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Context:

• The solutions offered by indigenous tribal communities in Rajasthan to global challenges, and their role in the execution of policies were highlighted at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development at the United Nations headquarters in New York over the weekend.

High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development

• It was held in United Nations headquarters in New York.
• The forum was held under the auspices of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• The theme was ‘Reinforcing the 2030 agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: The effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions’.

Highlights from the Forum

• A ministerial declaration adopted at the forum called for renewed impetus to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• N. body promised to continue to make multilateral efforts to fulfil the promise to “leave no one behind” in the implementation of SDGs.
• The forum underlined the significance of acknowledging indigenous communities for their solutions in the context of biodiversity and ecosystems.
• The best practices of tribals highlighted at the forum included the production of local seeds, water conservation at source, use of animals in agriculture, checking soil erosion through mixed cropping, and the use of uncultivated food for nutritional security. These practices have helped tribal communities reduce their dependence on the market and survive during the difficult phases, including the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21.
• The forum also highlighted that the indigenous communities should be globally engaged in the formulation of strategies, which could offer vital insights into sustainable development through traditional practices.

United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

About	●It is a subdivision of both the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is responsible for the entire organization's policy on sustainable development. ●The Forum replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development on the 24 September 2013
Headquarter	●New York, USA
Role	●It adopts negotiated declarations, reviews commitment and the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs or Global Goals).
Meeting	As the Forum is held under the authority of both the Economic and Social Council And the General Assembly, the body hosts two different types of meetings: ●While under the auspices of the General Assembly: Once every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government for a period of two days. ●While under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council: Yearly, for a period of eight days, including a three-day ministerial segment.

Who are Indigenous people?

• There is no precise definition of Indigenous communities.

The World Bank states,

• "Indigenous Peoples are distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live, occupy or from which they have been displaced."

The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (ILO Convention No. 169), states that the convention covers:

• “peoples in independent countries who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, or a geographical region to which the country belongs, at the time of conquest or colonisation or the establishment of present state boundaries and who, irrespective of their legal status, retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions.”
• Indigenous Peoples have a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies on their territories.
• They maintain distinct cultural identities, social institutions, and legal systems.
• Examples include tribes in India like Gonds, Santhals, and Bodos, who are also known as Adivasis or janajatis.

How Indigenous people are important for environmental conservation:

Dependence on Natural Resources:

• Indigenous Peoples rely on natural resources for their livelihoods, cultural practices, and spiritual well-being.
• Land and natural resources are integral to their identities and physical sustenance.

Environmental Stewardship:

• Custodians of biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples practice sustainable lifestyles that are harmonious with nature.
• They employ traditional ecological knowledge to manage and conserve ecosystems.

Preservation of Traditional Knowledge:

• Holders of unique knowledge on sustainable practices, including traditional medicine and agricultural techniques.
• Oral traditions and practices passed down through generations without a written script.

Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Goal 2 (Zero Hunger): Preserve biodiversity and cultivate resilient crops adapted to local climates.
• Goal 13 (Climate Action): Mitigate climate change impacts through sustainable land use practices.
• Goal 15 (Life on Land): Protect and restore ecosystems crucial for their livelihoods and cultural practices.

Major Challenges they face in environmental conservation:

• Education and Empowerment: Lack of access to quality education and opportunities for skill development.
• Gender Inequality: Women often face barriers to decision-making and economic opportunities within Indigenous communities.
• Access to Basic Services: Limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services.
• Atrocities and Discrimination: Indigenous communities often face violence, land rights violations, and marginalization.
• Environmental Impact: Vulnerability to environmental disasters such as forest fires, exacerbated by climate change.
• Health and Safety: High rates of diseases, displacement due to development projects, and lack of access to healthcare.

Case Study from Rajasthan ●The tribals in Rajasthan had adopted an innovative approach guided by sustainable and resilient solutions across environmental, social, cultural, and economic systems. ● Vaagdhara, working on the tribal livelihood issues in southern Rajasthan, recently organised over 90 events in the region as part of its movement for preservation of indigenous seed varieties to restore links between crop diversity and climate resilience. The tribal farmers took a pledge at these events to save indigenous seeds and use them in their regular agricultural practice.

Conclusion

• Drawing from the principles of swaraj (sovereignty), tribals’ lifestyle and cultural values have led to self-sufficiency, less dependence on external sources, and enhanced agricultural practices, which ensure food, nutrition and livelihood security for their families. Indigenous people should be incorporated in all action plans to recognise and overcome challenges that impede their engagement in various programmes.
• Traditional practices of tribal communities would not only fulfil their own aspirations, providing them with sustainable and resilient solutions, but would also help address the issues of poverty, inequality and vulnerability, in order to potentially advance the 2030 agenda for SDGs.

Important articles for reference :

Indigenous Territories

Sustainable Development Goals.

United Nations Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues

Sources:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/role-of-rajasthans-tribal-communities-in-meeting-global-challenges-highlighted-at-un-event/article68428765.ece#:~:text=The%20solutions%20offered%20by%20indigenous,New%20York%20over%20the%20weekend.
• https://slxlearning.com/role-of-indigenous-peoples-for-sustainable-development-goals/

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements with reference to United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF):  It is an attached office of the United Nations Environment Programme. The Forum is held once every two years. It reviews commitment and the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Answer: a