04/29/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2021 15:31 Consult with Indigenous Peoples before Making Decisions That Affect Them, Speaker Tells States, as Permanent Forum Continues Session Indigenous peoples - guardians of nature - must be consulted before States greenlight development projects, members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues stressed today, as the body concluded a discussion on its six mandate areas - economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights. Phoolman Chaudhary (Nepal) highlighted the need for States to consult with indigenous peoples before making decisions, especially on development projects that affect them. He called for greater attention to the issue of indigenous languages disappearing and urged States to remove hazardous chemicals from indigenous lands.