Indigenous peoples own 1/4 of the planet. Conservationists should listen to them.
87 countries.
7 continents.
38 million kilometers.
Indigenous peoples own or manage one quarter of all land on Earth, despite making up just 5% of the global population. And — even after hundreds of years of oppression, colonization, and displacement — their unique bond with nature perseveres.
The original guardians of nature, indigenous peoples rely on the natural environment for their physical, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing. Many indigenous cultures have a deep connection to their lands and waters that has translated into a long history of protecting nature. This legacy, coupled with their vast understanding of local landscapes, makes indigenous peoples some of conservation’s best allies.
Indigenous lands overlap with nearly two-thirds of the planet’s most remote regions, where damaging activities like farming and infrastructure development are few and far between. In these landscapes — vast forests, towering mountains, and sweeping wetlands — local communities are setting an example for managing resources in a way that benefits nature and human populations. A 2017 study showed that deforestation rates are 25% lower in indigenous-managed Amazonian forests, and 40% of government-recognized conservation land around the world is owned by indigenous peoples.
But partnering with indigenous peoples is not just a sensible conservation strategy; it is a moral imperative. Conservation efforts that do not take into consideration the aspirations and wellbeing of these communities are, in addition to being ineffective, unethical.
To ensure our efforts to care for the environment are effective and just, we must understand, value, and include the knowledge, beliefs, and aspirations of indigenous peoples in our work. In doing so, we just might inch closer to the vision we share: of a planet on which nature — every one of its building blocks and every one of its inhabitants — is cherished and protected both in principle and in action.
