Advancing Human Rights in Conservation: A Unified Approach
Efforts to conserve nature must recognize human rights.
As people everywhere navigate a rapidly changing climate and accelerated biodiversity loss, we must embrace a new path that embeds human rights in our approach to conservation. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has long recognized that conservation efforts must respect and promote human rights, ensuring that all communities, especially Indigenous Peoples, women, children, and other marginalized groups, can secure their livelihoods, enjoy healthy environments, and live with dignity.
Since 2023, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Office of Human Rights process to develop the 10 Core Human Rights Principles for Conservation Organizations and Funders. These principles, created through extensive consultations with Indigenous communities, rights-based organizations, international conservation organizations, and private funders, provide a universal baseline for integrating human rights into conservation efforts globally.
TNC's commitment to these principles is unwavering. Our Respecting Human Rights Policy, approved by our Board of Directors in 2022, underscores our dedication to upholding human rights across all our projects and partnerships. As a founding member of the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights (CIHR), TNC is actively involved in operationalizing these principles, ensuring they are not just theoretical but practical and actionable.
One of our key initiatives is developing a human rights due diligence process, an early warning system to identify potential human rights concerns. This process, along with our Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework, helps us avoid, mitigate, and minimize adverse impacts of our conservation projects. Additionally, we are adopting best practices from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and implementing a grievance mechanism system. This system provides an independent way for impacted communities to raise concerns, ensuring accountability and transparency.
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Sign UpOur work in human rights is not confined to a single team or project; it is a comprehensive effort that involves changing our policies, practices, and culture. We are committed to providing guidance, training, and standards for TNC programs and partnerships, using our voice to support these principles globally.
As we move forward, TNC will continue to collaborate with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to develop standards for implementing these human rights principles among its 1,400 member organizations. This collaboration will further strengthen the confidence of our partners and funders in our commitment to human rights.
TNC's role in advancing human rights in conservation is a journey of continuous improvement and dedication. By integrating human rights into our 2030 Goals, we can create a more just and sustainable future for all.
