22. Finally, human rights law requires States to take special care to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of those who are most at risk from environmental harm. As the Human Rights Council has recognized, while the human rights implications of environmental damage are felt by individuals and communities around the world, the consequences are felt most acutely by those segments of the population that are already in vulnerable situations (see Human Rights Council resolution 34/20). Persons may be vulnerable because they are unusually susceptible to certain types of environmental harm or because they are denied their human rights, or both. Those who are at greater risk from environmental harm for either or both reasons often include women, children, persons living in poverty, members of indigenous peoples and traditional communities, older persons, persons with disabilities, national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and displaced persons. Many persons are vulnerable and subject to discrimination along more than one dimension, such as children living in poverty or indigenous women.

23. Indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable to environmental harm because of their close relationship with the natural ecosystems on their ancestral territories. Traditional (sometimes called “local”) communities that do not self-identify as indigenous may also have close relationships with their ancestral territories and depend directly on nature for their material needs and cultural life. Examples include the descendants of Africans brought to Latin America as slaves, who escaped and formed tribal communities. In order to protect the human rights of the members of such traditional communities, States have obligations towards them as well. The obligations of States towards indigenous peoples and traditional communities that are of particular relevance in the environmental context include the obligations to:

• (a) recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities to the lands, territories and resources that they have traditionally owned, occupied or used;
• (b) consult with them and obtain their free, prior and informed consent before relocating them or taking or approving any other measures that may affect their lands, territories or resources;
• (c) respect and protect their traditional knowledge and practices in relation to the conservation and sustainable use of their lands, territories and resources; and
• (d) ensure that they fairly and equitably share the benefits from activities relating to their lands, territories or resources