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This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, with a specific focus on Manitoba, Canada. It details the services wetlands provide—such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—while highlighting the severe loss of these ecosystems due to agriculture and urbanization. The document also explores innovative uses for cattails as bioenergy and discusses regional conservation and restoration initiatives.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the conflicting international legal frameworks governing germplasm and plant breeding. It highlights the tension between intellectual property (IP) rights favored by commercial seed firms and the traditional rights of farmers and Indigenous Peoples to save, share, and sell seeds. The document provides an overview of key multilateral agreements and offers guidance for developing country governments on creating national laws that balance commercial innovation with biodiversity conservation and equity.

This briefing note describes how Fiji has integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to scale up nature-based solutions for climate resilience.

This case study describes how Timor-Leste has integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a guiding principle within its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to enhance climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and support post-conflict nation building.

This policy brief describes the results of a Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) conducted in Namibia from January to June 2009. The assessment aimed to identify 'green' opportunities and threats within international trade law and technical standards to support Namibia's Vision 2030 and National Development Plan (NDP3). It emphasizes that Namibia should avoid the bulk export models of Western nations or South Africa, instead focusing on high-value niche sectors based on its comparative advantages in biodiversity, landscapes, and rangelands.

The 'State of Global Environmental Governance 2024' report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the intersection of environmental governance and a global 'polycrisis' characterized by geopolitical instability, climate disasters, and financial crises. It highlights a trend toward 'greenlash' and the increasing role of international courts in enforcing environmental commitments, while noting that global governance remains largely siloed across the Rio Conventions and other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).

This fact sheet provides data on the distribution of agricultural land in Canada and the relationship between farming intensity, biodiversity, and soil health.

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides a comprehensive toolkit for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Southern Africa to navigate Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) processes. It focuses on protecting Traditional Knowledge and natural resources, specifically highlighting the case of Aloe ferox, while explaining the legal frameworks, negotiation strategies, and conservation tools available to ensure fair and equitable benefits from the commercial or scientific use of biological resources.

A statement from the second annual African Environmental Defenders Regional Convening in 2024 outlining demands for the protection of environmental and land defenders, the adoption of a regional treaty, and a shift toward community-led conservation and rights-based climate solutions.

This document is an excerpt from the Official Journal of the Republic of Senegal, dated June 13, 1970. The primary focus is Ministerial Order No. 5170 P.M. of May 12, 1970, which establishes the internal regulations for the Basse Casamance National Park, detailing restrictions on access, activities, and environmental protection.

This guide, produced by the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association and Natural Justice, establishes a biocultural protocol for traditional health practitioners in Bushbuckridge. It outlines the role of these practitioners in community health, the spiritual and traditional methods used to harvest medicinal plants, and the challenges they face regarding land access and the protection of indigenous knowledge. The document asserts the rights of practitioners to access protected areas for medicinal resources and sets conditions for researchers and commercial entities seeking to use their traditional knowledge.

The 'Protocolos Comunitarios Bioculturales: Kit de Herramientas para Facilitadores Comunitarios' is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice. It provides a framework and practical tools for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These protocols are designed to help communities manage their territories, protect their rights, and engage constructively with external actors such as governments, researchers, and corporations, thereby reducing power asymmetries and preventing conflicts over natural resources.

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides a framework for communities to document and develop Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs). It outlines a process for evaluating the appropriateness of a protocol, mapping community foundations across identity, natural resources, sociocultural practices, economics, politics, and law, and consolidating this information into a strategic tool for engaging external actors and asserting community rights.

This guide provides a framework for communities to implement a Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) to engage with external actors, raise awareness, participate in decision-making, and resolve conflicts regarding their territories and resources.

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides a framework for communities to reflect on, report, and revise their biocultural community protocols. It details methods for intrinsic and extrinsic analysis to measure the impact of these protocols on community wellbeing and external relationships, emphasizing the use of participatory tools and the need for protocols to be treated as living documents that evolve over time.

This guide provides a practical framework for communities to develop biocultural community protocols to secure their rights, territories, and resources. It outlines a process for assessing the appropriateness of a protocol, mapping a community's identity and foundations (natural, social-cultural, economic, political, and legal), and consolidating this information into a strategic tool for engaging external actors.

This guide provides a framework for Indigenous peoples and local communities to use biocultural community protocols as tools for engaging with external actors, participating in decision-making, and resolving conflicts. It details strategies for proactive communication, raising awareness through participatory media, and navigating national and international legal processes to protect customary rights and territories.

This August 2016 discussion paper by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Natural Justice proposes a set of draft conservation standards to protect the human rights of indigenous peoples. The authors argue that while international law provides a broad framework, there is a lack of practical, rights-based guidance for conservation actors, leading to documented cases of evictions and abuses in the name of biodiversity protection.

This guide, produced by the TAFO MIHAAVO-Natural Justice joint initiative with support from GIZ, outlines the process of 'auto-renforcement' (self-strengthening) for Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), referred to as 'territoires de vie' (life territories), in Madagascar. It provides a framework for local communities to autonomously document their territories, strengthen their governance, and seek recognition through national and international registries to improve the sustainable management of their natural resources and cultural heritage.

This report by Natural Justice and the ABS Capacity Development Initiative provides lessons and case studies on the development of community protocols in Africa to facilitate Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge (aTK) under the Nagoya Protocol.