What do land rights have to do with forests?

Lack of clarity over land tenure rights is at the heart of most legal and illegal forest destruction.

That’s why upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights is such an effective way of protecting forests. Yet Indigenous Peoples and local communities around the world continue to be dispossessed of their land, or denied their rights to it. 

Why Indigenous forest guardianship is crucial to climate action?

The planet’s survival depends upon protecting and restoring carbon-capturing ecosystems, such as forests. Numerous studies unequivocally show that Indigenous Peoples are nature’s best protectors. Even the scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have recognised Indigenous Peoples’ unique expertise in protecting nature.

Half of the world’s great forests are occupied by Indigenous Peoples. 

Forests managed by Indigenous Peoples store more carbon, and have the lowest rates of deforestation on the planet, including when compared with protected areas. Data from the Amazon rainforest, for instance, shows that deforestation is 40 per cent lower compared to comparable areas; in Bolivia the figure is about 35 per cent; and in Colombia, 50 per cent.

The message is clear: if we do not respect the land rights of Indigenous Peoples’ we cannot end deforestation. 
 

How are Indigenous communities affected by deforestation?

Indigenous Peoples rely on forests for food, shelter and medicines. They also depend on them for traditional hunting, gathering, and growing crops. 

The impact of deforestation on Indigenous Peoples can therefore be disastrous: displacing them from their homes and robbing them of the natural resources they need to survive.

Despite the widespread acceptance of the above fats, Indigenous Peoples and local communities with customary tenure rights are still being dispossessed or denied rights to their land. For defending their territories many face threats, violence and even death.

Indigenous rights to land must be protected.  

You are currently offline. Some pages or content may fail to load.