The Facilitating Agency for the Conference on Dense and Moist Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (CEFDHAC), whose Network of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Central Africa (REPALEAC) is a member of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), was actively involved in the organization of FIPAC 3 held in Impfondo in northern Congo.

 
Recognized and adopted by the ECCAS Ministerial Declaration of May 16, 2012 in Brazzaville, the third edition of FIPAC took place in the Republic of Congo in Impfondo from 4 to 7 March 2014, under the high patronage of His Excellency Denis SASSOU-N’GUESSO -President of the Republic of the Congo, under the theme: " Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Know-how and the Green economy in Central Africa."

 
The forum was organized by the Government of Congo, in collaboration with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) and the Network of Indigenous and Local Communities for the Conservation and Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC).

 
The objectives of the forum were:

 
- To assess the status of implementation of the recommendations of FIPAC 2;

-  To validate the System for the Economy of Traditional Know-how in Central Africa and the Programme of the Traditional Know-how Economy in Central Africa;

- To transfer the management and organization of FIPAC from the Government of the Republic of Congo to the ECCAS General Secretariat.

 
The event was held as part of the implementation of the System for the Economy of Traditional Know-how modeled on the system of assigning economic value to knowledge established within the General Secretariat of ECCAS.

 
The following were the main outcomes of the deliberations:
 
- The adoption of the Ministerial Declaration on the development and promotion of the Central African indigenous peoples’ traditional know-how economy,

- Validation of the post-FIPAC roadmap

- The formulation of several recommendations for the finalization of institutionalization of FIPAC and the materialization of the programme of the traditional know-how economy of in Central Africa

 
Through its contribution to the success of this edition of FIPAC, IUCN set the tone for the event with an extensive communication and awareness campaign with broadcasts on Radio Environment and RERAC member radios, and dissemination of briefing notes throughout in its various networks. Its impact was also felt at the technical and logistic level.
 
The IUCN made a statement at the beginning of the deliberations of the technical segment of the meeting reiterating its commitment to work hand in glove with the Central African countries to rally international partners and specialized agencies, financial, material and strategic resources for the implementation of the Support Programme for the development and promotion of traditional know-how of indigenous and local communities. It also urged the COMIFAC Member States through the sub-regional institutions, COMIFAC and ECCAS to actively support a strong turnout of indigenous peoples at the next Parks Congress to be held in Sydney, Australia.

 
Building on its experience and resources, IUCN has proved equal to the challenge by successfully completing support and facilitation missions for the benefit of partners such as ECCAS, COMIFAC and REPALEAC, a member network of CEFDHAC. This role has earned the IUCN recognition from Minister Djombo who thanked and commended the organization for its support.

 
To learn more about the content of this article, please contact:

MBENDA Rosette

Technical Assistant CEFDHAC

IUCN PACO Cameroon Country Program

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Yaoundé Cameroon

Rosette.MBENDA@iucn.org
www.iucn.org, www.worldparkscongress.org

 
Please download:

 
Communiqué final du segment technique du FIPAC 3

Communiqué final du segment de haut niveau du FIPAC 3