1. Procedural Environmental Rights of Local Communities in Transboundary Protected Areas: How to strengthen Transboundary Biodiversity Governance
Emma Mitrotta
PhD Candidate
School of International Studies
University of Trento (Italy)

2. Main argument
Local communities are entitled to Procedural Environmental Rights in TBPAs as public concerned with positive results in terms of transboundary biodiversity governance

3. Relevant aspects of P.E.R.s
Public concerned
Non-discrimination

4. Local communities & conservation
Principle 10 and 22 Rio Declaration
Ramsar CoP Resolution VII.8
CBD Art. 8(j) and CoP Decision VII.28
IUCN PAs Matrix
Category V ‘Protected Landscape/Seascape’
Governance Type D ‘Governance by indigenous people and local communities’

5. Meaningful participation of local communities in decision-making and management of PAs contributes to good governance

6. Community Participation in PAs
based on:
Human Rights (as political participation)
International environmental regimes
Ecological justifications
Good governance & success of PAs
Aarhus Convention

7. P.E.R.s in PAs Access to information Participation Access to remedies
Without request
Upon request
Participation
Conceptually
Practically
Access to remedies

8. Public concerned
Those affected or likely to be affected by, or having an interest in, the environmental decision- making related to PAs

9. Local communities as public concerned in PAs
Live within or adjacent to PAs
Hold or claim rights over these areas
Place spiritual or cultural values

10. What happens in TBPAs ?

11. Transboundary Protected Areas
To frame tb conservation efforts
To govern tb natural resources and ecosystems effectively
To expand conservation areas & integrate them with the surrounding environment
To reconnect communities (peace parks)

12. Similarly… in TBPAs
Local communities as important as in national contexts
Same conditions for good governance and P.E.R.s
Non-discrimination
TBPAs management principles
Aarhus Convention Art. 3(7)

13. Democratization of environmental processes
Conclusions
Community participation in TBPAs…
Democratization of environmental processes
Subsidiarity applied to tb conservation initiatives
Empowered communities & good governance of shared natural resources
Conservation of biodiversity at local & global level

14. Any questions?
THANK you!