Although their existence is as old and widespread as human civilisation itself, ICCAs have emerged only recently as a major phenomenon in formal conservation circles. International policies and programmes, notably those of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), encourage today all countries to recognise and support ICCAs as examples of effective governance of bio-cultural diversity. It is clear, however, that such recognition and support need to be carefully tailored, and cannot be improvised. IUCN/CEESP’s Briefing Note no.10 and this document of complementary resources offer advice about that, addressing governments, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities engaged in collaboration, support and joint learning about ICCAs. ICCAs are defined by the IUCN as “natural and/or modified ecosystems, containing significant biodiversity values, ecological benefits and cultural values, voluntarily conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities, both sedentary and mobile, through customary laws or other effective means”. This document describes important features that identify ICCAs which indicate that ICCAs are a subset of the areas and territories globally used and controlled by indigenous peoples and local communities, but a subset crucial for them and their culture, and for conservation. A diversity of traditional and modern institutions and rules govern ICCAs and there is variety in their motivations and objectives. The element of vulnerability is because state governments may not be comfortable dealing with unique institutions that may not fit a country’s current laws and procedural requirements. Many ICCAs qualify as protected areas (PAs), as defined in the CBD PoWPA or by the IUCN. ICCAs are not always or necessarily recognised as part of national protected area systems by the relevant government authorities or communities. Some communities prefer to maintain their ICCAs without any official PA status. Others believe that such recognition would prevent or mitigate a variety of threats and mobilise needed support. Marine / coastal ICCAs from Japan, Thailand, Madagascar, Philippines and Melanesia are given as examples.