Conservation International (CI) envisions a future that supports both sustainable conservation and human well-being. To make our vision a reality, it is essential that all people have an equitable voice in and benefit from the sustainable use of land and resources.
One way that we are endeavoring to do this is by implementing social and environmental safeguards through a CI-wide Environmental and Social Management Framework. Still under development, this framework is being designed to ensure systematic and transparent management of environmental and social risks in CI’s work. Our goal is to not only avoid and minimize adverse risks and impacts but also to identify opportunities for improving environmental and social outcomes.
Indigenous peoples and local communities frequently play an inextricable role in the sustainable management of their lands and territories, living close to the land and ensuring its use for future generations. CI recognizes this stewardship of nature as an important determinant not only of economic and ecosystem health, but also of human well-being. Once fully implemented, CI’s Environmental and Social Management Framework will help ensure respect for the rights and roles of these communities, and individual women and men, in managing the world’s natural resources.
In this session, CI seeks feedback from indigenous peoples, local communities, gender and social experts, and conservation peers on our draft Environmental and Social Management Framework. We will explore three questions:
- What benefits can a safeguard system generate for communities and project participants?
- Can a safeguard system fall short of protecting community and individual rights?
- What steps should CI take to create a safeguard system to meet our goal: that all women and men have an equitable voice in and benefit from the sustainable use of land and resources?
Discussion results will be considered together with other feedback as CI finalizes the Environmental and Social Management Framework.
Format of session:
CI will introduce its draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (20 minutes). A short Q&A will follow (10 minutes). Participants will then divide into small groups to address the session questions using flipcharts, sticky notes, markers, and computers. In the closing plenary, a rapporteur from each small group will share results while CI will identify the next steps for finalizing the Environmental and Social Management Framework (30 minutes).
Big Issues: Gender issues , Big Issues: Human-wellbeing , Big Issues: Indigenous peoples , Solutions: Empowerment , Solutions: User-rights
