"Indigenous peoples or their representatives should have a voice in and a vote on the decision-making body of the (Forest Carbon) Partnership Facility and of other climate funds," the delegates said in one of several recommendations adopted by consensus.

They called on states not to displace or chase indigenous peoples out of their forests, "which may be triggered by projects funded" by the World Bank's proposed Forest Carbon Partnership Facility.

The Facility aims to assist developing countries in their efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and land degradation.

The delegates also said that in line with a declaration on indigenous rights adopted by the UN Assembly last September, "indigenous peoples must not be excluded and should be centrally involved and benefit from, in deciding forest policies and programs at all levels."

Indigenous peoples, according to a World Bank report, contribute "the smallest ecological footprints" on earth, but suffered the worst impacts from climate change and mitigation, said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, who chairs the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues.

This year's session drew some 3,000 indigenous representatives and other delegates, including parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, acedemics, diplomats and officials of UN agencies and other inter-governmental organizations.

The main theme was "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges."

Indigenous peoples say their lands and territories are endangered by mineral extraction, logging, environmental contamination, privatization and development projects, classification of lands as protected areas or game reserves and use of genetically modified seeds and technology.

Last September, the General Assembly adopted a non-binding declaration upholding the human, land and resources rights of the world's indigenous people.

But Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, countries with sizable indigenous populations, refused to support the text, citing concerns over provisions on self-determination, land and resources rights and giving indigenous peoples a right of veto over national legislation and state management of resources.

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