The Case for Cumulative & Indigenous-led Impact Assessments
An introduction to Indigenous-led Participatory and Cumulative Impact Assessments (IPCIA)
"Land is the foundation of the lives and cultures of Indigenous Peoples all over the world… Without access to and respect for their rights over their lands, territories and natural resources, the survival of Indigenous Peoples’ particular distinct cultures is threatened.
1. Background to IPCIA
- The IPCIA method is the result of more than 12 years of experience in participatory impact assessment for and with Indigenous Peoples in Sápmi.
- The indigenous consultants within Protect Sápmi have been engaged in numerous numbers of IPCIA – close to 20.
- ASI's interest in the method was sparked after an ASI Certified Entity was affected by an IPCIA investigation in Norway.
- The method has been described in a Guidance document , published in a collaboration with the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative.
2. How it works in the ASI context - IPCIA and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
3. Types of Impact Assessments
There are many different types of impact assessment such as:
- Environmental impact assessment.
- Social impact assessment.
- Business impact assessment.
- Economic impact assessment.
- Human Rights impact assessment.
An IPCIA is carried out to primarily create a basis for affected Indigenous Peoples to be able to make their own informed decisions in an FPIC process. Basis for giving, withdrawing or giving a modified consent to a proposed activity.
4. What makes IPCIA unique?
1.
The work with an IPCIA is led by trained Indigenous Peoples, with the right cultural and linguistic knowledge, together with the affected Indigenous Peoples.
2.
The work is always based on a cumulative perspective because most Indigenous Peoples are not only affected by a single encroachment problem.
3.
The method is largely based on the traditional knowledge of the affected Indigenous Peoples about their land, their culture, their ecosystem services, their ICL.
4.
Modern science also has a role in the work, but in combination with traditional knowledge.
5.
The method measures how the traditionally practiced ecosystem services are affected, taking into account both people, landscapes and the culture that is prevalent among the concerned Indigenous Peoples
6.
Together with the affected Indigenous Peoples, all impacts to which the affected Indigenous People are exposed are mapped in a participatory mapping.
5. IPCIA in practice - Sápmi, Norway
The Öyfjellet case
- In 2019, the Sami reindeer herding district, Jillen Njaarke, contacted Protect Sápmi regarding the plans to build a wind power park within the district that would affect reindeer husbandry.
- Jillen Njaarke wanted help from Protect Sápmi to carry out an impact analysis, an IPCIA, that would describe the planned wind power park’s impact on reindeer husbandry.
- Neither the companies concerned nor the authorities in Norway had carried out a real FPIC process where the affected Indigenous Peoples have been heard for their criticism and for the great impact the current project will have on their ability to exercise their traditional activities.
Step 1 - gathering information
- The concerned rights holders explain what the case is about and what they want help with. In this case, it is about a company wanting to build 72 turbines in an area that is actively used by the reindeer herding district.
- The planned wind farm with its turbines will be one of the largest in Norway. The affected area for the installations is a connecting area between different seasonal pastures and important migration routes run through the area. In our IPCIA terminology, we call the planned wind farm a primary object.
Mapping the primary object and its influence
Mapping the primary object's (wind power park in green) disturbance zone of 5 km (dashed area) plus influence of connection roads of 1 km.
Step 2 - process agreement
- A Process Agreement is drawn up and signed by the parties (the reindeer herding district and the wind power company).
- The process agreement may include; Timelines, frequency and location of meetings, financial commitments, use of advisers, dispute resolutions, secrecy issues, intellectual property and more
Step 3 - description of Secondary Objects
- The next step in the process is to map and describe all Secondary Objects that are significant for the affected reindeer herding district.
- For each Secondary Object, an assessment is made of the impact this Object has, that is, which area of influence is relevant.
- These zones of influence are established by considering both modern research and traditional knowledge.
- This is an important step to be able to perform the cumulative analysis.
Examples of Secondary Objects:
- Roads
- Powerlines
- Buildings
- Railroads
- Mines
- Hydropower
- Future plans of industrial activities
- Infrastructure
Mapping the secondary objects to show the cumulative perspective
Mapping the primary object (yellow shaded area) tells only a part of the impact story. Mapping secondary objects alongside other known impacting activities demonstrates the cumulative perspective.
Calculation of affected and unaffected area in relation to seasonal pastures
Seasonal grazing, cumulative situation including Øyfjellet | Km2 | Share |
---|---|---|
District Total area affected | 4213 2254 | 100% 54% |
Total area of winter grazing Impacted winter grazing | 949 688 | 100% 72% |
Total area of spring grazing Impacted spring grazing | 948 487 | 100% 51% |
Total area of summer grazing Impacted summer grazing | 2065 601 | 100% 29% |
Total area of autumn grazing Impacted autumn grazing | 1095 559 | 100% 51% |
Results
- The IPCIA investigation showed that the reindeer husbandry in Jillen Njaarke would be very negatively affected by the planned wind farm despite proposed adaptation measures
- Authorities and the wind power company did not take this into account.
- The wind farm was built and started operations in 2022, which led to public demonstrations.
- The case is now under legal review where the IPCIA investigation forms an important part of the evidence to be assessed.
- An ASI-Certified Entity that draws its power from the wind farm will undergo a re-certification audit in the coming year. It remains to be seen whether the wind farm in question will be considered as an associated facility and regarded as part of the assessment of the Performance Standard criteria, and how this may be considered in relation to other contextual circumstances and issues, including the impacts of climate change and the increasing need for renewable energy sources.
Read more about IPCIA
Find out more on the ASI website: www.aluminium-stewardship.org