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Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA)

Indigenous Peoples have cared for lands and waters since time immemorial. As original stewards, Indigenous Peoples’ leadership, knowledge and experience are essential to mapping a future where communities and Nature can thrive. 

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) play a critical role in conserving biodiversity and reducing the effects of climate change.

What are IPCAs?

The Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) report, We Will Rise, defines IPCAs as “lands and waters where Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems through Indigenous laws, governance and knowledge systems. Culture and language are the heart and soul of an IPCA”.

IPCAs can vary in many ways, but they share three essential elements: 

  • They are Indigenous-led
  • They elevate Indigenous rights and responsibilities
  • They represent a long-term commitment to conservation 

Indigenous Peoples are the most effective land managers. Indigenous-managed lands and waters span approximately 20% of the planet, yet support 80% of the world’s biodiversity. IPCAs support Indigenous cultural connection to the land and waters, encourage respectful and reciprocal interactions with the natural world, and help address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. IPCAs are a path forward to advance reconciliation and support biodiversity. 

IPCAs advance reconciliation efforts

Supporting IPCAs provides an opportunity for the BC and Canadian governments to advance reconciliation by recognizing and upholding Indigenous rights.

Government support for IPCAs includes:

  • Co-developing protected areas with Indigenous Nations
  • Establishing a legal framework to recognize IPCAs, and 
  • Providing continued resources to support Indigenous Guardian programs across BC and Canada

IPCAs recognize the intimate relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the lands and waters within their Territories. They provide opportunities for Indigenous People’s inherent right to govern their lands, water, wildlife and plants; practice their culture; and develop or use natural resources.

IPCAs help protect biodiversity

There are dozens of examples in BC where IPCAs are already leading the way to advance conservation on land and in the ocean.

Current IPCA proposals would add just over 9% to BC’s protected area land base. Added protection for millions of hectares of lands and waters would support vibrant networks of life, provide a haven for species at risk and create climate refuges for wildlife—all under the leadership of Indigenous Nations. 

IPCAs weave together Indigenous Knowledge and western science to protect biodiversity. Indigenous Knowledge—accumulated over thousands of years of lived experiences with the land— provides immense insight into how to support biodiversity. Using both knowledge systems strengthens efforts to address complex environmental issues like biodiversity loss.

How are IPCAs Created?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating an IPCA. However, Indigenous communities lead in every aspect, from designation to management planning, monitoring, enforcement, and more. 

No pathway currently exists to recognize or support IPCAs through provincial or federal legislation or policy. Indigenous Peoples have the right to self-determination and can establish an IPCA in their territories without legal recognition from non-Indigenous governments. Recognition and support, where requested, from BC and Canada would help support the creation of IPCAs. When invited, provincial and federal acknowledgement of IPCAs would ensure management plans are respected and help limit any expressed prohibited activities including mining, logging or bottom-trawling that can harm the environment.

Indigenous-led conservation signals a path toward a brighter future. Centering Indigenous Peoples at the forefront of land-use planning and decision-making in their territories helps uphold Indigenous rights to culture, land, and ways of life. 

How can you support Indigenous-led conservation?

Many Indigenous laws and cultures have deep connections to the health of Nature and biological diversity today. These teachings guide a balanced relationship with the land, water, plants, and animals in a way that ensures abundance for future generations. 

Fish, wildlife and their habitats are declining at an alarming rate globally and right here in BC. Over 1,600 species at risk call BC home.

IPCAs play a critical role to advance reconciliation, conserve biodiversity and reduce the effects of climate change as we all work together to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030.

Resources

By learning about Indigenous-led conservation and sharing it with others, your support starts here. Below are resources for further learning and actions to show your support for Indigenous-led conservation.

Further Reading

Thursday October 24th, 2019

Traditional territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, Victoria, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) congratulates the government of BC’s leadership to legally uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the province. The introduction of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, the first law of its kind in Canada, follows through on commitments to reconcile BC law with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

“This legislation is one step forward in a path to reconciliation that will lift up the existing efforts of Indigenous-led protection on land and in the ocean in BC,” says Jessie Corey, Terrestrial Conservation Manager at CPAWS-BC. “Bold action to stem the climate and biodiversity crises will only be achieved with the full collaboration and participation of Indigenous communities across Canada.” 

Recent movement towards designating a National Park Reserve in the nxʷəlxʷəltantət, South Okanagan-Similkameen is one example of successful collaboration between First Nations, provincial and federal governments. The recent signing of iʔ sc̓ax̌ʷtət, memorandum of understanding, between these three levels of government is based on the recognition of the title and rights of the Syilx people, and provides a path forward to reconciliation through conservation.

Earlier this year, land and wildlife conservation proposals from First Nations all across BC were submitted to the federal government as part of Canada’s investment in increasing the amount of protected areas in the country. These projects present an incredible opportunity for BC to work with First Nations to combat biodiversity loss in a way that honours Indigenous relationships to the land and rights to self-determination.

Across the country, Indigenous communities are leading the way in new forms of conservation – from the Edezhie Indigenous Protected Area in the Northwest Territories, to the proposed Kaska Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, Dene Kʼéh Kusān in northern BC.

“This leadership from Indigenous people sets a new foundation for future efforts in BC to safeguard lands and waters through new protected areas,” continued Corey. “With this new legislation, governments are creating a better path forward to a shared future with healthy landscapes and wildlife populations at the heart of it.”

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For interview, contact:

Skye Vallance 

Communications & Development Coordinator, CPAWS-BC

info@cpawsbc.org

604-685-7445 ext.22 

Resources:

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is dedicated to the protection of public land and water, and ensuring our parks are managed to protect the nature within them. Our vision is to establish large, intact areas of wilderness on land and in the ocean that can nurture nature through climate change and support all life.