• Acknowledgements
• About the Authors
• Introduction
• Dimensions of Diversity
• Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and the Convention on Biodiversity
• From Policy to Implementation?
• Executive Summary of COP5 Decisions
• Executive Summary of COP6 DecisionsReferences

The Regional Level

The Role of Research
Proposing Initiatives
Strengthening Cooperation

CBD decisions, most notably with respect to the programmes of work, call for the realisation of workshops, meetings and conferences in a wide variety of areas on the subregional and regional level. These events are frequently oriented around country based case studies and reports from Parties, international organisations, NGOs and indigenous peoples organisations.

The Role of Research

These events provide important opportunities for indigenous peoples and local communities to represent their views and present the results of their own research in the form of case studies and reports. In particular, the CBD is predominantly a science and research based policy process. An increasing number of indigenous peoples organisations and indigenous research institutes are carrying out high quality research which is directly relevant to the work of the Convention. This research is also frequently conducted in collaboration with NGO partner organisations. However, to date, it appears that the opportunities that this presents to inform and influence CBD decisions are not being adequately taken up (see below).

Proposing Initiatives

Indigenous peoples organisations are increasingly taking the initiative in proposing regional and international meetings in partnership with governments and international Conventions. Examples of such initiatives include:

• The 1996 'International Meeting of Indigenous and other Forest Peoples on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests' in Leticia, Colombia which formed an intersessional meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF). The recommendations of the meeting were subsequently included in the recommendations of IPF4 (now United Nations Forum on Forests).
• The 1997 Madrid Workshop under the CBD which led to the creation of the Working Group on Article 8(j)
• The joint 1999 NGO/Indigenous Peoples initiative on the Underlying Causes of Deforestation under the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (now United Nations Forum on Forests).

These initiatives, as in the case of the Leticia meeting, may be sponsored by interested Parties as formal intersessional meetings. In others international donors may sponsor independent indigenous peoples and local community events. Thus, on the regional level it may be appropriate to:

• Propose, and seek support for, workshops on thematic issues of concern to indigenous peoples and local communities as the basis for formulating recommendations to the CBD.
• Develop case studies identifying best practice and ensure that these case studies are targeted towards regional and international debates taking place under the Convention

Strengthening Co-operation

In addition to proposing and participating within regional workshops and developing case studies there is also a need to consider:

• Strengthening cooperation and networking between indigenous peoples organisations on the regional level.
• Putting forward concrete project proposals for strengthening communications between indigenous peoples on the regional level, and the dissemination of information about the work of the Convention to indigenous peoples, in accordance with the programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions (decision V/16).
• Exploring collaborative links and mutual understanding with local community organisations and NGOs.

In this regard it is worth noting that the International Alliance of Indigenous - Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests has established a variety of regional networks. When combined with other networks within the regions, and the focal points within the International Coordinating Committee of the Forum, the existence of these organisations, networks and focal points may provide a powerful tool for enhancing cooperation and coordination among indigenous peoples. Similar networks exist for local community organisations and NGOs.

It is also important to note that indigenous peoples within the same and different regions may possess different priorities . In some case indigenous peoples are struggling to gain recognition of their existence and of their basic rights. In others there may be a significant body of national level legislation in the form of constitutional recognition and treaties which to varying degrees provide for formal recognition of the existence and rights of indigenous peoples. In some countries indigenous peoples may not be permitted to form their own organisations and may therefore be forced to operate as NGOs, local community organisations or other organisational forms. Consultation between indigenous peoples organisations on a regional level may prove to be extremely useful in generating understanding of the different legal and other contexts within which indigenous peoples within a region are located and establishing common priorities and positions.

These consultations may be particularly important in enhancing the engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities with the Convention, and ensuring that indigenous peoples and local community delegates who operate within international level processes are well prepared when entering into policy debates with the Parties.

In this regard, as with the national level, consideration may also be given to the adoption of an ecosystem approach to engagement with regional level processes. Thus, some issues, such as sustainable use, traditional knowledge, or education and public awareness may be of common interest. However, the majority of the world's regions are ecologically diverse encompassing, for example, drylands, forests, wetlands and other ecosystems which are the basis for thematic work programmes under the Convention.

Recognition of this diversity, and the diversity of expertise among indigenous peoples and local community organisations, could potentially provide an important tool for sharing experiences and establishing an effective international division of labour . Such an approach could potentially be central to the ability of indigenous peoples and local communities to address the problem of the ever increasing diversity of policy processes which concern them.