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The document outlines a three-part process for managing biocultural community protocols: intrinsic analysis of community changes, extrinsic analysis of interactions with external actors, and the subsequent evaluation and revision of the protocol itself. It emphasizes participatory methods, such as the 'Most Significant Change' technique, to capture qualitative impacts on community wellbeing and gender roles. The guide also stresses the importance of keeping both internal community members and external stakeholders informed through diverse communication tools to maintain transparency and trust.

The document defines biocultural community protocols as participatory instruments used by Indigenous and local communities to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes. These protocols aim to bridge the gap between community worldviews and external actors—such as governments and companies—to prevent resource exploitation and ensure the respect of customary stewardship. The toolkit outlines a four-part process: understanding the community, documenting the protocol, using it for engagement, and reflecting on outcomes. It provides a wide array of participatory tools, including community sketch maps, trend line analysis, and participatory theatre, to empower communities through legal awareness and social mobilization.

The document outlines a three-stage process for creating biocultural community protocols: deciding on the appropriateness of a protocol, mapping the community's foundations (identity, natural, social-cultural, economic, political, and legal), and consolidating this information into a strategic tool for external engagement. It emphasizes that protocols are context-dependent and should be community-led, avoiding external coercion. The guide provides specific tools and questions to document traditional knowledge, customary laws, and biodiversity, while cautioning facilitators to safeguard sensitive information. It concludes that while individual protocols offer self-affirmation and local change, their collective aggregation can drive broader structural and legal shifts.

The document outlines a framework for using biocultural community protocols to manage interactions with governments, companies, and NGOs. It details methods for establishing dialogue, raising awareness through participatory media, and engaging in impact assessments and international legal processes. It emphasizes the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and provides guidance on conflict resolution and responding to human rights violations.

The document outlines a framework for the ongoing management of biocultural community protocols, focusing on 'Looking Inwards' to assess community changes, 'Looking Outwards' to evaluate external partnerships, and 'Revisiting and Revising' the protocol as a living instrument. It emphasizes qualitative tools like 'Most Significant Change' stories and participatory methods to measure wellbeing and impact.

The document describes Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs) as community-determined frameworks that define values, procedures, and priorities to guide engagement with governments, companies, and NGOs. It outlines how BCPs help communities secure customary rights and respond to threats like illegal mining or infrastructure projects. The briefing provides case studies from Ghana, Malaysia, Kenya, India, and South Africa, illustrating the use of BCPs for resource mapping, legal empowerment, and the protection of traditional knowledge and biodiversity. It also promotes a four-part Toolkit for Community Facilitators to support the endogenous development of these protocols.

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.

Natural Justice, a pan-African organization, submitted comments and recommendations on the Draft Climate Change (Carbon Registry) Regulations, 2025. The submission advocates for a more transparent, inclusive, and publicly accessible carbon registry system in Kenya that safeguards the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Natural Justice provides comments on the draft National Petroleum Policy 2026, arguing that its objective to promote petroleum exploration and production contradicts Kenya's goals for a just energy transition and decarbonization. The organization urges the government to prioritize renewable energy alternatives and phase out fossil fuels rather than integrating oil and gas into the economy.

This document is a Terms of Reference (ToR) prepared by Kurrent Technologies Ltd. for the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to guide an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for a proposed 1,050MW coal-fired power plant in Lamu County, Kenya. The project, proposed by Amu Power Company Limited, aims to increase Kenya's generation capacity to meet growing electricity demand using super-critical technology.

The Climate Justice Movement (CJM) in Kenya is a decentralized coalition of civil society, grassroots organizations, and indigenous groups working to address unequal climate impacts. While the movement has successfully influenced policy and established a strong grassroots presence, it faces challenges including internal leadership disputes, limited funding, and coordination gaps. The study highlights the importance of the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program and the need for better gender mainstreaming and technical capacity building to ensure equitable climate action.

The National Environment Tribunal (NET) revoked the EIA licence for Amu Power Company Limited's proposed 1050MW coal plant in Kwasasi, Lamu County. The tribunal found that public participation was "non-existent" during the ESIA study phase and that the process was "procedurally unfair." Key failures included the lack of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the LAPSSET corridor, the omission of critical infrastructure designs (such as a 2,000-acre limestone quarry and conveyor belt), and a failure to account for Kenya's Climate Change Act, 2016. While some air quality and ecological mitigation measures were deemed adequate, the tribunal found the ash-handling plans risky due to tidal flooding and climate change. Consequently, the licence was revoked, requiring the proponent to either restart the ESIA process in accordance with the law or appeal the decision.

The document outlines the role of community protocols as interfaces between customary laws and national ABS frameworks, drawing on case studies from Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Benin, Madagascar, and Cameroon to highlight best practices in community empowerment and legal recognition.

The report examines the interaction between ICCAs and international and national laws, finding that while international instruments and some national policies show progress, systemic gaps and discriminatory implementation continue to threaten these areas. It highlights the critical need for the recognition of customary land rights, self-determination, and integrated socio-ecological legislation to support community-led conservation.

The briefing examines the systemic threats facing TICCAs, highlighting a widespread lack of legal recognition for customary land rights and traditional governance. While noting positive developments in international jurisprudence and specific national programs—such as Australia's Indigenous Protected Areas and Namibia's Communal Conservancies—it argues that state legislation often remains discriminatory, fragmented, and exclusionary. The document provides comprehensive recommendations for legal reform, the adoption of human rights standards, and the implementation of non-legal support mechanisms to ensure the resilience of indigenous-led conservation.

The document outlines the UN human rights framework, distinguishing between charter-based and treaty-based monitoring mechanisms. It details the 'International Bill of Human Rights' and other core treaties, while highlighting specialized bodies such as the Special Rapporteur, the Expert Mechanism, and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The guide provides practical advice for communities on filing complaints, participating in UN sessions, and utilizing National Human Rights Institutions to advocate for their rights.

The document outlines the UN human rights framework, distinguishing between Charter-based and Treaty-based mechanisms. It details the International Bill of Human Rights and specific instruments for indigenous peoples, such as UNDRIP and ILO Convention 169, while providing practical guidance on submitting complaints and participating in UN forums.

The document serves as a legal empowerment guide for environmental and land rights defenders (ELRDs) in Kenya, detailing the constitutional and statutory protections available to them. It identifies key threats faced by defenders—such as harassment, illegal arrests, and forced evictions—and attributes these to drivers like competition over scarce natural resources and power inequality. The guide outlines how to lodge complaints with national bodies including the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). It also lists various international and regional civil society organisations that provide emergency funding and legal support to defenders.

This NEMA license outlines the environmental and operational requirements for Krystalline Salt Limited's 800-hectare expansion of the Marereni salt works in Kilifi County, Kenya. Key conditions include the protection of riparian zones and wetlands, the regularization of mangrove area use via the Kenya Forest Service, and a requirement to prioritize clean energy over wood fuel for salt drying.

The Lamu County Bio-Cultural Community Protocol (BCP) is a communal document created by the Bajun, Swahili, Sanye, Aweer, and Orma communities to protect their ancestral lands and nature-based livelihoods. It details the diverse economic niches of these groups—including fishing, pastoralism, and hunting-gathering—and the traditional conservation methods they employ. The document strongly opposes the LAPSSET project and the Amu Power coal plant, citing a lack of free, prior, and informed consent, threats to biodiversity, and the risk of cultural erasure. It concludes by demanding legal recognition of community land rights and the adoption of renewable energy alternatives.