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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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Wampis woman planting taricaya eggs, in the Puerto Juan Indigenous Community.

Recovering aquatic turtles in the Kankaim Basin, Morona

The taricaya and the charapa are the two most important species of aquatic turtles due to the contribution of their eggs and meat in the diet of the local population, as well as a source of economic income from the commercialisation of these natural products.…
01.09.23
Article

Processes promoted in the family

In June 2022, we began the implementation of the Transformative Pathways project, which works to support Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to lead and scale up conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. These actions will also serve to conserve and protect the natural environments where…
01.09.23
Article
Fiorella (37) and her daughter Yuliana (9) select the best cedar seeds that they store to reforest the edge of their plots.

“Inside the forest instead of planting, trees are being cut down”.

Fiorella Lopez Manchari is a 37-year-old Yanesha woman who lives in Unión de la Selva, Peru. Fiorella grew up with her grandmother until the age of seven when she had to migrate to Lima to work.   "All my life I have always liked to generate…
21.08.23
Article

Showcase on Indigenous contributions to biodiversity conservation

Transformative Pathways website launches The Transformative Pathways website, launched on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2023, is a platform to evidence indigenous peoples and local communities’ work safeguarding biodiversity across the globe. The website is a repository of information to ensure that…
09.08.23
Video

Facing Extinction, Defending Life

This film has been a co-creation between LifeMosaic, and many Indigenous leaders, filmmakers and advisors from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Polynesia. It tells the story of the threats to biodiversity, the climate emergency, and the rapid destruction of cultural diversity: an interconnected story of…
24.05.23
Blog
Group photo of the Transformative Pathways Annual Review and Planning Meeting, Included were community members from Thailand, indigenous representatives and staff from partners in Peru, Thailand, Philippines and Kenya, as well as staff from global supporting organizations. Chiang Mai, 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the project, reflecting on the previous year, plan for the next, share workplans, participate in capacity-building sessions on CBD international policy processes, workshops on sharing biodiversity monitoring experiences, and advocacy strategies. Photo by PASD.

First Transformative Pathways In-Person Meeting: Annual Planning and Review

The first in-person meeting of the Transformative Pathways consortium took place in Thailand in February 2023. Around 50 participants were present, including project partners, community members and Thai officials. The first day was focused on partner presentations which explored their visions for how this project…
22.02.23

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