About Community Land Summit (CLS) 2024

About CLS 2024

The Community Land Summit 2024 is co-convened by IMPACT Kenya and PARAN Alliance; in collaboration with other partners. This year’s theme focuses on Sustainable Development Goals 10 and 13: Climate Action and Reduced inequalities-enhancing indigenous peoples’ collective bargaining power towards carbon markets. Carbon trading has emerged as an economic venture focusing on indigenous peoples’ lands and territories. History has shown that human rights violations and inequalities occur where huge amounts of money are involved.

The Community Land Summit 2024, will bring together indigenous peoples, pastoralist communities, hunter-gatherers across East Africa, civil society organizations, county and national government, private sector, researchers and academia, and other developmental partners. Stakeholders will strategically deliberate and dialogue on current issues in Indigenous peoples’ lands and territories, carbon markets and the need for collective bargaining within the sector, renewable energy, effectively analyze the existing legislations, benefit-sharing modalities, and the role of women and minority groups in the carbon markets space. 

Over 200 Indigenous people’s community delegates will be invited to actively participate in the dialogue. The conference is planned for November 13th to 16th 2024 at the Kisimani Eco Resort, Isiolo County. Plenary discussions will be organized to deliberate on the mentioned topics. The climax of the summit will be the UN International Day for Tolerance celebrations at the same venue.

Summit Objectives

The witnessed and anticipated exponential growth of carbon markets in East Africa, brings both opportunities and risks, particularly to Indigenous and Local communities residing in lands and territories targeted for carbon offset projects, often centred around nature-based solutions. The gap in comprehension, coupled with the expanding market attracting less credible actors, heightens the risk of dispossesion and human rights violations as carbon prices rise.

The summit’s overall objective is to provide a strategic avenue for Indigenous peoples and local communities to deliberate on current issues affecting their lands and territories, carbon markets, and the need for collective bargaining.

  • Inclusive Dialogue and Exchange: Cultivate an inclusive environment for dialogue and exchange of experiences among diverse stakeholders, including Indigenous representatives, local community leaders, policymakers, researchers, and environmental experts for meaningful community involvement in decision-making processes related to carbon markets- (FPIC) principles.

  • Enhance Understanding and Transparency: Increase the understanding of communities living on lands involved in carbon markets while promoting transparency in project processes to ensure fair compensation and prevent adverse effects.

  • Risk Mitigation and Human Rights Safeguards: Identify and address potential risks associated with carbon markets, particularly those that may lead to dispossession and human rights violations.

  • Advocacy for Secure Land Tenure Rights and broader policy changes: Advocate for secure land tenure rights as a fundamental component of climate resilience, cultural preservation, and sustainable development for Indigenous Peoples and Local communities and demand policy changes at the national and international levels to ensure fairness, transparency, and equitable benefits in carbon markets

  • Collective Action and Strengthening Voices: Strengthen collective Indigenous and Local community voices to strategically engage carbon credit actors, advocate for transparency, renegotiate benefit-sharing mechanisms, and promote the security of land tenure rights.

Expected Outcomes

Community Land Summit 2024 Venue

The 2024 Community Land Summit conference is planned for November 13th to 16th 2024 at Kisimani Eco Resort, Isiolo County.