Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee FSC is committed to working with Indigenous Peoples by upholding their ownership, use, and management rights across their landscapes. What is the PIPC? The Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) is FSC's advisory body ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at the highest level of FSC decision-making: the FSC Board. It was established in 2013 by motion 19, following a decision of the 2011 FSC General Assembly. The PIPC is made up of Indigenous representatives from every region where FSC operates, advising the Board on policy, standards, and how Indigenous knowledge and rights are reflected in forest stewardship. Engaging with Indigenous Peoples The PIPC advises the Board of Directors on how to enhance the engagement of Indigenous Peoples in FSC-certified forest stewardship. This means reaching out to Indigenous Peoples across platforms. It also means acknowledging the value of Indigenous knowledge, land rights, authority, and traditional practices, and incorporating them into forest management. Ultimately, the PIPC assists the FSC Board in helping the original custodians of the land participate in certified forest stewardship so they can increase the market share and value of their forest businesses in ethical, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable ways. How many regions does the PIPC represent? Five regions, each split into two subregions, for ten total seats.The current representatives are:Anglophone Africa: Samante AnneFrancophone Africa: Aissatou Oumarou IbrahimAsia: Praful Lakra Oceania: Te Ngaehe WanikauEurope: Niila IngaRussia: Olga Kostrova Latin America: Central America, and Mexico: Héctor AnguianoSouth America: Nadia GomezCanada: David FloodUSA: Election pendingHow does the PIPC influence FSC decision-making? The PIPC advises the FSC Board on how Indigenous knowledge, land rights, and traditional practices are incorporated into forest stewardship standards and certified forest management.
