TMP

Date

2016-2019

Overview

We worked with the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Wyss Foundation to support global negotiations and conduct geospatial analysis for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Our research showed that land managed by Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) outperforms traditional protected areas in preventing deforestation. This highlights the essential role of IPLCs in conservation efforts. Additionally, we found that the cost of expanding traditional protected areas in countries like the Republic of Congo and Liberia is excessively high, making IPLC-led conservation a more viable option.

Key results

Our findings were pivotal in the Campaign for Nature and the RRI report, which influenced the global "30x30" target to protect 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030. This research contributed significantly to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, endorsed by 188 governments. The framework emphasizes the inclusion of IPLCs as key partners in conservation, a milestone welcomed by Indigenous groups globally.

Lessons learned

This work reinforced the importance of IPLCs in forest conservation and broader efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Engaging IPLCs as partners is both effective and cost-efficient compared to traditional "fortress conservation" models.

Partners

• Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)
• Campaign for Nature

Funders

• Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI)
• Wyss Foundation