10/10/2025
11:00 - 12:30
IUCN Africa
, Morning
Why attend
This High-level Panel will examine and unpack actionable ideas and approaches to help Africa rapidly and effectively decolonise conservation and make the transition to progressive, rights-based locally-led conservation approaches.
Session Description
The case for inclusive, locally-led and rights-based conservation can no longer be questioned—but its full realisation in Africa has been systematically undermined by a lingering neo-colonial fortress conservation narrative that undermines natural resource sovereignty, state policy making powers, and progressive approaches needed to support the true devolution of authority.Despite growing consensus within multilateral development agencies, the IUCN, governments, and conservation actors about the importance of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPs&LCs), making the transition from the fortress conservation model to the progressive rights-based conservation model that put local people at the centre of conservation, has stalled leaving millions of IP&LCs excluded and without secure land and resource rights, or meaningful voice and agency in decision-making forums.
This High-level Panel will examine and unpack actionable ideas and approaches to help Africa rapidly and effectively decolonise conservation and make the transition to progressive, rights-based locally-led conservation approaches.
Organized by
Eastern and Southern Africa Region
Partners
West and Central Africa Region
Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Session agenda
Speaker
Samwel SHABA
High-level Panel on Inclusive, Locally-led Conservation
Silvia MUSEIYA
High-level Panel on Inclusive, Locally-led Conservation