Summary of the Action:
The Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) Working Group (WG) will complete a review and analysis focused on identifying potential approaches to enhance the implementation of Polar Bear Range States (PBRS) commitments relating to the participation of Indigenous peoples and inclusion of ITEK in international polar bear conservation (e.g., statements made in the 1973 Agreement, the 2013 Ministerial Declaration, and the 2015 Circumpolar Action Plan (CAP)). The review and analysis will consider the successes and challenges encountered to date by the PBRS and informed by both the compendium of guidelines and schedule of studies. The ITEK WG will develop recommendations for the Head of Delegations (HoDs) related to enhancing the inclusion of Indigenous peoples and ITEK in implementing the CAP and 1973 Agreement. The recommendations may also consider planned future activities of the PBRS, if appropriate.
Action Lead:
Participants:
The Polar Bear Range States and invited specialists of the ITEK Working Group (see here)
Duration of action:
November 2023 - October 2025
Deliverables/ output:
D1: Report: A review and analyses to identify potential approaches to enhance implementation of PBRS commitments to inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and participation of Indigenous peoples (Draft completed in 2024, Finalized report completed in 2025)
D2: Recommendations to the PBRS HoDs on how to include Indigenous Peoples and IK in implementing the CAP and 1973 agreement.
Milestones:
M1: Draft report presented to the HoD on the potential approaches to enhance implementation of PBRS commitments to inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and participation of Indigenous peoples across all relevant objectives of the PBRS CAP 2023-2025 Implementation period (2024).
M2: Final report presented to the HoD (2025).
Mechanism of completion:
Deliverables will be presented to HoDs and may be considered for online publication.