Welcome!

We were seeking guidance on how to further advance and implement Article 10(c) as a priority. We welcomed participation from National Focal Points, indigenous and local community organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics and other interested parties.

We hope you shared your thoughts by following a few easy steps:

1. Sign up for a CBD user account.
2. Read the short abstract we have prepared.
3. Post your comments below.

The forum, which ended on 11 March 2009, was conducted in English, Spanish, and French. Each week, participants’ comments were summarized, translated and some follow-up questions were posted on the website. In the final week, participants received a draft working paper based on the various views provided throughout the course of the forum for final comment.

The paper resulting from this forum formed the basis of the working document requested by decision COP IX 13 A, to provide advice on how article 10(c) could be further advanced and implemented as a priority.

Summary of Week Three (25 February - 3 March 2009)

That was the final week of our online forum, and we invited everyone who had participated to review the abstract and postings from the previous three weeks and make final comments. We also welcomed comments from new participants.

Summary of Week Three:

1. A case study of the creation of marine and terrestrial protected areas by the Cree Community of Wemindji in order to protect customary and sustainable use;
2. A discussion of challenges and best practices arising from implementation of an environmental assessment process in Nunavut Territory, Canada, that incorporates mechanisms to consider sustainability and customary use in its design.
3. The need to address issues that may arise when customary use practices are documented by external researchers and agencies, and the need to recognize that some knowledge is sacred and cannot be formally documented.
4. A suggestion that Article 10(c) should be linked to some of the mechanisms discussed by the Working Group on ABS (access and benefit-sharing). In particular, it may be helpful to consider the African Group’s proposal for ‘community protocols’ through which ILCs can document customary use practices and outline guidelines for access by outside researchers and companies to TK and biological resources.

Summary of Week Two (18 February - 24 February 2009)

In week two of the forum, participant comments included:

1. The importance of encouraging national level stakeholders to consider the welfare of all citizens, not just their own interest group.
2. In relation to sport hunting and sustainable use, the hunting of polar bears has been contentious. Conflicting views highlighted the need for both collaboration and open-mindedness towards consumptive uses on the part of biologists, as well as effective community-based management systems. It may be more useful to focus on thresholds for maintaining resilience rather than on more constraining ideas of “traditional use.”

Summary of Week One (11 February – 17 February 2009)

Click here for a brief summary of comments from week one.

Questions for Discussion

There were no specific discussion questions for week four. Participants were invited to review the abstract as well as the discussion postings below and make final comments.

(Click here to view discussion questions from previous weeks)