More than 30 artisanal fisherfolk, indigenous and Government authorities of Central American countries are participating in a training course to promote the governance of natural resources and sustainable small-scale fishing practices in indigenous peoples’ territories. According to the FAO, approximately 70% of the Central American Caribbean coast is located in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples. Therefore, these communities are key to ensuring the sustainability of small-scale fisheries, but they need to be supported by policies tailored to their needs and cultures.  This training course aims at reviewing the Voluntary Guidelines for Achieving the Sustainability of Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of...

Constituting only 5 percent of the world population, indigenous peoples nevertheless are vital stewards of the environment. Traditional indigenous territories encompass 22 percent of the world’s land surface, but 80 percent of the planet’s biodiversity.  A third of global forests, crucial for curbing gas emissions, are primarily managed by indigenous peoples, families, smallholders and local communities. Indigenous foods are also particularly nutritious, climate-resilient and well-adapted to their environment, making them a good source of nutrients in climate challenged areas.  Their ways of life and their livelihoods can teach us a lot about preserving natural resources, growing food in sustainable ways and living...

On the occasion of the 40th Session of the FAO Conference, the Organization held a special event focused on the important role that indigenous and rural women play for the achievement of food security for all and the Sustainable Development Goals.  Entitled “Leaving no one behind: Achieving gender equality for food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture”, this event touched upon three critical items: the crucial role that rural women play in ending hunger and poverty; the need for policies and programmes to accelerate rural women’s economic empowerment; and the importance of promoting transformative approaches to tackle the underlying causes...

This week FAO launched a capacity development program to train its staff on the application of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), that is, the right of indigenous peoples to be consulted in order to give or withhold their consent to any development intervention that takes place in their territories.  Having started in Bangladesh and Nepal, throughout 2017 FAO will capacitate its staff at country, regional and headquarters levels. Counting 370 million or more than 5% of the world’s population, indigenous peoples constitute 15% of the total poor and many of the world’s 800 million food insecure people. Their vulnerability often...