing financial system favours individuals over collectives, and makes it practically impossible for communities or collectives to raise funds or use their land as collateral. Because of this, innovation is urgently needed to re-establish the strength of communities as nature stewards. This is what we have set out to do with our members at the Peoples Forests Partnership.” #PFP #ClimateFinance #NatureAction

Peoples Forests Partnership is looking forward to the Nature4Climate thematic sessions tomorrow at #ClimateWeekNYC. Our Executive Director Anna Lehmann will be facilitating a one-hour investor roundtable on the #IndigenousEconomy, to amplify the voices of our members in conversations on human rights and carbon market design. The roundtable hopes to elucidate what practical advice is available for investing in and procuring nature-based solutions (NbS): what is working in terms of NbS investments so far, how to maximize their benefits, how investments have been structured and what opportunities lie in wait. Come and join us tomorrow in NYC, 13:30-14:30 EST. #nature #Indigenouspeople #carbonfinance

The Peoples Forests Partnership's Executive Director Anna Lehmann is looking forward to joining the #ClimateWeekNYC discussion 'Why does Gender matter in the VCM?' and sharing voices from women in the field as part of the September 25 discussions on Delivering High Integrity Carbon Markets. #ClimateWeekNYC #ICVCM #VCMI #GCMU #ClimateWeekWBCSD #BusinessAction, #NatureAction #NaturalClimateSolutions

Peoples Forests Partnership will be going to #ClimateWeekNYC to amplify the voices of our members in conversations on human rights and how to create financial flows that reach communities directly. Come and find us, we want to hear from you! On Monday 23 September the PFP's Executive Director Anna Lehmann will facilitate an Investor Roundtable on the Indigenous Economy, organized as one of five investment roundtables by the coalition of environmental organizations Nature4Climate (N4C) and partners. Speakers at the roundtable will include: Fermín Chimatani Tayori, Leader of the Harakbut Indigenous People of the Peruvian Amazon who sits on the boards of several communal reserve organizations; Juan Carlos Jintiach of the Global Alliance to Territorial Communities and WINAK; Manuella Cantalice, head of climate finance movement New Animal Ventures; and Paul Roughan of Nia Tero. The PFP will also be present at events including an Expert Workshop on Legal Counsel for Rights Holders in Market-Based Interventions on Tuesday 24 September convened by the Rights and Resources Initiative and Namati. On Wednesday 25 September, Lehmann will be involved in two panel discussions: Investing in nature-based projects: managing the risks, where discussion will focus on strategies and tools to mitigate risks in Natural Carbon Solutions projects within the voluntary carbon market (VCM), held by the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development; and Why does Gender matter in the VCM?, which will explore how gender-led initiatives can drive better outcomes for climate action. The latter session is being co-convened by The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), the Global Carbon Market Utility and VCMI. A Private Roundtable on Human Rights held on Thursday 16 September will also feature the participation of the PFP. The Partnership is set to sit at the table with members of RMI, the United Nations Human Rights Office, Namati and the Grassroots Justice Network. Overall, Climate Week New York will see over 600 events and activities across the city as leaders in the carbon market space debate and discuss ideas of how to deliver the real impact that meeting our global climate goals requires. Stay tuned for more news of the events involving the PFP this September! 🗓 Date: September 22-29 🤝 Organized by the Climate Group 📍Location: Across New York City #ClimateWeekNYC #Nature4Climate #NaturalClimateSolutions #ClimateWeekWBCSD #BusinessAction #NatureAction

👐🏽 We are thrilled to announce that the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA) has joined the Peoples Forests Partnership!   COICA is an umbrella organization representing 511 Indigenous communities in the Amazon Basin, including approximately 66 Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation. It works for the promotion, protection and security of Indigenous territories, principles and ways of life, and social, spiritual and cultural values. With members spanning nine Amazonian countries, COICA plays a vital role in protecting and preserving one of the world's most critical ecosystems. 🤝 By joining forces, we can amplify our efforts in promoting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, traditional owners, local communities and Afro-descendants and their role in environmental conservation. The Peoples Forests Partnership looks forward to the positive outcomes our collaboration with COICA will bring in helping to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. #PFP #COICA

The Peoples Forests Partnership has returned from an engaging London Climate Action Week, in which we jointly held the session, ‘Carbon & biodiversity finance that supports community rights’, on Wednesday 26 June with Fauna & Flora and Natural Climate Solutions Alliance. Key messages from the session: ✊🏽 Support for human and land rights must form the basis of any nature market and financing instruments for nature. 💷 Markets and finance that aim to invest in land or biodiversity conservation and restoration need to be made accessible to communities around the world. 🤲 Inspirational governments around the world are working on institutionalizing the role of communities in land stewardship. Panellists at the event discussed the threats posed by climate finance and markets that undermine community and human rights. Pasang Dolma Sherpa, Executive Director of CIPRED, explained that, with discussion on carbon finance moving at breakneck speed, rights-based approaches that include Indigenous Peoples, traditional owners, local communities and Afro-descendants (IP, LC and AD) are still found wanting. Sherpa said: “Free, prior and informed consent of IP, LC and AD must form the basis for any nature-based market and development of their lands and territories, with land tenure security as a foundation.” Gustavo Sánchez Valle, Director of the Mexican Land Workers Organizations’ Network (Red MOCAF), reminded attendees that “carbon markets are an alternative as long as IP, LC and AD rights are fully respected, but they need to be made more accessible to IP, LC and AD”. He also called for ensuring the participation of IP, LC and AD in consultation and consent processes so that they can understand the market and its pricing, develop skills and be trained. The Scottish Land Commission’s Head of Rights and Responsibilities, Emma Cooper, told the session that Scotland is introducing a scheme whereby communities have the right to apply for land up for sale, and can request ownership or leasing of a publicly owned land and/or a role in decision-making over it. In addition, the 2024 Land Reform Bill makes it a legal requirement for investors to include benefits for communities in their land management plans. These solutions represent a historical effort by the Scottish government to increase the role of communities in land stewardship. We also heard from Zoe Quiroz Cullen, Director of the Climate and Nature Linkages programme at Fauna & Flora . In Liberia, the programme has sought to protect and restore nature through bringing new areas under conservation management with opportunities for long-term sustainable finance. In 2023, Flora & Fauna brought together the Liberia forest development authorities, communities and civil society to sign a declaration committing to a process of customary land formalization for communities that have claims to such lands. Other speakers included Feja Lesniewska, Rupert Quinlan and Anna Lehmann. #ClimateAction #CarbonCredits

(2/2) ...The Scope 3 emissions of some companies are larger than the total emissions of our members’ nations. Volkswagen Group’s Scope 3 emissions are reported at over 400m tCO2e (Scopes 1 and 2 are less than 7m tCO2e combined). Boeing’s Scope 3 emissions are reportedly over 420m tCO2e (Scopes 1 and 2 are less than 2m tCO2e combined). This is higher than Colombia’s total greenhouse gas emissions, even when accounting for emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU). Choosing the path that most effectively accelerates decarbonization will be difficult, and we commend the SBTi for taking on this challenge. We support the inclusion of limited and near-term use of rights-based, community centered, high quality carbon credits in Scope 3 emissions abatement if certain conditions are met: ● Projects that supply eligible carbon credits from nature-based solutions should be aligned to the Peoples Forests Partnership Principles. The projects must support human rights, community land tenure, traditional knowledge and customary institutions and follow high quality practices. Funding of activities must reach communities directly. ● Companies must have ambitious decarbonization targets and transparently show the use of the purchased credits. ● Companies must adhere to the mitigation hierarchy. The eventual guardrails must focus on both reducing global emissions and investing into nature. Communities hold the key to restoring and protecting nature at speed and scale. Indigenous Peoples. traditional owners, local communities and Afro-descendants must be included in the conversation on carbon credits for the abatement of Scope 3 emissions alongside companies and academics. Our members, the owners and the stewards of the territories, have ensured the conservation of forests and natural grasslands and its biodiversity for centuries in the fight against climate change at significant cost. The eventual decision on whether to allow carbon credits for the abatement of Scope 3 emissions will impact the flow of financial resources that come to our members’ voluntary carbon market projects, impacting the future of their people. Our mission is to create direct finance flows to rights-based and community centered mitigation activities. We would ask that the SBTi does not increase barriers to finance for communities. We at the PFP are ready to support you in finding a pragmatic approach that drives impact and integrity. Sincerely, Anna Lehmann Executive Director, PFP

(1/2) The Peoples Forests Partnership (PFP) has written this letter in response to the Scope 3 announcement of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): To the attention of Susan Jenny Ehr, Interim CEO, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Alberto Carillo Pineda, Chief Technical Officer, SBTi Tracy Wyman, Interim Chief Impact Officer, SBTi London, 03.07.2024 Dear SBTi Board of Trustees, We, the Peoples Forests Partnership (PFP), are writing to request inclusion in discussions on the use and quality requirements of carbon credits from voluntary carbon markets for the abatement of Scope 3 company emissions.   The PFP was formed to support forest communities’ call for their right to participate equitably in climate and conservation finance, if they choose to do so, including through voluntary carbon markets. We are currently connecting communities across the Americas from the north of Mexico to the south of Peru, reaching over 120 community organizations across Africa, and are on a path of deeper outreach in Asia. Many of our members have, or intend to develop, projects that they aim to have funded through the sale of carbon credits. Several letters have been published in response to the announcement of the possible use of carbon credits to meet Scope 3 emissions, including from NGOs, companies, and academics, calling for a reversal of the previous announcement. There have also been letters in support of the SBTi’s announcement from the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, environmental NGOs, and Global South Community-Based Organizations and Small Businesses. This announcement has polarised opinions between organizations that share the same ultimate goals. At a time of unspeakable corporate record profits, the pressures our community members are facing in guarding nature are growing by the day. We are concerned that the decision eventually taken by the SBTi could further limit Indigenous Peoples, traditional owners, local and Afro- descendant communities’ access to direct finance, without giving them an opportunity to contribute to the discussion. Currently, less than 1% of climate finance is directly reaching Indigenous Peoples, traditional owners, local communities, and Afro-descendants, despite research consistently finding that these groups are the most effective stewards of natural ecosystems. We understand the Scope 3 challenge is a complex issue, and there is debate about the most effective way to address Scope 3 emissions. We also agree that any decision to allow the use of carbon credits must support the goals of the Paris Agreement, and that companies must not be delayed from reducing their emissions. However, the scale of reported Scope 3 emissions means that even a small portion of abatement from carbon credits could drive significant finance to our members. (continued in 2/2)