PHOTO: Maria Fe Mendoza / DAR
- DAR highlights the necessary articulation between development and rights, as well as the development of a roadmap to address threats to the Amazon based on the agendas presented by indigenous organizations.
- Indigenous peoples have best protected forests and contributed the most to the fight against deforestation and the climate crisis. The State must base its actions on intercultural dialogue and the recognition of their ancestral knowledge, applying the intercultural approach in a transversal manner.
During the «Intercultural Amazon» forum, held on September 23, within the framework of the ExpoAmazónica Tingo María 2023, indigenous leaders presented the main demands of their organizations in the face of problems such as pollution from oil spills, and the expansion of illegal activities such as drug trafficking, logging, and illegal mining. These problems constitute a constant danger to their ancestral territories and their lives, as well as to the degradation of the Amazon forests and loss of biodiversity.
The Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Jungle (AIDESEP), the Confederation of Amazonian Nationalities (CONAP) and the National Association of Administration Contract Executors (ANECAP) participated in this space. Subsequently, there were comments from the current Minister of the Environment, Albina Ruiz, the Deputy Minister of Interculturality, José Carlos Rivadeneyra, the regional governor of Huánuco; and the president of the Amazon Regional Commonwealth (MRA), Antonio Pulgar; as well as representatives of civil society organizations such as César Gamboa, executive director, of Law, Environment and Natural Resources (DAR) and Fabiola Muñoz of GCF Task Force.
In this sense, as part of the demands contained in its Big Agenda, AIDESEP demanded to guarantee the legal security of its territories as a basis for the exercise of their collective rights, protection for PIACI and defenders, measures for better political participation and strengthening of indigenous economies. For its part, CONAP pointed out that the MRA Letter of Intent must be implemented, which contemplates the legal physical sanitation of indigenous territories, protection of communities and leaders, as well as strengthening indigenous economies and confronting the climate crisis. Likewise, ANECAP presented on the experience of the co-management model between communities and the State for communal reserves, allowing the sustainable and participatory use of natural resources as joint partners.
In view of this, Albina Ruiz, the Minister of the Environment, pledged to work in coordination with indigenous peoples and subnational authorities to promote land titling, curb illegal activities and take care of the Amazon to avoid the point of no return. Meanwhile, the Vice-Ministry of Interculturality announced the proposal for an ordinance that has been working with regional governments to incorporate the intercultural approach in public management and the creation of a commission that will work on the legal security of the territories.
From the comments provided by the state authorities and civil society, conclusions can be drawn such as those expressed by César Gamboa, Executive Director of DAR, who pointed out the importance of addressing the debate on development and rights, and must generate a consensual roadmap to address the multiple challenges of the Amazon based on the indigenous agendas exposed. It is essential to develop indigenous economies and their alternative development paths to close the existing gaps, recognizing their local knowledge and respecting environmental and social standards that help all investment have a sustainability focus. In the same way, the State must guarantee protection for the defenders of the Amazon, and in general the natural heritage of Peru, much more effective than the existing mechanism, gathering the opinions and experiences of indigenous organizations, protection to which Peru’s incorporation into the Escazú Agreement would contribute enormously.
On the other hand, as part of the final interventions, the participants pointed out the urgency of implementing the agendas proposed by indigenous peoples in order to settle the historical debt of the State with them and face together the threats that afflict the country on the basis of intercultural dialogue, recognizing that indigenous peoples are also the ones who have best protected forests against deforestation and the climate crisis. He also highlighted the importance of the Letter of Intent for the connectivity of indigenous economies and making it easier for them to send their products to the national and international markets.
Finally, the situation of structural discrimination suffered by indigenous women and their particular situation of vulnerability was recognized, despite the support they provide to their homes, families and communities, not only with care work but also by facing the serious threats suffered by their communities, exposing themselves to numerous dangers to their integrity and their lives. which in turn add to the constant discrimination they suffer in all areas. In order to achieve equality, a gender approach must be implemented in policies, promoting the leadership of indigenous women and providing support for their economic ventures.