Copenhagen blog
Indigenous tribesman, Javier Dril Bustamante: Copenhagen Blog.
Tuesday 15th Dec
REDD IN THE AMAZON
As an indigenous leader, the REDD programme is an opportunity for forest owners. This includes, of course, large companies and agriculturalists who have bought large tracts of land or massive concessions and also indigenous peoples. But in the workshops they spoke more about the interests of the companies with large forestry concessions and the agriculturalists. For indigenous communities, it will not always be easy to participate fully and directly in the REDD programme. As has happened in Brazil and elsewhere, some indigenous communities involved do not all have full land titles and they may well loose rights to their forest and gain nothing or too little. Much depends on our on how and when our governments agree and approve the rules in the United Nations Climate Change Summit.
Monday 14th Dec
SAVING THE FORESTS
I attended this workshop at the Klimaforum in Copenhagen. I found it interesting to hear about the situation of different forests around the planet. And important to hear about the experiences to date with the REDD programme in other countries, like Brazil and Panama. From these presentations it appears that if our governments and transnational companies take on board the need to conserve the forests and the rights of indigenous peoples who live in them, then there is a great opportunity to mitigate climate change.
THE ROLE OF THE BORREAL FORESTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE
This presentation focused on North American and Scandinavian forests. Thforests in these regions are truly impressive. For me the Scandinavian management of their forests shows how much importance they have traditionally placed on them. According to the presentation, today they don't have the diversity or variety of tree species that they used to have, but they have begun to rescue some and improve the sustainability of their forest management.
We hope that the tropical region countries can also take on board the environmental perspective in a serious way that favours our forests.
INDIGENOUS VOICES ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Many participants asked how can we show solidarity with indigenous peoples. The presenters responded that the indigenous don't have the capacity to manage their forests and the economic benefits that this may bring. But I would say that it is totally untrue. The indigenous peoples know their forests very well and have maintained them in good health for many, many centuries ... right up until now. However, I do agree that we may not be fully prepared to maximise any economic benefits that may result. Often, the projects or international donations related to forests have problems getting the money down to the community level. In many cases 80% of the benefits destined for the forests never get to the community or grass roots project level.
Sunday 13th Dec
Brothers and sisters of the Ashaninka nation it's a real shame that our Minister of Environment (Antonio Brack) hasn't fulfilled his promise after the arrangements that our friends Ecotribal undertook on our behalf more than a month ago to enable me to be part of the Peruvian government delegation in the united nations summit COP15. He failed to fulfil his promise.
As a result we went on Sunday to the parallel forum which is opened to any member of the human race and have found a lot of solidarity there. Among the things that I have become aware of in the Klimaforum is that we (the Ashaninka community) need to conserve our forest for future generations and it is not just money we need but the solidarity of other people and organisations. We also need to build our own capacity to manage the forests and our communities in the face of the threats of the 21st century.
Saturday 12th Dec
Saturday we went to the big demonstration along with a hundred thousand other people which started at the Danish parliament building. Before the demonstration began we interviewed the artist Angela Palmer who told us about the ideas underlying her tree sculptures. The tree butts and tree roots were bought from Africa by her as embassadors from the African forest to show to the united nations and government representatives here in Copenhagen, to make sure they are aware of the prescence of the forest whilst and remember its importance in combating climate change.
I was surprised at the organisation and the unity of the demonstrators that were bought together by a mixed movement of environmentalists who are really concerned about climate change. It was good to see not just young people on the march but also whole families and young children and older people, all showing solidarity for the world's problems.
Friday 11th Dec
Our plane from London arrived two hours late in Copenhagen. It is quite cold but not snowing. The people seem very friendly.
Tomorrow we will probably join a rally from the Danish Parliament buildings to the UN Summit buildings. The rally starts close to the Ghost Forest sculptures which we saw in London a couple of weeks ago. I am hoping to get to talk to Angela, the artist responsible.
It's difficult to know what we will achieve here in Copenhagen, but as an indigenous Amazonian leader I am hoping to encourage the development of the REDD initiative, through which communities like ours - which conserve their virgin tropical forests - will be able to receive financial support from industrialised nations. Of course, for this to work properly, the industrialised nations must also pledge to reduce their carbon emissions significantly and continuously until sustainable balance is found.
We really hope that our leaders remember the importance of indigenous people who live closer to nature and are really experiencing the direct effects of climate change.
Pasonke (thanks)
Javier Dril Bustamante
(translated by Dilwyn Jenkins from Ecotribal)
