Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IP & LCs) collectively manage a staggering 50% of the world’s land and hold 80% of the world’s biodiversity and 22% of the world’s total carbon in forests. Yet, shockingly, only 10% of their lands are legally recognized and protected.
A growing body of research showcases the myriad climate benefits of IP & LC managed land, including lower deforestation rates and better-preserved biodiversity, water, and other natural resources. Despite these proven advantages, IP & LCs face persistent challenges to their land claims. Land grabs, encroachments, and environmental degradation not only jeopardize their lands and cultural heritage but also contribute to the destruction of the very forests and biodiversity these communities have historically nurtured.
Fortunately, more governments and policymakers are waking up to the evidence that securing IP & LCs land rights is a front-line strategy in the global fight against the climate crisis. At COP26, governments and other international donors made unprecedented pledges totaling $1.7 billion to address Indigenous land tenure. However, the actual flow of resources has been slow, with only 7% of the funding directly reaching affected communities and Indigenous groups as of December 2022.
While financial resources are crucial, the path to legal titling is complex and varies in each country. Even where laws favor Indigenous rights, a lack of political will, distrust of the government, and insufficient human, legal, and technical resources plague community efforts to get the job done.
A powerful solution gaining traction among Indigenous and local community leaders is the use of digital Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technologies. These tools help communities gather digital data required for legal land claims while also enabling real-time mapping and monitoring of critical assets such as biodiversity, forest cover, natural resources, and human settlements. Furthermore, these technologies allow communities to monitor and track potential threats to their land—such as mining, logging, forest fires, drug trafficking, and encroachments—enabling them to safeguard their territories more quickly and effectively.
There is a great deal to learn from the work done over the past decade by Indigenous organizations and communities deploying geospatial and digital technologies as tools in the fight for land rights and the protection of their territories. Take Geoindigena, a dynamic group in Panama founded by young Indigenous leaders and technologists dedicated to tackling the technical challenges of securing legal land titles. They have a clear vision: to create a geodatabase and empower their communities with data-driven insights for better decision-making on vital issues like land use, carbon markets, governance, and climate change. The co-founder shared: “Our ancestors and abuelos were not educated like we are, but they had a territorial vision. We want to use our skills and technology to carry that vision forward.”
Even with improved technical tools and capacity, many Indigenous communities face challenges in navigating land administration systems and government agencies while ensuring data privacy and ownership. To address these challenges, Cadasta Foundation directly supports Indigenous and traditional communities with GIS mapping technologies, training, and services as part of an initiative supported by funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Land For Climate and Forest Rights. Our approach goes beyond mapping; it enhances the capacity of IP & LC organizations to leverage their data for legal titling, decision-making, and climate action. This includes fortifying their ability to navigate complex government systems while also advancing initiatives related to carbon sequestration and ecosystem services. By deploying grants, training, and direct support services to our IP & LC partners, we acknowledge that they are the best resource to protect their community lands.
A partnership between Cool Earth and Cadasta, the Rainforest Labs project exemplifies how Indigenous knowledge, technology, and training can converge to safeguard the Amazonian territories effectively. Despite having legally recognized land claims, these communities face significant inequalities and challenges in protecting their forests. This initiative equips the Awajún and Asháninka communities in Peru with real-time data, satellite information, and biodiversity monitoring, empowering them to combat threats like forest fires, drug trafficking, and illegal logging. Since beginning work in 2022, the project has trained Indigenous mappers who have generated vital data for 1,000 community members who preserve 11,000 hectares of rainforest and 5 million tonnes of carbon. This data has enabled these communities to respond to 5 major forest loss alerts and document 203 species on the IUCN red list.
Geoindigena and the Rainforest Labs project exemplify the transformative potential of Indigenous knowledge and technology in safeguarding forests and natural resources. These examples should ignite broader recognition of the value of community and Indigenous wisdom. It is time for a collective effort to respond to Indigenous and community requests for practical, technical support that will make a difference in securing their legal rights and protecting the land and natural resources they have stewarded for generations. Although technology is only one tool in the fight for equitable land and resource rights and protection of our climate, Indigenous Peoples and local community leaders need continued support as they harness its power to realize their own visions for a sustainable future.