SRWA to Present at United Nations 2023 Water Conference
February 28, 2023
The Seal River Watershed Alliance will present at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference taking place in New York City from March 22-24.
SRWA will help shine an international spotlight on the role of Indigenous-led conservation in caring for lands and waters. And we will share our vision for creating an Indigenous Protected Area within the Seal River Watershed to conserve waters so clean we can drink right out of countless lakes and streams.
As stewards of a pristine watershed that spans over 50,000 square kilometres, we have a responsibility to conserve clean waters and the communities, cultures, and livelihoods they sustain. We will bring our knowledge and leadership to these global talks about the future of water on our shared planet.
SRWA representatives will be involved in two side events at the UN Water Conference. We will continue to update this page with dates and other details:
SIDE EVENT: Indigenous-led conservation for the health of water ecosystems in Canada and the world
Through a storytelling format, this event will focus on Indigenous-led stewardship—including examples of the Seal River Watershed Indigenous Protected Area and the Magpie River—as well as advancing reconciliation in science and research activities.
The event is organized by Environment and Climate Change Canada and will feature the Seal River Watershed Alliance, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the International Observatory on Nature’s Rights, Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, and Regional County Municipality of Minganie.
SIDE EVENT: Joint Commitments to transforming water governance, climate adaptation and biodiversity: Indigenous Peoples, Member States and the UN system
Traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples encompass many important headwaters, wetlands, coasts, and other waterways. Indigenous knowledge includes a deep understanding of source to sea connections and the relationships between marine and freshwater systems. And it has a deep understanding of water’s connection to livelihoods, food, culture, and language.
At this event, discussions will focus on Indigenous knowledge as a key driver of sustainable development solutions to respond to climate change and conserve biodiversity in the context of the new UNCBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UNFCCC Paris Agreement.
The event is organised by UNESCO and co-sponsored by UN Member States, UNDESA, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, Aborigen Forum, Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact, Caribbean Network of Indigenous Tribal Peoples, Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee, Stockholm International Water Institute.
