Cali, Colombia, October 29, 2024. –Global Affairs Canada announced today an investment of $7 million CAD into the basket of the Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative (PODONG) today, at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia. This critical funding will support the first wave of actions for PODONG, a groundbreaking initiative focused on catalysing conservation action led by Indigenous Peoples and creating a path for enhanced direct access to finance.
PODONG, a collaborative effort co-designed, co-created and co-led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), and the IUCN Indigenous Peoples Organisations (IPOs) members, was initially unveiled at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, after Indigenous elders and leaders joined their minds and hearts with IUCN’s Anita Tzec to create an initiative that would guarantee the long term governance and leadership of IPs in achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework. PODONG embodies a transformative approach that places Indigenous Peoples at the heart of efforts to protect and sustainably manage ecosystems critical to climate resilience and biodiversity.
- The first set of actions to be funded by this investment will focus on:
- Scaling-up Indigenous-led conservation actions in Indigenous traditional territories and communities in Guatemala, Panama, Tanzania and Nepal.
- Building sustainable livelihoods through ecosystem stewardship; by supporting projects that strengthen Indigenous economies rooted in sustainable, biodiversity-friendly, and Indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
- Empowering Indigenous voices in global biodiversity governance. The funding will enhance Indigenous Peoples’ participation in international dialogues and negotiations, ensuring their rights, perspectives and priorities shape biodiversity policies.
- Form the new cohort of Indigenous leadership; by developing a long-term mentorship program through which Indigenous youth, including young Indigenous women and girls, will work hand-in-hand with seasoned IP leaders and elders, to listen, learn and engage in biodiversity-related policy negotiations at the global level.
This announcement at COP16 reflects the growing global recognition of the unique role Indigenous Peoples play in conservation. PODONG aims to be a catalyst for intergenerational environmental stewardship while putting Indigenous rights, cultural heritage and knowledge systems at the core of the Initiative.
Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development of Canada, said:
“Canada recognizes that biodiversity loss poses a fundamental threat to people, the planet and the global economy. We share the environment and depend on it for our livelihoods, survival and well-being. Canada’s support of Indigenous Peoples, women and girls and all actors working to counter biodiversity loss will help ensure our communities and ecosystems are resilient and able to thrive.”
“As IUCN, Canada and Indigenous partners celebrate this monumental milestone, at IUCN, we see this first contribution to the PODONG basket as a testament to the power of co-creation and collaboration in achieving meaningful outcomes for people and nature. With Indigenous Peoples in the lead, PODONG will be a driving force for an inclusive future that both protects and nurtures biodiversity and heightens the power of Indigenous cultures and knowledge. As a Union, we are proud to be a key partner in shifting the conservation paradigm alongside Indigenous Peoples, who share the vision of a just world that values and conserves nature,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and IUCN President, said:
“As we stand at a pivotal moment for both biodiversity and climate, it is crucial that Indigenous Peoples lead the charge in protecting the ecosystems that sustain us all. The PODONG initiative represents a transformative model, where Indigenous knowledge and stewardship are central to achieving global conservation goals. Canada’s support demonstrates the power of collaboration to deliver lasting solutions for nature and communities. This is how we build a future that is equitable, resilient, and nature-positive, leaving no one behind.”
“To conserve biodiversity and reduce the impacts of climate change, it is essential to create financial mechanisms that reach Indigenous Peoples directly. That is why Podong becomes a strategic initiative that will respond in a timely and proper manner to the implementation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity framework,” said Ramiro Batzin, co-chair of the IIFB and IUCN vice-president.
“As part of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and as an Indigenous woman, I’m so proud of Podong. We Indigenous Peoples accepted it, formulated it and discussed it. And today we are here launching it. We are ready to start our work and make a difference on the ground, at the local, national, regional and global levels. We urge our partners, our people, to make sure that the basket gets filled and continue working collectively,” said Lucy Mulenkei, co-chair of the IIFB and IUCN IPO Member.
With this step forward in PODONG, Dr. Anita Tzec, Maya leader and Senior Program Manager on Indigenous Peoples and Conservation at IUCN, reminds us that, “like the sacred corn rooted deep in ancestral lands, finance for Indigenous Peoples must honour the wisdom and cycles of the Earth. Each seed, when trusted to Indigenous hands, becomes more than food; it’s a legacy—of investing in the right Saqb’e (path), growing in harmony with the land, multiplying in abundance, nourishing the community, and sustaining the sacred balance of Mother Earth.”
Scaling up, she emphasizes:
“Is not just about access; it’s about nurturing the seeds of self-determined governance and growth, as each kernel holds the spirit of resilience, reciprocity, and renewal of our planet.” She invites other brave donors, partners, and changemakers like Canada, to place their investments in the right basket- in PODONG, fostering a future where Indigenous wisdom flourishes and continues to sustain the intricate web of life.
