From the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Indigenous peoples have been the objects of violence, discrimination, and abuse for more than five centuries. Recent decades have eroded some of the cultural and geographical gaps between indigenous peoples and industrial society, but this erosion often benefits the latter at the expense of the former. Recent decades have also seen the worlds of conservation and indigenous peoples come closer and many times the proximity has been mutually beneficial. Regrettably, in some cases it has not.

Although often exaggerated and peppered with inaccuracies, "A Challenge to Conservationists" succeeds in highlighting complex relationships between the rights of indigenous peoples, land tenure and resource rights, and conservation. While we take exception to the misrepresentation of our on-the-ground work with indigenous peoples, we share the author's broader concerns.

For more than 40 years WWF has been a global leader in innovating and implementing solutions at the interface of humans and nature in over a hundred countries. We have evolved from an institution supporting small, isolated wildlife conservation projects to a global network tackling the root causes of biodiversity loss and advocating conservation at much larger scales. Only by addressing these complexities and working at large, ecoregional scales have we been able to deliver the results that bring us closer to our stated mission of building "a future in which humans live in harmony with nature."

While WWF was the first large conservation group to articulate and practice a policy affirming the central importance of working as partners with indigenous peoples, we are committed to learning from both our successes and mistakes. To that end, WWF has resolved to:

* Openly re-evaluate the WWF policy on indigenous peoples and strengthen its enforcement and monitoring mechanisms;

* Examine WWF's large scale conservation programs as they relate to indigenous and local communities to expand support for effective partnership approaches as well as implement changes where necessary; and,

* Listen more closely to the voice of indigenous peoples and ensure that their concerns are addressed in the design and implementation of WWF field projects.

WWF is on the ground in many of the very same places where indigenous communities are experiencing the most pervasive and most intense cultural change. We have come away from these experiences understanding that indigenous peoples and local communities are essential stakeholders in any conservation success. But it's not just about hearing the voice of stakeholders and obtaining consent. In fact, a lot of what we do in the field focuses on building local capacity and reflecting local knowledge, ownership, and pride in the practice of conservation.

In southern Chile, for example, we work together with Mapuche communities to strengthen their initiatives for sustainable forest use. In Namibia, we have worked with 14 different tribal groups to organize conservancies that improve management of their natural resources. We partner with local councils to organize community-based management systems in Amazonian and Philippine fishing villages. And, in Yu'pik villages along the Bering Sea, we work with indigenous educators to monitor toxicity levels and develop programs in ecological education.

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These are examples of the ways WWF embraces local human needs and aspirations as part of improving the ecological integrity of the planet. There are many more.

Drawing on this record, we're optimistic about working with others to find new and better solutions to complex human ecological problems. Our starting point will be the three institutional commitments outlined above.

To read our policy on indigenous and traditional peoples and for a more detailed discussion addressing the inaccuracies of "A Challenge to Conservationists," please visit our website at http://panda.org/people/worldwatch.

CARTER S. ROBERTS

Chief Conservation Officer, WWF-US

CHRIS HAILS

Program Director, WWF-International