SEO Riders:
– Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at COP30
– Land rights and climate finance for Indigenous communities
– Brazzaville congress on forest protection and Indigenous rights
From May 26 to 30, 2025, over 400 Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) from the Amazon, Congo, Southeast Asia, and Latin America will convene in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, for the First Global Congress of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities from the Forest Basin. The congress aims to influence COP30 outcomes by focusing on securing land rights and establishing direct financing mechanisms for IPLCs. Leaders like Joseph Itongwa of the Democratic Republic of Congo emphasize that forests are not merely carbon sinks but homes and histories, advocating for policies that empower Indigenous communities to protect their territories.
Hosted by the Global Alliance for Territorial Communities and the Rights and Resources Initiative, the event builds upon previous international milestones to translate pledges into actionable policies. Despite evidence showing that deforestation rates are significantly lower in territories managed by IPLCs, these communities often receive less than 1% of climate finance directly. The congress seeks to address this disparity by advocating for legal protections and financial mechanisms that recognize the vital role of Indigenous stewardship in combating climate change.
