Indigenous people (IP) fearing eviction from their ancestral domains have found an ally in Environment Secretary Gina Lopez. Conserving practicesMeanwhile, moves are underway to institutionalize indigenous peoples’ conservation practices. This is why eventually, we need to recognize their traditions to help in taking care of biodiversity,” Lim said. Ethnographic regionsThe project will be implemented until 2019 in 10 biodiversity areas in the seven ethnographic regions in the country: Mt. Ifugao representative Teddy Baguilat Jr., author of House Bill 115 or the Philippine ICCA Act, said the measure stressed the government’s recognition not only of indigenous ancestral areas, “but also indigenous knowledge and practices.”

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 26, 2016 18:45 UTC