On 14–16 July 2026, the ICCA Consortium Southeast Asia convened for its 7th Annual Regional Assembly in Van Ho Commune, Son La Province, Vietnam, with members and partners from across the region participating.

The three-day assembly provided space for strategic and thematic discussions, as well as exchanges and learning among organizations from Vietnam, country networks, and communities. This year’s regional assembly was also significant, as it formally welcomed the new members of the ICCA Consortium Southeast Asia Regional Council for 2026–2029, headed by Celine Lim (Chairperson), Saw Franki (Vice Chairperson), and the Country Council Representatives: Mong Vichet (Cambodia), Cindy Julianty (Indonesia),  Celine Lim (Malaysia), Saw Franki (Myanmar), Emerensiana Nipu (Timor-Leste), Jevie Barot (the Philippines), and Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung (Vietnam). Thematic leads are: Amalia Maling (Documenting Territories of Life), Samban Tugang Anak (Sustaining Territories of Life), and Ayut Angeliah Entoh (Defending Territories of Life). Sectoral Council Members are: Naw Ei Ei Min (Gender Representative ) and Dayang Ukau Dayang (Youth Representative).

“The council does not stand in a hierarchy; the council is entrusted by the collective circle. We should listen to the people before we speak, and we must keep our feet grounded in the territories while keeping our eyes on the future. Monitor our ToL and remain aware of threats. Please carry our countries’ struggles in solidarity, and defend those who defend ToL. Our success is not measured by resolutions—it is found in a living river and a living language. We will leave Van Ho not just with an action plan, but with a renewed promise” said Paul Sein Twa, reminding the new council members of the continued work that needs to be done.

A symbolic turnover of the ICCA banner was passed on to the new council chair. The regional assembly also became a space to recognize and acknowledge the hard work of the previous council members, moving forward with renewed goals and action under the new council.

Representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam provided country updates and deepened their knowledge of the qualitative elements of key policy instruments that support the recognition of customary tenure, promote traditional knowledge, and acknowledge the invaluable roles of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in biodiversity conservation.

The sharing by communities and Vietnamese organizations underscores that participatory efforts can demonstrate meaningful change and empower communities. This highlights that when forests thrive, their communities and environment thrive as well. Emphasizing the need to protect their very territories of life that sustain them.

The participants also visited Hua Tat Village, where the Hmong ethnic minority group showcased their banh giay-making and handmade traditional paper. Participants also took part in preparing and designing the products. They also visited PanNature’s field office, where the staff toured them around the office and gave a short presentation on their current initiatives.

To cap off the three-day event, the final activity was devoted to country reporting, regional updates, and discussion on the way forward. The day ended with cultural performances representing their respective countries, including traditional dances and songs in cultural attire. The night concluded with laughter, celebration, and fond memories to carry forward into the next regional assembly.

The 7th Regional Assembly of the ICCA Consortium SEA was organized by People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature) with support from the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) Asia, the host organization for the regional coordination hub.

All photos courtesy of PanNature

By Berns Del Castillo, Programme Officer for Pastor Rice Fund (PFR) and former Programme Assistant for ICCA Consortium SEA