Statement of Indigenous Kahu’âina Guardians of Sacred Lands

Representatives of several indigenous peoples and nations from countries around and within the Pacific ocean issued the declaration in the context of the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress. From the shared values for Peace, the well-being of Mother Earth and the responsibility of maintaining the spiritual duties towards Mother Earth, the declaration calls for renewed recognition to sacred lands and waters of indigenous peoples, supporting IUCN Motion 26, which links the universal value of World Heritage Sites, protected areas, sacred natural sites and conserved territories, as permanent “No Go Areas” for mining and other damaging extractive industries. Moreover, the declaration requests to develop a special category of protection for indigenous sacred natural sites and territories.(Summary extracted from the article)