need to acquire a political vision and express it in order to ensure that their concerns are reflected in the results.
Technologies from the wider world Many concepts, methodologies, practices and technologies brought in from outside have not in the past served the interests of indigenous peoples. Technology brings an outside world view with it, and must therefore be adapted carefully and with sensitivity. As in the case of biotechnology, some innovations can be used, so long as the indigenous and tribal peoples are in agreement. However, the distribution of biotechnological products must always be carried out under strict control to avoid the danger of indigenous peoples being exploited instead of benefiting from these products, or becoming dependent on the technologies adopted. This has happened, for example, with chemical pesticides and fertilizers that have gradually replaced traditional agro-ecological techniques based on indigenous and tribal peoples’ local knowledge.
Change is not just social, cultural and economic, but also climatic The consequences of climate change have a disproportionate effect on indigenous peoples, who depend on the environment not only for their livelihood, but also to sustain their world view and their identity. Moreover, they suffer the consequences of a process to which they have not contributed and which is causing global warming, depletion of natural resources and loss of biodiversity and habitat. In order to prevent the disappearance of traditional knowledge, which is conserved by very few elders (but is fundamental in adaptation and mitigation activities), it must be recognized and used in national strategies to mitigate environmental damage. Emergency assistance and government funds allocated in response to emergencies have led to problems because they are often used as opportunities to promote technologies that are both harmful and contrary to indigenous aspirations, as is the case with genetically modified organisms. The problems caused by climate change are linked to other negative effects of the cash economy. For example, interests connected with the development of biofuels and the resulting monocropping ignore indigenous peoples’ livelihood needs and lead to conflicts over access to resources. If environmental catastrophes are not to become excuses for violating indigenous peoples’ rights, networks for exchanging information must be created, compensation must be planned in cases where policies or practices affect them and, above all, indigenous peoples must always be consulted before megaprojects are carried out that may affect them – and of course nothing must go ahead without their consent.
3. Recommendations This section lists some of the recommendations made by indigenous organizations at the two workshops. They are addressed to the various actors involved in promoting the development of indigenous and tribal peoples, especially IFAD and other agencies and organizations of the large United Nations family. •
The contents of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples must be taken into account in all operations.
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