On this 41st Cordillera celebration day, a highlight moment of exchange but above all connection between the various communities that make up the Cordillera, we, the Province of East Flanders, gladly confirm our solidarity and support for your call to respect the basic rights of the Cordillera people and your strive for a lasting sustainable management of ancestral lands.
Sustainable use of the available natural resources is a crucial element in this, and a true challenge for governments worldwide. The International Institute for Sustainable Development states that these resources are still too often considered mainly as a means for economic development, resulting in overexploitation, threat to livelihoods and wellbeing of people who depend on these resources, and the health of ecosystems. It also emphasizes that if we really choose for sustainable development, decision-making must take into account the vision and needs of women, indigenous people, and local communities.
In a world with alarming figures on declining biodiversity, climate changes and ecosystems getting under pressure, we realize all too well how important it is to support Indigenous Peoples given their important role in protecting significant natural areas and preserving biodiversity. Many international organizations confirm: 80 % of the world’s biodiversity and 25 % of all tropical forest above-ground carbon is found within indigenous lands. A recent World Bank study adds to evidence of Indigenous Peoples’ historic reliance on ancestral knowledge, cultural practices, and strong governance systems to sustain their communities and adapt to challenges. Secure land rights and access to basic services are key to their resilience and to their continued stewardship of the world’s ecosystems.
That’s why our partnership between “The Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera” (CDPC), a consortium of Cordillera development NGOs, the East-Flanders NGO Solidagro, and the Province of East Flanders has invested in sustainable development in the Cordillera for 30 years now, with at least 438 micro socio-economic projects in more than 250 communities. These interventions came about thanks to the collective efforts of the local communities, and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices with improved yields, access to healthcare and other basic services, such as drinking water. In recent years, attention has also grown for more sustainable energy sources, such as solar-powered drinking water systems, or solar lighting within communities.
During our latest visit to the Cordillera region in 2023, we shared the concern, not only of the local communities but also of experts about the plans of the Philippine government to intensively invest in series of hydropower dams in the region. The multitude of separately awarded projects and the lack of publicly available environmental impact studies of the entirety of these interventions fuel fears of a drastic impact on the hydrogeography, economy, and lifestyle of the communities.
Therefore, we welcome the initiative to organize an environmental summit during these days, and hope that this exchange will bring about important insights, inspiration, and united strength to jointly provide answers to the challenges, in the interest of all Cordillera people, now, and future generations.
We continue to stand by your side to face these challenges
Joke Schauvliege
Deputy of the Province of East Flanders