Exploring the Challenges Indigenous People Face in Securing Land Rights Under the Convention on Biological Diversity

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2024 in the subject Sociology - Individual, Groups, Society, grade: A+, , course: Environmental Science, language: English, abstract: This paper highlights the crucial issue of land rights for Indigenous peoples within the Convention on Biological Diversity scope and its consequential impact on biodiversity conservation and the protection of traditional knowledge systems. Indigenous communities, inherent stewards of richly biodiverse territories, have struggled amidst inadequate legal recognition to secure land rights, which poses risks to their cultural heritage and the success of global conservation initiatives. Despite acknowledging their roles by the CBD, these communities often confront substantial barriers to legitimizing land rights. This paper posits that integrating Indigenous methodologies, which include traditional ecological knowledge, community-based conservation practices, and sustainable resource management, into formal conservation programs bolstered by robust policy frameworks can lead to significant advancements in conserving biodiversity. By examining case studies and academic analyses, this discourse will illustrate the empowerment of Indigenous peoples and the enhancements that result in biodiversity conservation efficacy. By unearthing Indigenous peoples' multifaceted adversities in claiming land rights under the CBD and presenting feasible intercessions, this paper seeks to express the indispensability of embedding Indigenous perspectives into conservation efforts. This action is paramount for securing Indigenous land rights and reinforcing their indispensable contributions to preserving global biodiversity.

Diamond Johnny is an advocate for human rights and a public speaker. She has been a speaker on torture for Amnesty International and petitioned world governments on human rights abuses. She researches and writes on Indigenous topics and focuses her efforts on addressing critical issues that have hindered the implementation of the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples. Diamond believes that Indigenous peoples' rights are hampered because they are constantly relegated to the bottom of the hierarchy of law. There should be an effort to ensure that the rights of Indigenous people are respected whenever initiatives or actions directly impact them, as well as when such activities are taking place in their communities. Her book, Confronting the Silence and Creating a Shared Memory after a Violent Past: A Case Study of Guatemala, is important to her work as she believes that in the aftermath of war and armed conflict, individuals and communities face the challenge of dealing with recollections of violence and atrocity. Reconciliation is crucial for the nation to re-establish its stability in a post-conflict society.