|
WAMIP: World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples |
|
The World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP) is a global alliance of nomadic peoples and communities practicing various forms of mobility as a livelihood strategy while conserving biological diversity and using natural resources in a sustainable way. WAMIP is affiliated with CEESP and is currently hosted in CENESTA, the Centre for Sustainable Development (Iran) http://www.cenesta.org/. CENESTA will offer secretariat support to the Alliance during its transition period. |
| WAMIP would like to extend its deep gratitude to the Darrel Posey Fellowship. In 2004, WAMIP received a small grant from the Darrell Posey Fellowship for Ethnoecology and Traditional Resource Rights. The small grant is in the amount of $5,000 per year for 2005 and 2006, and is intended to support building capacity within WAMIP, and the realisation of its early program activities, including establishing this web site, creating background and support materials, and developing the network of participating groups and individuals. For more information on the Darrel Posey, please go to http://ise.arts.ubc.ca/DarrellPosey/index.html |
|
Vision
In such a world, mobile indigenous peoples will enjoy broad social recognition and respect. Enabling legal and policy environments will allow them to determine priorities and strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of their lands, territories and other resources based on their own tenure systems and customary laws. They will be free to maintain and develop their distinct identities and cultural values, and to exercise strong cultural traditions and customs, including social organisation, distinctive juridical customs, and appropriate educational approaches. In addition, they will be free to maintain and develop contacts, relations, and cooperation with other peoples across international borders and, as needed, engage in peaceful resolution of conflict with other peoples and countries. |
|
Mission The mission of WAMIP is to assist and empower mobile indigenous peoples throughout the world to maintain their mobile lifestyles in pursuit of livelihoods and cultural identity, to sustainably manage their common property resources and to obtain the full respect of their rights. |
|
History With the assistance of CEESP and TILCEPA, and financial support from UNDP, IIED, IUCN and the Dana Committee, 26 mobile peoples from four continents convened for the first time in in an international conservation forum during the 5th WPC in Durban, South Africa in September 2003. Participants took part in a preparatory pre-WPC workshop which led to a number of further workshops throughout the WPC. These meetings used the ideas expressed by the Dana Declaration (2002) With assistance from IUCN-CEESP, an Elder from the Kuhi sub-tribe of the Qashqai Nomadic Pastoralists of Iran attended the Congress. During the opening plenary, while representing all mobile indigenous peoples (MIPs), he delivered a very powerful and moving speech to the congress. This was the very first time mobile indigenous peoples gathered in an international forum where their voices were heard. The main outcomes of the WPC for mobile peoples were consensus on key priority actions and the role of mobile peoples in biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and the relationship of mobile peoples to protected areas (PA) and conservation professionals. The discussions of mobile peoples at WPC resulted in inputs into the Durban Accord http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/wpc2003/pdfs/outputs/wpc/durbanaccord.pdf and Action Plan http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/wpc2003/pdfs/outputs/wpc/durbanactionplan.pdf, WPC recommendations on Mobile Indigenous Peoples http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/wpc2003/pdfs/outputs/recommendations/ approved/english/pdf/r27.pdf and the endorsement in principle of the Dana Declaration. In February 2004 WAMIP members convene again at the 7th Conference of Parties (COP 7) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://www.biodiv.org/meetings/cop-07/ . WAMIP participated at this meeting in addition to the 19th Session of the Global Biodiversity Forum (GBF) http://www.gbf.ch/, which also took place in Kuala Lumpur prior to the COP 7. One of the topics of discussion at the GBF in Malaysia was "Mobile Peoples and Biodiversity Conservation" where WAMIP members discussed issues of landscape management and connectivity. Topics concerning mobile indigenous peoples' land, cultures, relationships with protected areas, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods were also debated. In addition to WAMIP's participation at the GBF and the COP 7, WAMIP members held the Alliance's second general meeting. These meetings entailed discussing organizational issues, membership structure, and future of the Alliance. WAMIP members sought mechanisms with which to ensure implementation of effective international projects and strategies for the mobile indigenous peoples to be better-heard and respected in the conservation community. WAMIP is currently composing its bylaws, and seeking to register the Alliance as an international organization in Switzerland. WAMIP at the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok, November 2004 Members of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples organised a workshop titled "Mobility Livelihoods and Conservation" on Friday November 19, 2004 at the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress in Bangkok. For more information, please go to the WAMIP News and Activities page. IUCN Resolution on Mobile Indigenous Peoples and Conservation Resolution CGR3.RES068 Mobile Indigenous Peoples and Conservation was submitted to the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress and approved with several amendments. This resolution endorses the Dana Declaration and highlights the value of the recently created World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP). It seeks to build on progress made at the World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa in September 2003 and at the meeting of the Convention of Biological Diversity in Kuala Lumpur in February 2004 where a political commitment was made “ to ensure necessary participation and equitable sharing of the benefits of protected areas, particularly with indigenous and mobile peoples, as well as local communities.†For more information on WAMIP activities, please visit the WAMIP News and Activities page, or you may contract the WAMIP Programme Officer Samira Farahani at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
|
First Congress, La Granja- Segovia, Spain September 15-18, 2007 Members of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP) convened to take part in the first WAMIP Congress in the La Granja localities near Segovia, Spain, from 15-18 September 2007. Participants included community elders, leaders and representatives of mobile indigenous peoples from over 50 different communities in 20 different countries spanning five continents. During the Congress, WAMIP members admitted new members, formulated policy and made decisions related to WAMIP affairs through a transparent voting process. Among the decisions taken were the election of a new WAMIP President, WAMIP Treasurer, WAMIP Executive Secretary, and 24 WAMIP officers representing different region. These officers will serve for the intersessional period until the next WAMIP Congress. Attending WAMIP members agreed to continue using the existing WAMIP logo unchanged, affirming after much discussion its representation of mobility and livelihoods as suitable. The newly constructed WAMIP Statutes were amended and adopted. |
|
WAMIP members also participated in the World Gathering of Nomadic and Transhumant Pastoralists, scheduled from 8-15 September 2007 just prior to the WAMIP Congress. During this event, about 200 pastoral representatives from 40 different countries gathered to exchange information and experiences and also to debate possible solutions to the problems faced by nomadic and transhumant herders around the world. |
|
The event coincided with the traditional transhumant migration of Spanish shepherds through Madrid en route to their winter pastures. Event participants from around the world accompanied Spanish herders and their animals as they crossed the city of Madrid on the royal shepherd road. WAMIP members had the opportunity to learn of the historical importance of the rich Iberian pastoral culture, as well as the 800 year-old legislation protecting the drover roads - with a total length of 125,000 kilometers and totalling more than 400,000 hectares - that guarantee the movements of mobile herds across the entire country. The outcome of the gathering included the Segovia Pastoralist Declaration (English Version) (Spanish Version). |
|
This gathering also coincided with the Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP8) held in Madrid from 3-14 September 2007. WAMIP members and other pastoralist representatives had the opportunity to read a statement to the COP 8 delegates calling for recognition of the important role of pastoralism as a sustainable land use system in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Message to the UNCCD: |