Indigenous peoples' land rights and REDD: A case study

Review of European Community and International Environmental Law

Volumn 20, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 150-162

  Lemaitre, Sophie ^a  

^a FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS   (Italy)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; INDIGENOUS POPULATION; INTERNATIONAL LAW; LAND RIGHTS; POLICY ANALYSIS; POLICY DEVELOPMENT; POLICY IMPLEMENTATION; RISK ASSESSMENT;

GUYANA;

EID: 84555196744     PISSN: 09628797     EISSN: 14679388     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9388.2011.00716.x     Document Type: Article

References (92)

1. See N. Marks, 'Guyana Indigenous People Charge Land Abuses' (Reuters, 30 June 2010), found at .
2. Tebtebba Foundation, A Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples, 2nd edn (Tebtebba Foundation, 2009), at 105-106.
3. F. Seymour, Forests, Climate Change and Human Rights: Managing Risk and Trade-offs (CIFOR, 2008), at 6.
4. D. Goldberg and T. Badua, 'Do People have Standing? Indigenous Peoples, Global Warming and Human Rights', 11 Barry L. Rev. (2008), 59, at 60.
5. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report (IPCC, 2007).
6. N. Stern, The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review (Cambridge University Press, 2007).
7. See F. Seymour, n. 3 above, at 5. See also Decision 11/CP-7, 'Land use, land-use change and forestry', in Report of the Conference of the Parties on its seventh session, held at Marrakech, 29 October-10 November 2001 (FCCC/CP/2001/13/Add.1, 21 January 2002), Addendum, Part Two: Action taken by the Conference of the Parties, Volume I.
8. T. Griffiths, Seeing 'REDD'? Forests, Climate Change Mitigation and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (Forest Peoples Programme, 2009), at 4.
9. See D. Goldberg and T. Badua, n. 5 above, at 62.
10. See also Statement by the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change (IFIPCC) on 'reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation' (REDD) Agenda Item at the UNFCCC Climate Negotiations, 13th Session of Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC SBSTA 27, agenda item 5/REDD (November 2007), found at .
11. M. Ornella, REDD Legal Issues: Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, draft report (CIEL, 2009), at 13.
12. Draft decision -/CP.15, 'Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries', in Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention on its eighth session, held in Copenhagen, 7-15 December 2009 (FCCC/AWGLCA/2009/17, 5 February 2010), at 35, found at .
13. Decision 1/CP.16, 'The Cancun Agreements: Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention', in Report of the Conference of the Parties on its sixteenth session, held in Cancun, 29 November-10 December 2010 (FCCC/CP/2010/7/Add.1, 15 March 2011), Addendum, Part Two: Action taken by the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth session, at 264, found at .
14. D. Kelly, 'The Case for Social Safeguards in a Post-2012 Agreement on REDD', 6:1 LEAD (2010), 61, at 63.
15. L. Cotula and J. Mayers, Tenure in REDD: Start-point or Afterthought? (IIED, 2009), at 17.
16. For more details, see L. Heinämäki, 'Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Promoting the Sustainability of the Global Environment?', 11:1 Int'l Comm. L. Rev. (2009), 3, at 18-20.
17. J. Castellino and S. Allen, Title to Territory in International Law: A Temporal Analysis (Ashgate, 2003), at 210.
18. A. Xanthaki, Indigenous Rights and United Nations Standards: Self-determination, Culture and Land (Cambridge University Press, 2007), at 102.
19. See UNDRIP, n. 29 above, at Article 1.
20. M. Barelli, 'The Role of Soft Law in the International Legal System: The Case of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples', 58:4 ICLQ (2009), 957, at 964.
21. S. Anaya and S. Wiessner, The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Towards Re-empowerment (JURIST - Legal news and research, 2007), found at .
22. United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, (UN Res A/RES/61/295, 13 September 2007) (UNPFII, undated), found at .
23. UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), 'Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference' (24 April 2009), paragraph 73.
24. See Decision 1/CP.16, n. 16 above, at 26.
25. See M. Barelli, n. 34 above, at 982.
26. See L. Miranda, 'Uploading the Local: Assessing the Contemporary Relationship between Indigenous Peoples' Land Tenure Systems and International Human Rights Law Regarding the Allocation of Traditional Lands and Resources in Latin America', 10:2 Or. Rev. Int'l. (2008), 419, at 420-421.
27. For more details on the Inter-American system of human rights, see S. Anaya, Indigenous Peoples in International Law (Oxford University Press, 2004), at 259-266.
28. Inter-Am. Ct. H.R., The Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v. Nicaragua, Judgment of 31 August 2001, (Ser. C) No. 79 (2001).
29. On this case, see S. Anaya and C. Grossman, 'The Case of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua: A New Step in the International Law of Indigenous Peoples', 19:1 Ariz. J. Int'l & Comp. L. (2002), 1
30. C. Binder, 'The Case of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua: The Awas Tingni Case, or Realising that a Good Legal System of Protection of Land Rights is No Guarantee of Effective Implementation', in J. Castellino and N. Walsh (eds), International Law and Indigenous Peoples (Martinus Nijhoff, 2005), 249
31. L. Miranda, n. 42 above, at 434.
32. See Awas Tingni case, n. 46 above, at paragraph 152.
33. See C. Binder, n. 47 above, at 265.
34. Inter-Am. Ct. H.R., The Saramaka People v. Suriname, Judgment of 28 November 2007 (Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs), Ser. C, No. 172 Nov. 28, 2007 and Set. C., No. 185 Aug. 12, 2008.
35. On this case, see M. Orellana, 'Saramaka People v. Suriname', 102 Am. J. Int'l L. (2008), 841
36. J. Harrison, 'Case of the Saramaka People v. Suriname (case comment)', 20:3 J. Env. L. (2008), 480
37. Forest Peoples Programme, Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Reduced Emissions from Reduced Deforestation and Forest Degradation: The Case of the Saramaka People v. Suriname (Forest Peoples Programme, 2009), found at
38. see L. Miranda, n. 42 above.
39. See Saramaka People case, n. 53 above, at paragraph 95.
40. For more details, see M. Evans and R. Murray, The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: The System in Practice, 1986-2006 (Cambridge University Press, 2008).
41. S. Dersso, 'The Jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights with Respect to Peoples' Rights', 6 African Human Rights L. J. (2006), 358, at 361-364.
42. See M. Evans and R. Murray, n. 62 above, at 247.
43. See S. Dersso, n. 64 above.
44. A. Xanthaki, 'Indigenous Rights in International Law Over the Last Years and Future Developments', 10:1 Melb. J. Int'l L. (2009), 27, at 34.
45. ACHPR, Communiqué on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 42nd Ordinary Session held from 15-28 November 2007 (ACHPR/Res.121 (XXXXII) 07, 28 November 2007), found at http://www.achpr.org/ english/resolutions/resolution121-en.htm?.
46. Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v. Kenya (276/2003, 2 February 2010).
47. See A. Xanthaki, n. 68 above, at 27-29.
48. J. Gilbert, Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights under International Law: From Victims to Actors (Transnational, 2006).
49. W. Kymlicka, 'Theorizing Indigenous Rights', 49:2 University of Toronto L. J. (1999), 281, at 293.
50. H. Gregersen et al., Do Opportunity Costs Indicate the Real Compensation for Successful REDD+? (Rights and Resources Initiative, 2010), at 4.
51. M. Brown, 'Limiting Corrupt Incentives in a Global REDD Regime', 37:1 Ecology L. Q. (2010), 237, at 242.
52. See T. Griffiths, n. 10 above, at 23.
53. Friends of the Earth International, REDD Myths: A Critical Review of Proposed Mechanisms to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries, issue 114 (Friends of the Earth International, 2008), at 6.
54. C. Land, 'Climate Change is Good Business, says Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana's President', REDD-Monitor (2010), found at http://www.redd-monitor.org/2010/06/ 18/climate-change-is-goodbusiness- says-bharrat-jagdeo-guyanas-president/#more- 4991.
55. T. Martin, 'Indigenous Communities Need to Diversify Their Economies - Jagdeo', Kaieteur News (10 February 2009), found at http://www. kaieteurnewsonline.com/2009/02/10/indigenous-communitiesneed- to-diversify-their-economies-jagdeo/.
56. Forest Peoples Programme, Guyana: Indigenous Peoples, Forests and Climate Initiatives (Forest Peoples Programme, 2009), 1, at 2, found at http://www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2010/02/ guyanabriefingnov09eng.pdf?.
57. M. Childress, 'Land Tenure and Land Management Issues for REDD Preparation in Guyana: Framing the Agenda for Policy Discussion', paper presented at the annual World Bank conference on land policy and administration (2010), at 3.
58. J. Trevin and R. Nasi, Forest Law Enforcement and Government and Forest Practices in Guyana (CIFOR, 2009), at 31.
59. Forest Peoples Programme, Problems with the Guyana Readiness Plan (R-Plan) submitted to the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) (Forest Peoples Programme, 2009), at 7, found at http://www. forestcarbonpartnership.org/fcp/node/69.
60. R. O'Sullivan et al., 'An Institutional and Policy Enabling Environment for REDD in Guyana', in Conservation International Guyana (eds), Biodiversity Mainstreaming through Avoided Deforestation Guyana Case Study (Conservation International, 2009), 174, at 230.
61. Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, ACT No. 2 OF 1980, found at http://www.parliament.gov.gy/constitution/constitutionindex.php?.
62. Laws of Guyana, Amerindian Act 2006, Chapter 29:01.
63. Office of the President, Republic of Guyana, Saving the World's Forests Today: Creating Incentives to Avoid Deforestation (Office of the President, December 2008).
64. C. Lang, 'Guyana's President Jagdeo Launches "Avoided Threatened Deforestation" Scheme', REDD Monitor (2 February 2009), found at http://www.redd-monitor.org/2009/02/02/guyanas-pre sident-jagdeo-launches- avoided-threatened-deforestation-scheme/.
65. T. Martin, 'Guyana's Carbon Credit Fight Attracts International Attention', Kaieteur News (27 January 2009), found at http://www. kaieteurnewsonline.com/2009/01/27/guyana's-carbon-creditfight- attracts-international-attention/.
66. Readiness Preparation Proposal (Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, April 2010), at 6, found at http://www.forestry.gov.gy/Downloads/Readiness- Preparation-Proposal-April-2010-Revised.pdf?.
67. For more information, see The Low Carbon Development Strategy (undated), found at http://www.lcds.gov.gy/index.php?.
68. World Bank, Forest Carbon Partnership Facility: Information Memorandum (World Bank, 2008), found at http://www. forestcarbonpartnership.org/fcp/sites/ forestcarbonpartnership.org/files/FCPF-Info-Memo-06-13-08.pdf?.
69. Technical Advisory Panel, Guyana R-Plan: Synthesis Review by FCPF Technical Advisory Panel (June 2009), at 6.
70. Guyana, n. 102 above, at 51.
71. M. Colchester and J. La Rose, Our Land, Our Future: Promoting Indigenous Participation and Rights in Mining, Climate Change and Other Natural Resource Decision-making in Guyana - Final Report of the APA/FPP/NSI Project (Amerindian Peoples Association, 2010), at 6.
72. Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Guyana (UN Doc. CERD/C/GUY/CO/14, 4 April 2006), at paragraph 16.
73. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Letter of the Committee to Guyana (15 August 2008), found at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/ Guyana-letter150808.pdf?.
74. See C. Sobrevilla, The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Biodiversity Conservation: The Natural but Often Forgotten Partners (World Bank, 2008).
75. See M. Childress, n. 86 above, at 4 and 7.
76. See M. Colchester and J. La Rose, n. 110 above, at 11.
77. Amerindian Peoples Association, Indigenous Peoples' Rights, REDD and the Draft Low Carbon Development Strategy: A Summary Report of a Workshop held in Georgetown, 24-26 June 2009 (Amerindian Peoples Association, 2009), at 9.
78. See International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), Charter establishing the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (IBRD, 11 May 2011), s. 3.1(d), found at http://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/fcp/sites/ forestcarbonpartnership.org/files/Documents/PDF/May2011/FCPF%20Charter%20- %20CF% 2005-11-2011%20clean.pdf?.
79. See T. Griffiths, n. 10 above, at 51
80. K. Dooley et al., Cutting Corners: World Bank's Forest and Carbon Fund Fails Forests and Peoples (FERN/FPP, 2008).
81. See L. Cotula and J. Mayers, n. 19 above, at 9
82. R. Lyster, 'The New Frontier of Climate Law: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation', Sydney Law School No. 10/08, Legal Studies Research Paper (University of Sydney, Faculty of Law, 2010), 1, at 37-40.
83. See L. Cotula and J. Mayers, n. 19 above, at 9.
84. See T. Griffiths, n. 10 above, at 22.
85. See D. Kelly, n. 17 above, at 77.
86. See Decision 1/CP.16, n. 16 above, at 24.
87. See Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards (CBBA, 1 June 2010), found at http://www.climate- standards.org/redd+/docs/june2010/REDD-Social-Environmental-Standards-06-01-10- final.pdf?.
88. See Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), Proposal for an EU Action Plan, COM (2003) 251 final.
89. For more details on the FLEGT process, see the FLEGT briefing notes developed by an expert group convened by the European Commission in March 2007. See FLEGT Briefing Note 1, 'What is FLEGT' (1 March 2007); FLEGT Briefing Note 2, 'What is Legal Timber?' (1 March 2007); FLEGT Briefing Note 3, 'A Timber Legality Assurance System' (1 March 2007); FLEGT Briefing Note 4, 'Control of the Supply Chain: Wood Tracing Systems and Chain of Custody' (1 March 2007); FLEGT Briefing Note 5, 'Legality Assurance Systems: Requirements for Verification' (1 March 2007); FLEGT Briefing Note 6, 'Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA)' (1 March 2007); FLEGT Briefing Note 7, 'Guidelines for Independent Monitoring' (1 March 2007), found at http://www.illegal-logging. info/item-single.php?it- id=449&it=document?.
90. For a similar conclusion, see D. Kelly, n. 17 above, at 80.
91. See T. Griffiths, n. 10 above, at 9.
92. However, an independent technical report shows that deforestation in Guyana was three times higher than historical baseline levels (see C. Lang, 'Increasing Deforestation in Guyana gives Norway a Headache', REDD Monitor (27 January 2011), found at http://www. redd-monitor.org/2011/01/27/increasing- deforestation-in-guyanagives- norway-a-headache/?; and see C. Lang, 'Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo Caught Lying in Cancun: "We have Decided to Protect Our Entire Forest" ', REDD Monitor (20 January 2011), found at http://www.redd-monitor.org/2011/01/20/guyanaspresident-bharrat-jagdeo-caught- lying-in-cancun-we-have-decidedto- protect-our-entire-forest/.