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The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a collective commitment to slow, reduce, and reverse global deforestation. It outlines specific goals to be achieved by 2030, emphasizing the role of forests in biodiversity, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities.

The 2025 COP30 Hub Synthesis Report, published by the Global Resilience Partnership, details the outcomes of the Resilience Hub at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. It evaluates progress on adaptation finance, the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), and the role of non-party stakeholders in building resilience for 4 billion people by 2030. The report highlights a shift toward a 'blended model' of climate action, combining formal multilateral negotiations with voluntary coalitions and Indigenous-led initiatives.

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 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 from Natural Justice provides a framework for communities to monitor, evaluate, and revise biocultural community protocols. It details methods for assessing internal community changes, managing relationships with external stakeholders, and updating the protocol as a living document to reflect evolving visions and priorities.

A statement submitted on 13 December 2024 by a coalition of civil society organizations, including Natural Justice and SAFCEI, providing critical comments on South Africa's Draft Article 6 Framework. The coalition argues that carbon markets are fundamentally flawed and risk enabling human rights abuses, land grabs, and the evasion of actual emission reductions.

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 briefing by Natural Justice analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Territories and Areas of Conservation by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (TICCAs). It examines the gap between international human rights standards and national implementation, highlighting how fragmented laws and a lack of recognition for customary land rights undermine the ability of Indigenous and local communities to maintain the ecological integrity of their territories.

The Lamu County Bio-Cultural Community Protocol (BCP) is a communal document developed by the indigenous communities of Lamu County, Kenya, to document their traditional knowledge, natural resource management systems, and concerns regarding large-scale development projects. It outlines the distinct livelihoods of the Bajun, Swahili, Orma, Sanye, and Aweer peoples and asserts their rights to land, culture, and a healthy environment under Kenyan and international law.

This document is a presentation by Natural Justice (NJ), an African organization dedicated to social and environmental justice. It outlines the organization's mission to protect the collective rights of indigenous peoples and local communities through a "Litigation Plus" approach, which integrates legal empowerment, research, policy influence, and strategic litigation. The document details NJ's activities in 2024, highlighting legal victories against extractive industries, efforts to secure land tenure, and the protection of environmental defenders across Africa.

This document is a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, provided by a coalition including Natural Justice and Forest Peoples Programme. It outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity conservation, highlighting successful local practices, systemic barriers such as 'fortress conservation' and non-recognition of land rights, and the increasing risks faced by environmental defenders.

This document is a summary of findings and orders from the High Court of Kenya regarding Petition No 22 of 2012. The court addressed various legal and procedural challenges brought by petitioners against the LAPSSET Project, specifically focusing on environmental assessments, public participation, indigenous rights, and the protection of cultural heritage in Lamu County.

This guide by Natural Justice explains the development and application of community protocols—codified rules and procedures used by communities to manage interactions with external actors, such as governments and investors. It details the facilitation process, guiding principles for empowerment, and strategies for using these protocols in advocacy, negotiation, and conflict resolution, particularly in the context of extractive industries.

The Community Protocols Toolbox is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice designed to assist NGOs, civil society groups, and community-based organizations in helping indigenous peoples and local communities develop community protocols. These protocols serve as frameworks for communities to document their identity, link customary laws with national and international legal frameworks, and engage effectively with external parties, particularly in the context of extractive industries and large-scale infrastructure projects.

This e-learning guide by Natural Justice introduces the international legal frameworks that recognize and support the traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity by Indigenous peoples and local communities, with a primary focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an introduction to the international legal frameworks that recognize and support the traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities. It focuses primarily on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), detailing specific articles, voluntary instruments, and other international declarations that grant rights and responsibilities to communities and governments.

This e-learning guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an overview of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It explains the historical emergence of the Declaration, defines who is considered 'Indigenous' under international law, and details the specific rights and responsibilities of Indigenous communities, States, and the United Nations. The document serves as a toolkit for communities to identify relevant provisions for advocacy, self-governance, and the protection of lands, territories, and resources.

This policy brief argues that secure land tenure is a prerequisite for the just engagement of indigenous communities in South Africa's energy transition. Focusing on the Boegoebaai green hydrogen hub in the Northern Cape, the document highlights how the Richtersveld community's unresolved land restitution claims and historical dispossessions risk further marginalization. It calls for the conclusion of land claims, the adoption of inclusive partnership models (similar to those in Canada), and the institutionalization of free, prior, and informed consent to prevent land alienation and ensure indigenous people benefit as owners or partners rather than mere beneficiaries.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the social and environmental impacts of lithium mining in the Argentine Altiplano. It argues that current UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators often overlook the leadership and lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, creating a gap between global policy and local reality. The document proposes a framework for more inclusive stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and the co-creation of SDG indicators to ensure a socially just energy transition.

This policy brief by the Latinoamérica Sostenible alliance (comprising Espacio Público, Transforma, and Ethos) analyzes the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, green jobs, and rural indigenous communities in Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. It argues that the pandemic exacerbated structural inequalities and that regional recovery strategies must prioritize social inclusion, gender equity, and environmental sustainability to be just and resilient.