The Pivotal Role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Biodiversity Conservation

June 2, 2024 / activist360

A social outcomes ladder of 6 types of roles of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation governance, based on synthesis of 648 empirical studies.

As global biodiversity continues to face threats from various fronts, the role of Indigenous peoples (IPs) and local communities (LCs) has never been more crucial. A recent study published in One Earth underscores the need for an equitable governance approach that recognizes and empowers these groups, offering sustainable and effective solutions to conservation challenges. Let’s look at transformative roles that IPs and LCs can play in biodiversity conservation, in alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Understanding the Global Biodiversity Framework

The Global Biodiversity Framework, established during the Kunming-Montreal conference, sets ambitious targets to safeguard the planet’s biological resources. A key target within this framework is the conservation of 30% of land and sea areas by 2030 through equitably governed systems. This goal emphasizes the importance of recognizing diverse values, ensuring rights to ancestral territories, upholding cultural practices, and involving all relevant actors in decision-making processes to achieve effective conservation outcomes.

Empirical Evidence and Ecological Outcomes

A comprehensive review of 648 empirical studies reveals that conservation initiatives where IPs and LCs have equal partnership or primary control lead to more positive ecological outcomes. This evidence strongly supports a governance model that respects and integrates the knowledge systems and customary practices of IPs and LCs, enhancing biodiversity conservation’s effectiveness and sustainability.

The Changing Paradigm of Conservation Governance

Traditional conservation methods often overlooked the intrinsic value and knowledge of IPs and LCs, limiting their roles to mere participants. However, a shift towards equitable governance is gaining momentum, where these communities are not only participants but leaders with significant control and recognition of their traditional values and institutions. This approach is proving essential for the ecological success of conservation efforts.

Roles of IPs and LCs in Governance

The typology of roles that IPs and LCs can assume in conservation governance ranges from excluded to autonomous.

The typology structure includes six distinct roles that reflect varying levels of participation, influence, and control:

Excluded: IPs and LCs have no participation or benefits.
Consultees: Minimal influence despite receiving some information or benefits.
Stakeholders: Some ability to influence decisions but limited control.
Partners: Equal partners or co-managers, sharing power in conservation efforts.
Primary Control: Primary authority with respected leadership and rights, though not fully autonomous.
Autonomous: Full autonomy with their knowledge and institutions fully recognized.

Each role on this spectrum provides insights into how different levels of involvement and control impact conservation outcomes. The findings advocate for policies that elevate IPs and LCs from mere stakeholders to leaders, recognizing their capability to manage and conserve natural resources effectively.

Overview of Intervention Types in Conservation Initiatives

Theories about involvement in conservation management suggest that decision-making is a complex process that includes many participants from different levels, all with their own interests and levels of power. The types of interventions identified in the reviewed cases include:

Protected and Conserved Areas (67.9%): Most common, focusing on designated areas for biodiversity preservation.
Livelihood Projects or Tourism Ventures (56.9%): Projects supporting sustainable livelihoods or integrating conservation with tourism.
Species Protection or Sustainable Use Regulations (53.9%): Efforts focused on specific species protection or sustainable resource use.
Local or Indigenous Stewardship (36.7%): Direct management or major influence by IPs and LCs in conservation efforts.
Ecosystem Restoration (15.7%): Initiatives aimed at restoring ecosystems to their natural states.
Incentives, Compensation, Revenue Sharing, or Market Instruments (13.6%): Economic tools to promote conservation.
Education and Capacity Building (10.6%): Focus on educating IPs and LCs and building their capacity for conservation.

This complexity means we need to carefully analyze how much influence different participants have at various stages of the conservation efforts. Instead of using simple measures like how often IPs and LCs attend meetings or their personal views on conservation, we should look more deeply at how meaningful their participation is and how the conservation processes are governed. This detailed examination will help us better understand the true role of IPs and LCs in making conservation decisions.

Statistical Analysis and Policy Implications

Statistical analyses corroborate that higher degrees of control and participation by IPs and LCs correlate with favorable ecological and social outcomes. These outcomes not only emphasize the need for a policy shift towards more inclusive governance but also highlight the importance of IPs and LCs in achieving the targets set by the Global Biodiversity Framework. The study suggests that empowering IPs and LCs is not just beneficial but necessary for the long-term success of global biodiversity conservation.

Summing Up

The pivotal role of IPs and LCs in biodiversity conservation is clear. By transitioning to governance models that provide full recognition and control to these communities, conservation efforts can be significantly more effective and equitable. It’s time for conservation policies and practices to reflect this reality, ensuring that IPs and LCs are at the forefront of the decision-making processes, thus safeguarding biodiversity for future generations.

Source: Dawson, N. M., Coolsaet, B., Bhardwaj, A., Booker, F., Brown, D., Lliso, B., Loos, J., Martin, A., Oliva, M., Pascual, U., Sherpa, P., & Worsdell, T. (2024). Is it just conservation? A typology of Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ roles in conserving biodiversity. One Earth.

Exploring Climate-Related Financial Risks: Insights from the Federal Reserve’s Pilot CSA Exercise

May 19, 2024 / activist360

Federal Reserve Board Building, 1936 (Paul Philippe Cret, architect). The Eccles Building. Credit: Photo by Pedrik, Flickr.

In May 2024, the Federal Reserve Board conducted a pilot Climate Scenario Analysis (CSA) exercise involving six of the largest U.S. bank holding companies—Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo. This exploratory exercise was designed to assess how these major financial institutions manage and understand the potential impacts of climate-related financial risks on their operations.

Objectives of the Pilot CSA Exercise

The primary goal of the pilot CSA was to enhance the ability of both banks and regulatory bodies to identify, estimate, monitor, and manage climate-related financial risks effectively. By simulating both physical and transition risks associated with climate change, the exercise aimed to test the resilience of business models to a range of climate scenarios.

Key Insights from the Exercise

The pilot CSA exercise highlighted varied approaches to climate risk among banks, significant data gaps, and the critical role of insurance in risk mitigation. The unpredictability of climate event timings adds complexity to integrating these risks into existing frameworks.

Varied Methodological Approaches: The exercise revealed that participating banks utilized diverse approaches to integrate climate risk scenarios into their risk assessments. These varied primarily due to differences in their business models, data accessibility, and previous experiences with similar exercises in other jurisdictions.
Significant Data and Modeling Challenges: One of the critical challenges highlighted was the lack of comprehensive and consistent data, particularly related to property characteristics and the climate risk management plans of counterparties. Many banks depended on external vendors to supplement these data gaps.
The Crucial Role of Insurance: The pilot underscored the importance of insurance in mitigating climate risks. The changing landscape of the insurance industry, including fluctuating costs and coverage, was noted as a critical area for ongoing monitoring.
Concerns Over Indirect and Chronic Risks: Participants acknowledged the need to better understand the broader economic impacts of local disruptions and long-term changes such as sea level rise, which are essential for comprehensive risk management.
Uncertainty in Risk Measurement: The inherent uncertainties around the timing and severity of climate impacts make it challenging for banks to integrate these risks into their standard risk management frameworks.

Building on these key insights, the exercise delved into specific risk modules to further explore how these challenges manifest in the context of physical and transition risks.

Modules Explored in the Exercise

The Physical Risk Module analyzed the impacts of climate events like hurricanes on real estate portfolios, while the Transition Risk Module evaluated the economic effects of shifting to a lower-carbon economy on asset values and business operations.

Physical Risk Module: This module focused on the direct impacts of acute climate-related events like hurricanes and floods on banks’ real estate portfolios, examining both immediate property damages and subsequent credit risks.
Transition Risk Module: It dealt with the financial strains from transitioning towards a lower-carbon economy, capturing risks to asset values and the overall viability of business operations.

The key insights from the pilot CSA exercise, which highlighted varied methodological approaches and significant data challenges, directly informed the focus and findings of the Physical and Transition Risk Modules that assessed the impacts of climate-related events and economic transitions on financial institutions.

Governance and Risk Management Enhancements

The exercise prompted banks to adapt their existing governance frameworks to address the specific challenges posed by climate risks. This adaptation included integrating tailored internal controls and audit processes to ensure compliance and effectiveness in managing these new risk types.

Importance of a Healthy Financial System to Climate Concerns

A healthy financial system is vital for addressing climate concerns as it supports funding for climate initiatives, ensures economic stability, facilitates effective insurance and risk management, allocates resources efficiently, funds innovation and research, and boosts consumer confidence and spending.

Summing Up

The pilot CSA exercise highlighted the complex nature of climate-related financial risks and the critical need for banks to continue enhancing their data handling, modeling techniques, and scenario analysis to capture these risks accurately. As banks work towards these improvements, the insights gained from this exercise will help in shaping better practices and policies to protect the financial system from potential climate disruptions.

Source: Federal Reserve Board. (2024). Pilot Climate Scenario Analysis Exercise Summary: Summary of Participants’ Risk-Management Practices and Estimates. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

How a Wild Orangutan’s Use of Medicinal Plants Reveals the Secrets of Animal Intelligence

May 12, 2024 / activist360

Left: Pictures of Fibraurea tinctoria leaves. The length of the leaves is between 15 to 17 cm. Right: Rakus feeding on Fibraurea tinctoria leaves (photo taken on June 26, the day after applying the plant mesh to the wound). Scientific Reports (Sci Rep) ISSN 2045-2322.

Nature’s Ingenious Healers

In a new study documented in the lush rainforests of the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia, a male Sumatran orangutan has been observed applying a biologically active plant to a facial wound. This intriguing behavior not only showcases the intelligence of orangutans but also opens new avenues in understanding the evolutionary origins of medicine. Here’s an overview of this fascinating study, which could reshape our understanding of non-human self-medication and its implications for natural healing practices.

Intelligent Healing: Orangutan’s Use of Medicinal Plants

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and several Indonesian institutions captured a rare and enlightening behavior exhibited by a male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus. After sustaining a facial wound, Rakus was observed selecting, chewing, and applying leaves from the Fibraurea tinctoria plant—commonly known as Akar Kuning—directly onto the wound. Over several days, he applied the masticated leaves and juice, effectively managing his injury.

Process of wound healing. Rakus fed on and later applied the masticated leaves of Fibraurea tinctoria to his facial wound on June 25. On June 26 he was again observed feeding on Fibraurea tinctoria leaves (see photo). By June 30 the wound was closed and by August 25 was barely visible anymore. Scientific Reports (Sci Rep) ISSN 2045-2322.

Fibraurea Tinctoria: Nature’s Pharmacy

Akar Kuning is not just any plant; it’s a cornerstone of traditional medicine in Southeast Asia, renowned for its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The study highlights the presence of furanoditerpenoids and protoberberine alkaloids in the plant, compounds known for their antibacterial and healing capabilities. This suggests that Rakus’s choice of treatment was not coincidental but driven by an intrinsic understanding or learned behavior regarding the plant’s medicinal benefits.

Implications for Human and Veterinary Medicine

This behavior documented by the research team is among the first systematically observed case of a wild animal using a biologically active substance for wound treatment, providing invaluable insights into the potential origins of medicinal practices among humans.

Active wound treatment among great apes was only recently observed for the first time outside of the Sumatran orangutan. In Loango National Park, Gabon, researchers documented chimpanzees from the Rekambo community using insects as a form of medication. These chimpanzees applied insects to their own wounds and those of their peers, with nineteen instances of self-treatment and three instances where they treated other members of their community. This behavior provides further evidence of the sophisticated self-medication practices that exist within the great ape species.

The findings could have significant implications not only for understanding animal behavior but also for veterinary and even human medicine, offering natural alternatives or complements to synthetic drugs.

Evolutionary Perspectives on Health

The observation suggests that the use of medicinal plants is possibly an evolved trait among great apes, indicating that such practices could date back to common ancestors shared with humans. This behavior demonstrates a complex level of cognitive function and environmental awareness, suggesting that orangutans might be capable of health management practices that have evolved independently but parallel to human developments.

Future Research and Conservation Efforts

The study underscores the importance of continued research and conservation efforts in the habitats of orangutans. Understanding their behavior and environment not only helps protect these intelligent creatures but also aids in preserving the rich biodiversity of the rainforests, which holds untapped potential for medicinal discoveries.

Summing Up

The self-medication behavior exhibited by the Sumatran orangutan opens up new dialogues in both the scientific community and public sphere about the cognitive capabilities of non-human primates and their conservation. As we delve deeper into the natural world’s secrets, such studies are pivotal in bridging the gap between human and animal health practices, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.

By promoting awareness and fostering research in these critical areas, we can better appreciate our closest living relatives’ sophisticated behaviors and the natural resources that our planet has to offer. This study is not just a testament to the intelligence of orangutans but also a call to action for conservation and respect for wildlife and their natural habitats.