{"id":89996,"date":"2022-06-30T14:08:25","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T12:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/?post_type=perspektiv&p=89996"},"modified":"2023-04-03T14:14:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T12:14:06","slug":"eu-lov-der-skal-redde-naturen-har-glemt-dem-som-passer-pa-den","status":"publish","type":"perspektiv","link":"https:\/\/edu.danwatch.dk\/en\/perspektiv\/eu-lov-der-skal-redde-naturen-har-glemt-dem-som-passer-pa-den\/","title":{"rendered":"EU deforestation law ignores the people who actually protect our forests"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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To reach global climate goals and halt the loss of biodiversity, it is essential to protect the areas that absorb and store CO2, as well as host the majority of the world\u2019s biodiversity \u2013 forests, and especially, rainforests.<\/span><\/p>

This has also been acknowledged by the EU, who have proposed a new <\/span>regulation<\/span><\/a>, which will give European companies increased responsibility in ensuring that they do not contribute to deforestation. The legislation will require that companies do not import products like coffee, cocoa, and beef, from areas that have been cleared of forest.<\/span><\/p>

This is an important step, as the EU is the <\/span>second largest<\/span><\/a> importer of deforestation globally, explains Margrete Auken, a representative from the Green party in the European Parliament.<\/span><\/p>

There is just one crucial element which the European Commission has forgotten in the draft regulation: the indigenous peoples, who according to research, experts, and the UN, are best at protecting nature.<\/span><\/p>

After the regulation was proposed, 22 indigenous groups sent an <\/span>open letter<\/span><\/a> to the EU, where they made it clear that the proposal as it stands, does not protect their rights \u2013 and without that, the law will fail in its aim to end deforestation, they warn.<\/span><\/p>

In the open letter, the EU is urged to change the regulation, so European companies are obliged to respect indigenous peoples\u2019 land rights. Additionally, they request that the EU acknowledge the important role that indigenous peoples play in protecting the worlds forest, and the threats that companies pose to indigenous peoples livelihoods.<\/span><\/p>

The open letter has received support from a host of NGO\u2019s who work with promoting indigenous peoples rights.<\/span><\/p>

According to Stefan Thorsell, an expert in climate and environment at IWGIA, an international organization fighting for indigenous peoples interests, European countries firstly need to live up to the content of the declarations, that they themselves have been part of creating and adopting in the UN, that seek to protect indigenous peoples.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBut additionally, in a cynical way, we also need to acknowledge that we will not be able to end deforestation, if indigenous peoples rights are not protected\u201d, Thorsell emphasizes. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t