(Originally published on 10/31/2016)

October 20^th, Guangxi – With the goal to discuss the value of Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas (ICCA) in biodiversity conservation and community sustainable development in China, alongside solutions to address the challenges they face, the International ICCA workshop was held in Nanning, Guangxi Province during October 18^th-20^th  by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) with the support from Guangxi Forestry Bureau, Guangxi Wildlife Conservation Association and Fauna & Flora International (FFI).

For ecosystems which are not protected by the nature reserve system yet possess many rare and endangered species, the indigenous people and local communities play an important role in protecting them through passing on the traditional knowledge, culture and customary laws to protect the species and their habitat. However, such valuable best practices and experiences, were underestimated by society and rarely shared among the conservation practitioners in China. As a result the government and public have low awareness on the importance of such practices in biological and cultural diversity conservation. Therefore, the conference served as a platform to generate discussions and experience sharing on this topic.

The 3 days workshops allowed participants to learn the updated studies and development situations of ICCA from experts, scholars and government officials, in addition review case studies about ICCA in countries like Vietnam, Iran, and practices adopted by communities in Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai Provinces. The Initiative on Promoting ICCA Development and Attaching Importance on Its Values in Biodiversity Conservation was announced at the end of workshop.

“The workshop has deepened the understanding among communities, government and NGOs from a multi-dimensional perspective,” said Ms. Liu Yi, the National Programme Coordinator of UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme, “It also gave each side deeper understanding of community conserved areas’ value”. She noted in her speech that UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme will further strengthen communication and cooperation with both side to promote development of community conserved areas in China.

Established in 1992 as a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility, the GEF Small Grants Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership. The program has directly funded more than 14,500 NGOs and community-based organizations worldwide to undertake projects to protect and restore the natural environment while improving the well-being and living standards of people. 

This workshop, as an important component of the project “Mainstreaming and Capability Enhancement of Community Conserved Areas in the Southwest of Guangxi", and is supported by UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme. The project aims to promote a supportive policy environment for the recognition, registration and effective management of ICCAs, improve the capacities of ICCAs and establish a ICCAs network in Guangxi Autonomous Region.