CBD COP11 (8/10/2012) – Neema Pathak Groome of the Indian Environmental Action Group, Kalpavriksh, explains the role of NGOs in the biodiversity negotiations.

Groome goes on to outline the main area of focus for the ICCA alliance of NGOs this year: the role of indigenous peoples in conservation. She explains that conservation is essential for sustaining the livelihoods of rural communities and that is it essential for international policy to be carefully crafted to ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples are protected.

Groome asserts that the CBD has had reasonable success in this area, largely through the input and pressure of NGOs.