Appointment of indigenous ambassador

Joseph Itongwa Miukumo, a defender of the rights of Congolese indigenous peoples, was appointed on Monday, October 26, 2026, among the six first ambassadors of indigenous peoples for primary forests, on the occasion of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), taking place in Yerevan, Armenia.

Itongwa's reaction to the appointment

"For me, it is an honor, but above all, it is a recognition that I dedicate to the efforts of our indigenous communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo Basin," Itongwa said in an interview with Mongabay on Tuesday, October 27. He emphasized the collective efforts of these communities to preserve the forests, ecosystems, and biodiversity of Central Africa.

Selection criteria and supporting organizations

Announced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this distinction, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Forum on Forests, recognizes six individuals selected for their contributions to the protection of primary forests. Among them is Maimuna Jawara, a Gambian indigenous leader committed to promoting traditional knowledge and women's leadership.

Ceremony and recognition event

Joseph Itongwa (far right), alongside the other indigenous ambassadors for primary forests, during the recognition ceremony held at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 26, 2026. Photo by Alice Matthew / IIFB. This recognition comes as governments gathered at COP17 examine progress toward the goal of protecting 30 percent...

Source of the article

This article was originally published on Mongabay.