A group of interacting people living in and sharing a specific environment and place, and sharing common concern around local facilities, services, and environment and which may at times depart from traditional or state definitions. Such communities may attach particular meaning to land and natural resources as sources of culture, customs, history, and identity, and/or depend on them to sustain their livelihoods, social organisation, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Local communities may be legally or customarily known or designated using various terms, such as ‘traditional communities.’ Like Indigenous Peoples, they may use and manage land in accordance with customary tenure systems and associated rights and may depend on their land for cultural and physical survival. Due to their similarities, the Framework refers to both ‘Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ and requires the same processes and respect for the rights of both groups, including with respect to property and the right to give or withhold free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC; see definition).^*

^{* Source: Free, Prior and Informed Consent Guide for Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Members. RSPO Human Rights Working Group 2015}