Indigenous Communities deserve Climate Finance | Shylina Lingaard, VIDS | Access Granted Campaign

Meet Shailina Lingaard, a member of the Lokono tribe, also known as the Arawak tribe in Suriname. She represents the Bureau Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname (Bureau Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname) as known as VIDS. VIDS advocates for the legal recognition of Indigenous collective rights.
Climate change poses significant threats to Indigenous ways of life, including extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and prolonged droughts. These impacts affect health, food security, ecosystems, biodiversity, and even force community relocation, leading to the loss of traditional cultural practices and Indigenous knowledge.
Indigenous communities in Suriname have not yet accessed climate finance. However, VIDS, with donor support, has implemented projects focused on climate change awareness and research.
Shailina believes that access to climate finance could have positive impacts on Indigenous communities. Such funding would empower Indigenous people to advocate for land rights and participate in decision-making processes at national and international levels.
Although Indigenous peoples constitute less than 5% of the global population, they play a crucial role in preserving 80% of the world’s biodiversity, acting as protectors of forests, water, and wildlife.
Indigenous livelihoods contribute zero carbon emissions, making it imperative to support Indigenous rights and initiatives. She calls for the inclusion of Indigenous People in policymaking and for opportunities to share their experiences and knowledge.
Shylina endorses the Access Granted campaign.
To support the Campaign visit: shorturl.at/UjIjg
To learn more about VIDS visit: www.vids.sr/
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