Wetlands and Indigenous peoples.

 


Indigenous stewardship of wetlands is essential to the future of these life-sustaining ecosystems.


• Indigenous peoples have coexisted with wetlands for thousands of years, developing rich traditional ecological knowledge that reflects a connection with the land and water. • This holistic knowledge encompasses scientific insight and ethical and spiritual values; often, wetlands under stewardship of Indigenous Peoples are in better health. • Given that the wetlands protected under the Convention on Wetlands cover about 257,994,728 hectares – an area larger than Mexico – Ramsar Sites overlap with the territories and lands of numerous Indigenous Peoples and local communities. • Although Indigenous Peoples make up only about 6% of the world’s population, they are critical contributors to safeguarding our planet’s remaining biodiversity. • The degradation of wetlands in some regions impacts human rights to a healthy environment, especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities whose cultural identities, traditional knowledge systems and livelihoods are intricately tied to these ecosystems. • Respecting and integrating Indigenous stewardship and knowledge systems in wetland conservation is just and essential for effective, inclusive and lasting solutions.

CONSERVATION OF THE TANA RIVER DELTA RAMSAR SITE IN KENYA.

The local community holds valuable knowledge for the conservation of the Tana River Delta Ramsar Site. Their council of elders have over the centuries been responsible for the management of watering points, sacred sites and shrines. The council of elders have been recognized in the Tana River Delta Ramsar Site management plan and identified as key players in the management of these sites. By recognizing and involving these local structures and Indigenous knowledge, conflict over the use of watering points has been avoided and the local sacred sites and the shrines have been conserved. Moreover, Indigenous knowled







“MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR CULTURES BASED ON THE INTERACTIONS WITH WETLANDS AND WATER – OUR WAYS OF LIFE, OUR CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS AND OUR VALUE SYSTEMS ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THOSE ECOSYSTEMS. – Dr. Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine, Former Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues


 #CelebratingWetlands - #WetlandsandCulturalHeritage 

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