The Forest Peoples Programme

The Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is an international NGO, which was founded in 1990 by the World Rainforest Movement. It is a foundation registered in the Netherlands, with its headquarter in the UK . The main aim of FPP is to support the rights of people who live in the forests and depend on them for their livelihoods, and to give them the opportunity to control their lands and destinies.

SwedBio currently supports the project "Indigenous Peoples, Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods". The project runs from July 2007 to June 2011 and is a continuation, and a development, of the project "Linking Forest Peoples' Rights and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use to National and International Biodiversity and Forest Policies and Programmes" that was also supported by SwedBio.

The overall objective of the project is "sustainable management and conservation of forest resources by indigenous peoples and other local communities based on respect for their rights".

The project has four inter-related and overlapping objectives towards achieving this goal:
•  Promoting community management of indigenous territories and community lands as areas of high conservation value.

•  Promoting the management of protected areas through respect for indigenous peoples' and local communities' rights.

•  Protecting indigenous territories through strengthening application of the principle of 'free prior and informed consent'.

•  Disseminating lessons learned at international forums to promote appropriate standard-setting.

The project includes work with local organisations in eight countries, e.g.:

•  Bangladesh (Local/national partners: The Innovators and Nijera Kor)

•  Cameroon (Local/national partner: Centre for Environment and Development)

•  Guyana (Local/national partner: Amerindian Peoples Association)

•  Indonesia (Local/national partner: Alianza Masyarakat Adat Nusantara)

•  Panama (Local/national partner: Foundation for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge)

•  Suriname (Local/national partner: Association of Indigenous Village Leaders)

•  Thailand (Local/national partner: Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture)

•  Venezuela (Local/national partners: Kuyujani and Centre for Anthropological Research of the University of Guyana )

The approach in each country depends on the local political and legal situation, the priorities of the local groups and the capacity of the local organisations. Common elements in the projects will include:

•  Building up the capacity of local partners and indigenous institutions.

•  Providing technical advice, documentation and assisting with lesson sharing.

•  Negotiations with local or national governments and/or international agencies.

The project builds on areas where there has already been long-term, field-level engagement by FPP with the partner communities and organisations.

Previous support from SwedBio to FPP has included:

• Indigenous Peoples' Participation at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok 2004.
• Participation of Indigenous Representatives at the World Park Congress in Durban , September 2003.
• Linking Forest Peoples' Rights and Biodiversity Conservation.
• Indigenous Peoples' Participation at the CBD Ad Hoc Working Group on Protected Areas (Rome, April 2005 and Montreal, November 2005).
• 10c Case Studies, FPIC and GEF-Studies.

Selected documents from the FPP programme:

•  Protecting and encouraging customary use of biological resources:
The Upper Caura , Venezuela (english) (spanish)

•  Indigenous Peoples at the Vth World Parks Congress:
A Summary Report and Assessment

•  People, Poverty, Livelihoods, Ecosystems and Biodiversity:
a rights-based approach

•  In search of Middle Ground: Indigenous Peoples, Collective Representation and the Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent

•  Indigenous Peoples & the Decisions Convention on Biological Diversity:
a Guide - May 2005

•  Indigenous Peoples and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
(english) (spanish)

•  International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB): Report on 1 st meeting of CBD WGPA, June 2005