“The Forest Dialogue’s Initiative on Forests and Climate Change, a 250-person coalition of governments, environmentalists, timber companies, trade unions, financial institutions, and indigenous peoples, released five “guiding principles” [PDF] in a joint statement at the World Conservation Union (IUCN) World Congress in Barcelona on Wednesday.”

“Conservationists want to prevent us from using our forest lands for economic purposes, and businesses have government concessions to extract ore, water and biofuel from lands that have been ours for generations,” said Tony James of Guyana, President of the Amerindian Peoples Association. “We have been hearing more and more about the carbon trade, but indigenous people are not being included in the discussions. We want to know: who will own the carbon, and what will be the impact on us?”

“The Global Forest Leaders Forum on Forests and Climate Change will convene approximately 150 CEOs of forest industrial companies, heads of leading conservation agencies and local community organizations, leaders of indigenous people groups, representatives of financing institutions and private foundations to review forest sector strategy options for addressing climate change through multi-stakeholder approaches. The Forum will develop and adopt a common vision for the positive role sustainable forest management can play in addressing climate.”

“The Forests Dialogue’s Initiative on Forests and Climate Change brought together more than 250 representatives of governments, forestry companies, trade unions, environmental and social groups, international organizations, forest owners, indigenous peoples and forest-community groups in a series of meetings over 10 months. For the first time, the group has agreed on five guiding principles for climate change negotiators.”