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The Americas

Indigenous peoples across the Americas are facing significant challenges to their way of life due to a variety of factors, including extractivism, drug trafficking and land grabs. A key struggle across the region is for formalised titling of collective lands.

In the Americas, we partner with Chirapaq, Centre for Indigenous Cultures of Peru and the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampis Nation (GTANW) in Peru, who are working to address these issues.

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Mapping and Monitoring in Indigenous Territories

This film is made by six indigenous filmmakers from Asia, Latin America and Africa, about mapping and monitoring in indigenous territories. The film is designed to raise community awareness and looks into ancestral and technological approaches to mapping and monitoring, as well as the benefits…
30.09.24
Blog

‘Remarkable’ progress made towards incorporating traditional knowledge into the Biodiversity Plan

This article was originally published on the UNEP-WCMC website.   Countries must respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to achieve the world’s major international commitment on biodiversity, the Biodiversity Plan. This includes acknowledging Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ rights to nature and their…
05.07.24
Article

Now is the time for conservationists to stand up for social justice

This article was originally published in PLOS Biology by © 2024 E. J. Milner-Gulland.  Existing power imbalances and injustices could be exacerbated by large flows of international funding for nature recovery. Conservationists are still grappling with what social justice means in practice; a major shift…
04.07.24
Blog
workshop participants stand together

Experts work on assessing status of traditional knowledge indicators for the Global Biodiversity Framework

As part of the Transformative Pathways project, FPP and UNEP-WCMC, together with the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity, convened an Expert Workshop on Traditional Knowledge Indicators in Cambridge, UK, in March 2024.  The event brought together Indigenous experts on indicators, members of the…
20.05.24
Blog

Introducing a New Resource for Community-Based Biodiversity Monitoring

Originally published on ICCS.org.uk   In the face of escalating biodiversity loss and the urgent need for sustainable conservation practices, the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPs & LCs) has never been more critical. To ensure that their actions are recognised and supported…
07.05.24
Video

Community Video: Monitoring Paiche Fish Repopulation in Puerto Juan, Morona

Dashed lineThe community of Puerto Juan (Shinguito) in the Morona River basin mobilized a group of 12 people, with high participation from women, to manage the project component of Paiche fish repopulation. The group conducted a Paiche census in their oxbow lake using the plot…
30.04.24

Further info

Indigenous peoples in the Americas have a deep connection to the natural world and their traditional territories, which often overlap with areas of high biodiversity. However, they face significant challenges in maintaining their ways of life and protecting their lands and natural resources. 

One of the main threats to indigenous peoples and biodiversity in the Americas is the expansion of agribusiness, mining, and infrastructure development, which often leads to the destruction of forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems. This can have devastating impacts on indigenous communities, who rely on these resources for their livelihoods and cultural practices. 

Indigenous communities in the Americas also face threats from illegal hunting, fishing, logging and drug trafficking, as well as the impacts of climate change, such as droughts and floods. In addition, many indigenous peoples have historically faced discrimination and marginalization from governments and dominant societies, which has limited their ability to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lands and resources. 

Despite these challenges, many indigenous communities in the Americas are actively working to protect their lands and natural resources, often with the support of civil society groups and international organizations. These efforts include community-based conservation initiatives that promote sustainable land use practices, as well as advocacy and legal action to defend indigenous rights and territories. 

Migreth Berna López (22 years old), of the Yanesha people, in an exchange of knowledge. Community of Shiringamazu, district of Palcazu, province of Oxapampa, Pasco region, Peru.
Migreth Berna López (22 years old), of the Yanesha people, in an exchange of knowledge. Community of Shiringamazu, district of Palcazu, province of Oxapampa, Pasco region. Photo: Luisenrrique Becerra Velarde / CHIRAPAQ.
Wampis in assembly in Kankaim, Peru.
Wampis in assembly in Kankaim. Photo: Evaristo Pujupat / GTANW