2. Indigenous Peoples & Forests Expert Group Meeting 12 January 2011 Jan McAlpine Director United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat

3. Enabling sustainable forests & communities SFM requires full valuation of forests, including environmental services, spiritual & cultural aspects of forests; At the same time, the cultural, spiritual, & economic importance of forests for Indigenous communities is undeniable; The fate of forests & Indigenous Peoples are directly linked.

4. Indigenous voices in forest policy – a long history (1992) Agenda 21 recognised critical role of stakeholder major groups including Indigenous Peoples in sustainable development; (mid 1990s) Indigenous groups a strong voice in IPF intersessional meetings & workshops; (2000 – present) Indigenous Peoples actively contribute to UNFF policy negotiations & Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues

5. Indigenous Peoples & Forests – key issues Critical role of Indigenous Peoples in SFM recognized repeatedly in forest policy debate – including: –Respecting customary & traditional rights of Indigenous Peoples –Protecting rights & privileges related to Traditional Forest- Related Knowledge (TFRK) & forest biological resources

6. Indigenous Peoples & the Forest Instrument The Forest Instrument (adopted in 2007) Strong links between forests & people: TFRK & practices; Access & Benefit sharing; enabling environments for Indigenous community;

7. Indigenous Peoples & UNFF9 UNFF9 - an opportunity to attract political attention to: Forest links to poverty eradication & human well being High-Level Segment Improving Forest governance Interaction between PFII & UNFF

8. UNFF9: Forests for People UNFF9 (24 January -4 February 2011) Theme: Forests for people, livelihoods & poverty eradication:  Community-based forest management  Social development & indigenous & other local & forest dependent communities, including forest land tenure  Social & cultural aspects

9. IP & International Year of Forests (2011) The IYF will provide a platform to: Showcase unique stories of forest dependent local and indigenous communities Raise the profile of forest issues & increase awareness of the multiple values and benefits of forests

10. Thank You! UN Forum on Forests Secretariat One UN Plaza, DC1-1245 New York, NY 10017 Telephone: +1 212 963 3401 Fax: +1 917 367 3186 http://www.un.org/esa/forests