Purpose: To highlight the importance of respecting indigenous peoples and local communities in the trade and management of agarwood and other high-value plant species, aligning with international conventions, national laws, and ESG standards.
A. Legal and Ethical Frameworks
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
- National laws protecting ancestral domains and customary land use
- ESG and sustainability frameworks emphasizing community engagement and benefit-sharing
B. Key Considerations
- Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC):
- Communities must be fully informed and voluntarily consent to projects affecting their lands or resources
- Benefit Sharing:
- Equitable distribution of profits, capacity building, and local employment opportunities
- Cultural and Traditional Knowledge:
- Respect and protection of indigenous knowledge related to agarwood cultivation, harvesting, and processing
- Participatory Management:
- Involve communities in decision-making, monitoring, and enforcement activities
C. Practical Recommendations
- Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify affected communities
- Establish consultation protocols and consent procedures before initiating operations
- Implement benefit-sharing mechanisms aligned with local laws and community agreements
- Document all community engagements, consent forms, and agreements for transparency and accountability
- Integrate community rights into traceability and compliance systems
Learning Outputs
- Understanding of indigenous and community rights in natural resource trade
- Ability to apply FPIC and participatory management principles
- Knowledge of benefit-sharing, cultural knowledge protection, and ESG alignment
- Skills to integrate community rights into operational, compliance, and traceability frameworks