By Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Accra, Sept 16, GNA – The Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA), have met in Accra to mobilize efforts of actors in protecting and conserving forests in Africa.
The three-day meeting was funded by the Tenure Facility and the Indigenous Movement for Peace and Conflict Transformation (IMPACT) in Kenya.
The meeting marked a significant milestone in AICA’s mission to create a platform for indigenous and local communities to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
It also served as the first West African regional consultative meeting, aimed at creating awareness and buy-in of AICA across the region as part of the membership drive for the organization.
AICA is a Pan-Africa umbrella body of Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) organizations, established in 2023 and seeks to galvanize the collective voice and agency of Africa’s IP&LC to address their common conservation related issues.
Mr Abert Katako, Executive Director, Civic Response Ghana, an NGO, explained that his organization hosted the meeting in collaboration with AICA and IMPACT-Kenya.
He said AICA was established as part of implementing the Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) and IP&LC Declaration that was passed during a Congress in July 2022.
He said unlike other regions on the continent that already have regional and national networks, West Africa did not have a regional network. Therefore, they sought to create that regional block through the Accra meeting towards the effective implementation of the AICA strategy and recommendations.
“Delegates will also deliberate and reflect upon the presentation on AICA to reach a consensus on its rationale, strategic objectives, governance structure, and provide feedback on the West African position on conservation of forest resources,” Mr Katako said.
Madam Dorcas Owusuaa Agyei, Country Director, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said despite global progress, conservation efforts still faced numerous challenges, including climate change and its devastating impacts on communities and ecosystems, biodiversity loss, social inequality, and marginalization of indigenous and local communities.
There was also the issue of insufficient funding and resources for conservation initiatives.
She was however happy that AICA was uniquely positioned to contribute towards addressing the challenges through amplifying indigenous and local voices in conservation decision-making and promoting community-led conservation initiatives and sustainable livelihoods.
“IUCN is committed to supporting AICA’s mission and objectives, as we recognize the value of indigenous and local knowledge in conservation and sustainability processes,” she said.
Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Chairman, National Biodiversity Steering Committee, commended initiators of AICA, and urged them to make it a formidable entity to be able to source for funds from the Global Environment Fund and other sources to carry out its critical programmes and activities.
He also charged members to develop new strategies for further recognition in the countries as well as to work together to influence global decisions, particularly on funding.
Mr Malidadi Langa, Chairman of the Steering Committee of AICA, said the organization was formed as part of the continuation of struggles by African IPLCs to address their historical and present grievances for emancipation, self-determination, and human dignity; struggles that could be traced back to colonial influences.
He said Africa’s IPLCs share the same conservation challenges because of their shared colonial history, and the way conservation had been framed and practiced, “Africa’s IPLCs across the continent which combine to impede effective action against the triple challenges of pervasive poverty and livelihood fragility, biodiversity loss, and climate change.”
He said: “Africa’s IPLCs need to work together to garner the necessary international social capital, collective agency, and action because connected and networked IPLC organisations are likely to be stronger and more impactful in delivering the transformative change that we all seek for nature and people.”
The meeting was attended by AICA West Africa Regional and National Focal Points of all the 16 West African countries and selected members of the AICA Executive Committee, and Steering Committee, among others.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting called for stronger commitments from the various actors to increase efforts toward sustainable forests and natural resources conservation.
It also emphasised AICA’s resolve to ensure that conservation practices on Africa, capture traditional knowledge and develop sustainable programmes that include livelihood support for indigenous people and local communities.
GNA