THE MANILA DECLARATION
on Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCAs) approved and delivered at the ‘First National Conference on ICCAs in the Philippines’ The University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Manila 29-30 March 2012
“This declaration is an important step forward for the recognition, promotion, and protection of the rights and freedoms of Indigenous Peoples
to govern their traditional territories and community conserved areas.” (Manila Declaration, Page 2)
Hosted by the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of The Philippines (UP) and co-organised by NewCAPP, KASAPI and PAFID (Philippine Association for Intercultural Development) this conference was the first of its kind. It brought together Indigenous People leaders from ancestral domains representing the country’s key biodiversity areas as well as government representatives, local and international NGOs, UN agencies, and cooperation agencies from numerous countries.
The Conference examined the status of ICCAs in the Philippines, the importance of Indigenous People’s engagement in ICCA processes and the threats they face. In short, ‘ICCA’ is a term used, since the last decade, to encompass the territories and areas conserved in a voluntary way by Indigenous Peoples and local communities through their customary laws and other effective means. The Manila Declaration was
written, signed and then approved at the Conference which boldly asserts demands and recommendations on how to provide recognition and support to ICCAs and their governing bodies. Among those, the Declaration asks the government to “support the indigenous peoples’ capability to manage their ICCAs [and] to not invent new systems or processes from somewhere else that will undermine them.” The Declaration also requests NGOs to “simplify things” and “respect spiritual relationships of the Indigenous peoples.”
Accompanied by the mesmeric drone of the kalaleng (a traditional bamboo nose flute) played by two Indigenous Elders from the Cordillera region of Northern Philippines, each Indigenous delegate at the conference signed the Manila Declaration in the afternoon of 30 March, 2012.
Other key decisions embodied in the Declaration are plans to create a National ICCA Network in the Philippines to help facilitate the recognition and support of ICCAs, to establish an ICCA National Council, a National ICCA Registry, and a national School of Living Traditions as well as preparing an ICCA Capacity Building Development Plan.
Written by Vanessa Reid
ICCA Consortium Communications Officer
Photo credits: Gbf/ ICCA Consortium