Following the sixth learning exchange of the International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples, the network has published The Huaran Declaration. The declararation reaffirms rights to ancestral territories, self-determination, and food sovereignty, as well as setting out calls to UNFCCC Parties meeting at COP29 and CBD Parties meeting at COP16.
The International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples (INMIP) is a network of more than 50 Indigenous Mountain communities in 11 countries.
The sixth learning exchange of the INMIP was held between 30 May and 4 June 2024, bringing together over 50 Indigenous Peoples, representing 137 mountain communities from Peru, Bolivia and China, and 10 villages from semi-arid Kenya, along with civil society, research, government and donor organisations from Peru, Bolivia, China, Kenya, UK, US and France.
“Indigenous Peoples living in mountains regions
conserve many global biodiversity hotspots and most
of the world’s centres of crop domestication and
diversity, providing critical co-evolving repositories of
resilient crop varieties and livestock breeds for climate
adaptation.” – The Huaran Declaration
The learning exchange explored the challenges facing Indigenous mountain and semi-arid communities, and solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises that are enshrined in Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral knowledge systems, conservation practices, ways of life and biocultural heritage territories. It led to the Huaran Declaration, reaffirming rights to ancestral territories, self-determination and food sovereignty, as well as setting out calls to UNFCCC Parties meeting at COP29 and CBD Parties meeting at COP16.
“Even though we have contributed least to the climate
crisis, Indigenous Peoples are suffering serious
impacts from climate change.” – The Huaran Declaration
Read More: International Network of Mountain Indigenous People (INMIP) (2024). The Huaran Declaration: Indigenous Peoples are the real solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. International Network of Mountain Indigenous People (INMIP). Available to download at https://www.iied.org/22446g
Cover image by Joaquín Enríquez.