The state of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ lands and territories
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current status and challenges faced by Indigenous peoples and local communities in managing their lands and territories. It highlights the importance of these lands for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and cultural heritage. This report supports investors in integrating biodiversity into investment decision-making by providing crucial insights into the stewardship of Indigenous lands. It informs engagement and stewardship activities with corporations, and, through the provision of data about the importance of these lands for the provision of ecosystem services, aids in assessing biodiversity impacts and dependencies, and highlights the importance of sustainable land management.
Please login or join for free to read more.
OVERVIEW
Background
The report examines Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ (IPLCs) lands and their critical role in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and sustainable development. IPLCs govern 32% of global lands, with 64% in good ecological condition, contributing significantly to ecological representation, climate resilience, and carbon storage.
Despite their contributions, IPLCs face increasing pressures from unsustainable development and lack of tenure recognition. This report uses a spatial analysis to quantify IPLC lands, assess their conservation values, and explore challenges and opportunities.
Legal and policy context
While international frameworks like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention 169 recognise IPLC rights, implementation is inconsistent. Overlaps between IPLC lands and protected areas often result in conflicts over governance and access. The study combines spatial datasets to identify IPLC lands, assess ecological condition, and overlap with conservation priorities. Key limitations include underrepresentation of IPLC governance and incomplete global data.
Global analysis
- Extent and biodiversity: IPLCs govern 43.5 million km², with 36% of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) overlapping their lands. Only 13% of IPLC lands overlap with non-IPLC protected areas, highlighting the independent role IPLCs play in sustaining ecological conditions.
- Ecosystem services: Nearly one-quarter of IPLC lands provide critical ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water provisioning, and climate resilience. IPLC lands store significant portions of terrestrial carbon, underscoring their importance in climate mitigation.
- Ecoregions and biomes: IPLC lands span 75% of terrestrial ecoregions, with 50% of the world’s 14 terrestrial biomes having over 30% of their area governed by IPLCs. Some regions rely entirely on IPLC governance for ecological integrity.
- Development pressure: Over 25% of IPLC lands face potential future development pressure from mining, agriculture, and energy production. Despite this, 80% of these areas remain in good ecological condition, underscoring their conservation importance.
National case studies
Ecuador
- Extent: IPLC lands cover 29% of the country and overlap with 46% of KBAs.
- Unique contributions: The Tigre-Pastaza region, 99% IPLC-governed, highlights the vital role IPLCs play in protecting ecologically significant areas with minimal state-protected overlap.
- Threats: 31% of IPLC lands are impacted by oil and gas concessions, with significant future development pressure.
Philippines
- Extent: IPLC lands cover 15% of the country, contributing to 25% of KBAs and overlapping with 8 of 12 ecoregions.
- Threats: High industrial presence, including 53 active power plants, places 23% of IPLC lands under future development pressure.
Both case studies illustrate the critical role IPLC lands play in biodiversity conservation and the urgent need for stronger tenure security to counteract development pressures.
Future research and recommended actions
Policy and governance:
- Formalise IPLC tenure rights and ensure recognition of their governance systems.
- Strengthen IPLC leadership in global and national conservation efforts.
- Acknowledge IPLC leadership in conservation within overlapping protected areas and explore shared governance models.
Capacity building:
- Provide technical and financial resources to support IPLC documentation, mapping, and monitoring of their lands.
- Ensure IPLCs have access to quality data and tools for effective land governance and conservation.
Conservation mechanisms:
- Avoid imposing protected area designations without IPLC consent.
- Recognise IPLC lands as part of conservation targets only with IPLC agreement.
- Expand conservation efforts into IPLC-governed marine and coastal areas.
Sustainable development:
- Mitigate future development pressures by ensuring free, prior, and informed consent for development projects.
- Promote sustainable livelihoods through long-term conservation financing.
Research priorities:
- Explore the impacts of tenure insecurity on conservation outcomes.
- Investigate the links between development pressures and human rights violations, especially for environmental defenders.
Conclusion
IPLC lands are pivotal for achieving global biodiversity targets, including the 30×30 goal. They maintain biodiversity, support ecosystem services, and safeguard cultural values. Recognition and support for IPLC governance are essential to ensuring the sustainable conservation of these critical areas for the benefit of nature and humanity alike. With IPLC lands storing significant carbon and spanning diverse ecosystems, their stewardship is crucial for climate resilience and global sustainability.
