STOCKHOLM + 50 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DECLARATION
We, Indigenous Peoples attending the Stockholm+50 that commemorates the 1972 United
Nations Conference on the Human Environment and that marks 50 years of global
environmental action, after listening to the contributions in the program, present thefollowing Declaration.
We acknowledge that since the first Stockholm Human Environment conference in June 1972
50 years ago, there has been some progress. However, humanity has failed to comply withmany commitments regarding the environment. States has not yet delivered fully on thepromise of the first Stockholm conference. We cannot afford to not deliver at this one. We allface climate change, loss of biodiversity, hunger, land degradations, soil erosion, water
scarcity and pollution, among other issues troubling humanity. The degradation of ourenvironment is threatening our lives, our well-being and our safety. And it is threatening thelives, well-being and safety of our children.
Over centuries Indigenous Peoples have endured many difficulties including hurricanes,
earthquakes, floods, wildfires, diseases, and droughts. We know about resistance andcreativity. We keep our cultures, knowledge and food systems alive. We, Indigenous Peoples,
are not inherently vulnerable people. We are strong people. But the systemic lack ofrecognition and respect of our rights, our culture and the discounting of our knowledge haveplaced us in situations of vulnerability.
Our Indigenous Peoples’ institutions and scientific knowledge systems are based on ourworldview that values the inextricable link between humans and nature. This has been themain safeguard of the environment and biodiversity for future generations. The passage ofknowledge to new generations using our own language allows the transfer of complex
concepts and creates conditions for continuous innovation. Our governance systems,
anchored in participation, collective rights, social justice, equity, and inclusiveness, have kept
conditions of social peace that is much needed for the evolution and innovation in oursocieties.
Based on these livelihoods and way of life, we, Indigenous Peoples in our territories, manage
and sustain approximately 80% of the world remaining biodiversity, occupying 25% of theglobal surface. We still have sustainable food systems in parts of the world where we havedeveloped technology, knowledge and expertise to successfully deal with climate change. We
know how to regenerate our soil, restore ecosystems and how to help the water cycle. We
are delivering on our promise for living in harmony with nature. Now it is your turn.
Our own knowledge systems are often excluded from the design and implementation ofconservation and climate change measures and programs. Conservation is often done for us
and around us, not with us. It is about time to move in new directions. In Stockholm+50 therecognition of Indigenous Peoples and our role in the human environment is encouraging,but it remains just the beginning of a promising process. We must keep the momentum.

In the last fifty years, the centrality of institutionalized scientific knowledge alone to solve
our myriad of environmental challenges has failed humanity. Scientific knowledge andIndigenous Peoples’ knowledge can work and grow side by side. They are peers. Ourscientific knowledge has been useful in addressing the issues of climate change andbiodiversity loss in the various ecosystems over hundreds of years. We call for an effective
and immediate mainstreaming of our scientific knowledge into all relevant decisions andactions to address climate change, biodiversity loss and land restorations.
We, Indigenous Peoples, are ready to be full partners in the journey ahead. It is, therefore,
essential that you engage us as full participants in climate change, biodiversity and fight again
desertification decision making.
We, Indigenous Women, have played a fundamental role as holders of collective scientificknowledge and technical skills for agriculture, sustainable food production, conservation,and restoration and the transfer of these knowledges over generations. It is, therefore,
essential to promote concrete steps that directly support and empower our commitment.
We, Indigenous Youth, represent the present and future of our Indigenous Peoples. We playa key role in ensuring the continuity of our cosmogonic systems, scientific knowledge,languages, practices and ways of living. It is, therefore, essential that you hear our voices andsupport our meaningful participation in decision-making processes that affect our future.
We, Indigenous Peoples, uphold that there is a correlation between respect for our collective
rights and the protection of the environment that is well documented. This includes the rightto land, territory, natural resources and effective conservation outcomes. However, despite
international commitments to protect our rights, our rights continue to be denied in practice.
In denying our rights you are putting the continuation of successful conservation at risk. In
many places, too many of those of us who dare to fight for these rights and for theconservation of the natural resources on land and sea suffer increasing intimidation,harassment, stigmatization and criminalization. This is wrong. This is unacceptable. We
demand an immediate stop to such abuses. We demand an immediate stop to the murder ofIndigenous Peoples and environment defenders.
We welcome the $1.7 billion pledge in support of Indigenous Peoples made by governments
and private funders at COP 26 of the UNFCCC in Glasgow. However, we are concerned that
this pledge does not go far enough to adequately address the effects of climate change.
Effective responses to the challenges presented by global climate change requires a concerted
effort that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life and encompasses all ecosystems
impacted in the seven socio-cultural regions of the world.
We reaffirm that Indigenous Peoples are game-changers and guards of biodiversity aroundthe world. We are ready to participate with our practice, knowledge, expertise and wisdom.
We simply demand equity, equality, and inclusiveness in the process. We will continue to do
our part and to deliver on the promise of a truly sustainable planet.

We stand in solidarity with our Indigenous Peoples and Nations to call upon States, United
Nations agencies, intergovernmental development organizations, international financial
institutions including public and private and civil society partners to:
1. Recognize the existence of Indigenous Peoples within their borders and in thenational legislation with respect to their collective rights to lands, territories andnatural resources in accordance with the UN Declaration on the rights of IndigenousPeoples.
2. Ensure that Indigenous Peoples participate in consultations to give their free, priorand informed consent when formulating, adopting, implementing and monitoring
legislative, administrative measures, policy, programs, trade and investment decisions
and projects involving their lands, territories, and resources including the right to sayNO.
3. Take urgent measures to guarantee adequate and effective participation by IndigenousPeoples in the design and implementation of national plans for the transition to clean
and green energy.
4. Stop the imposition of “protected areas” on Indigenous Peoples’ lands without theirFree, Prior, and Informed Consent in the name of environmental protection.
Therefore, ensure a human rights-based approach to Indigenous Peoples’ rights toland, waters, territories and resources, governance, and secure customary tenure isessential for their continued contribution and significant role in achieving the post2020 global biodiversity framework. Indigenous Peoples’ land, waters, and territories
need to be recognized directly and as a category separate from Protected Areas or“Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures”, including recognition of theland rights of Indigenous women.
5. Call for protection and a halt to criminalization and killings of Indigenous
environmental rights defenders.
6. Respect the crucial role of languages, knowledge and cultural heritage in theeconomic development of Indigenous Peoples, as well as our entrepreneurship role
for the enjoyment of our rights to culture, language and scientific knowledge.
7. Give attention to the role of Indigenous Peoples’ languages in the preservation of foodand knowledge systems that are important to climate change adaptation andconservation strategies.
8. Request that the pledge-givers from COP 26 include Indigenous Peoples from allseven sociocultural regions as recipients, and redefine the scope of their commitment
so that the funding is not only for forests and land tenure, but also reflects IndigenousPeoples’ self-determination, building of alliances and the strengthening of Indigenous
Peoples’ local economies, governance systems and resource management strategies
and serve all the ecosystems.

9. We urge for more funding mobilization for the direct access to Indigenous Peoples
seven sociocultural regions to protect the biodiversity, fight climate change andrestore land and its various ecosystems to keep the Paris Agreement Goal of 1.5, stop
loss of our world’s biodiversity species and restore the land for food security andnutrition in accordance with the 2030 agenda.
We acknowledge the collaborative nature of the work we must do to save our planet and tosave our present and our future. Humanity has not delivered on the promise of a sustainable
future for all. Humanity is not living in harmony with nature. We call upon Member States,
UN Agencies, civil society and NGOs, the scientific community and the private sector for
better coordination and much greater action. We call upon you to stand in solidarity with us
and to respect and value us as essential partners, as we will value and respect you.
Stockholm, Sweden, June 3rd, 2022.