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Biodiversity monitoring

Community-based monitoring and reporting is critical for understanding and conserving the world’s biodiversity. To be successful, it needs the effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities who have detailed knowledge about local territorial and ecosystems management.  

The Transformative Pathways project supports the co-development of community-owned monitoring frameworks, using a set of locally-defined cultural and biodiversity indicators and linking these to national and global monitoring and reporting of progress towards the achievement of the 4 goals and 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

people measuring a tree in a forest
Foresters carefully mark the trees for easier monitoring during a training on resource inventory mapping held in Nueva Viscaya, Philippines. Photo by Ella Carino/PIKP

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Tohmle Statement

This statement was developed at the 4th Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples of Asia (IKPA) Conference on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Biodiversity, and Climate Change, held on October 1-4, 2024, in Pokhara, Nepal  Asia is a region of high biological and cultural diversity, where Indigenous Peoples, play…
16.12.24
Article

Community-based monitoring of ancestral land and resources in an urban setting

The experience of the Ibaloy community of Muyot, Happy Hallow, Baguio City The community of Muyot in Barangay Happy Hallow, Baguio City, has been home to the indigenous Ibaloys for generations. The original inhabitants and their descendants cared for the land, forests, and pasturelands for…
16.12.24

Conservation and Human Rights: An Introduction

This guidance is intended as a resource for conservation professionals who are interested to learn more about the relationship between conservation and human rights, especially the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. A huge amount has been written on this topic over the past…
30.10.24
Blog

Training resources on the Convention on Biological Diversity

This booklet series provides Indigenous Peoples and local communities with key insights into the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and its Target 3, focusing on their rights and participation in global conservation efforts. It offers guidance on engaging…
28.10.24
Video

Mapping and Monitoring in Indigenous Territories

This film is made by six indigenous filmmakers from Asia, Latin America and Africa, about mapping and monitoring in indigenous territories. The film is designed to raise community awareness and looks into ancestral and technological approaches to mapping and monitoring, as well as the benefits…
30.09.24
Article
Monitors gathering biodiversity data in Mt. Elgon Forest

Community-based biodiversity monitoring trials begin in Mt. Elgon

After a series of indoor training and field practical together with elders, the monitors have gained skills to enable them collect data.  With past experience on the use of mapping tool which is mastered by some of the monitors, the community is now applying the…
23.09.24

Further info

Supporting this work is ICCS, who are co-developing and piloting a suite of new biodiversity monitoring methodologies and approaches, building on local and traditional knowledge and on the technical expertise of FPP and in-country partner organisations. ICCS also provide, where requested, ongoing support to project partners and communities to enhance their customary systems of conservation and natural resource management plans. Using these monitoring systems, communities will be able to assess key biodiversity indicators such as key species, ecosystem health, traditional occupations.  

Bringing their expertise on biodiversity indicators into the project, UNEP-WCMC are supporting the development of relevant indicators to evidence the vital role that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in the realisation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and, more broadly, in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. They also ensure synergies with the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP), a global initiative whose secretariat is provided by UNEP-WCMC.

An  Ogiek man inspects mushrooms. Chepkitale, in Kenya, has many edible mushroom varieties. Photo by Kibelio/CIPDP