A close association is often found between specific indigenous peoples and specific territories, areas, or bodies of natural resources. When such an association is combined with effective local governance and conservation of nature, we speak of an Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCA), a territory of life.
A close association is often found between specific indigenous peoples and specific territories, areas, or bodies of natural resources. When such an association is combined with effective local governance and conservation of nature, we speak of an Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCA), a territory of life.
For many custodian communities, the connection with their territories is much richer than any word or label can express. It is a bond of energy, health, and livelihood, It is a source of identity and culture, autonomy, and freedom. It is the connecting tie among generations, preserving memories from the past, and connecting those to the desired future. It is the ground on which communities learn, identify values, and develop self-rule
In the last decades, ICCAs have become known and recognised as essential features for the conservation of nature, sustainable livelihoods, the realisation of collective rights and responsibilities, and the wellness of living beings on our planet.
ICCAs face critical threats and challenges to their continued existence and functioning, such as land and water grabbing, inappropriate “development” interventions, undermining of traditional institutions, lack of appropriate political, legal, and economic support, external and internal conflicts, and environmental and socio-economic disasters.
Learn more about the Philippine ICCAs by reading the Manila Declaration on Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCAs)
A total of sixteen (16) ICCAs covering 349,422.54 hectares have been mapped, inventoried, and registered with the United Nations Environment Program-World Conservation Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC) since 2011.
This was implemented through collaborative projects with the Philippine government, the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility, and various local civil society organizations.
The Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ Community Conserved Territories and Areas (Philippine ICCA Consortium), also known as Bukluran ng mga Katutubong Samahan Para sa Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan ng Pilipinas (Bukluran), was borne out of the Indigenous Peoples’ desire to contribute through conservation projects using their historical role in protecting natural ecosystems focusing on Indigenous Peoples’ Community-Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) within ancestral domains.
For almost a decade, Bukluran has been empowering indigenous communities in the Philippines to map their sacred and protected areas, immensely contributing to global best practices in biodiversity conservation.
