By Heidi Burgess, Senior Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships 

This June, I had the privilege of attending my first Global Land Forum, hosted in Bogotá, Colombia by the International Land Coalition, where I witnessed firsthand the power, courage and conviction of farmers, fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendant delegates, local leaders, youth, and women, all fighting to protect their land, and with it, their children’s futures.

“Land is life.” It’s not just about property; it’s about food, water, culture, climate resilience, and intergenerational justice. At Cadasta, we often talk about the technical aspects of mapping and monitoring, but at the heart of our work is our mission to support human dignity and environmental sustainability. 

Land is also a key that opens multiple doors to opportunity, to peace, to climate solutions, and to cultural continuity. But for too many communities around the world, that key remains out of reach. This truth was proclaimed during Colombia, Latin America, and Caribbean Day on June 16,  “Land is culture, history, personality, and identity—and the next generation still has not received their vital inheritance.” Land tenure has a foundational role in building more just and equitable societies. 

Cadasta’s Panel: Bridging Technology and Traditional Knowledge

Cadasta hosted a panel during the third day on how technology can complement, and in some circumstances, revive the communal understanding of local traditional knowledge. Alongside our panelists, Wahyubinatara Fernandez, member of Jaringan Kerja Pemetaan Partisipatif (JKPP) from Indonesia, and Hugo and Merougia Jabini of the Association of Saamaka Communities (VSG) from Suriname, we explored how communities are using digital tools to map sacred sites, document oral histories, and advocate for recognition of their land rights. 

There is power in the participatory mapping exercises in bridging generations: youth bringing their digital skills, while elders are passing on their ancestral knowledge, and together, they are creating living, community-owned maps that reflect cultural identity and historical land use. 

As Hugo from VSG shared, “Mapping proves this is a living area and part of our identity. We have a spiritual binding to it.” Wahyubinatara from JKPP echoed this, saying, “Tech is a bridge, not a replacement for traditional knowledge.” 

We also heard thoughtful concerns that digital tools must be culturally appropriate, affordable, and that data must be owned by the communities themselves. Data privacy and long-term sustainability matter. These are principles we take seriously at Cadasta, ensuring communities decide what is mapped, how it is mapped, and how their data is used and protected. 

Voices of Resilience and Resolve

Throughout the Forum, we heard support for the 11 Colombian peasants who were facing legal proceedings for opposing a local mining project. The group joined inhabitants of the region and environmentalists who protested against the copper, gold, silver, and platinum project, in its destruction of local water sources, critical to the health of the land and the agricultural livelihoods of the area. The farmers were eventually released on June 16, contrary to the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, which demanded house arrest, and charged them with the crimes of kidnapping, aggravated theft, damage to property, and personal injury. 

The situation was a direct example of the global food and climate paradox: that smallholder farmers and fisherfolk—the communities most vulnerable to environmental change—are among the most deeply connected to the land and water, and best positioned to lead sustainable, locally grounded solutions yet are often excluded from decisions made on the land. In a stark reminder of current injustices, on Land Defenders Day, we recognized the 196 people who were murdered for defending their lands and livelihoods in 2023.

Looking Ahead: Land as a Foundation for Justice

As the world prepares for COP30, one thing is clear: we cannot address climate change, food insecurity, or conflict without addressing the issue of land and involving all the voices that care for it. Inclusive land governance and secure land rights provide a roadmap to peace, biodiversity protection, and community resilience. But only if the process includes the variety of voices that care for it, especially women and youth. 

I’m proud to be part of a team supporting community-led efforts with tools, training, and solidarity. To everyone I met in Colombia, thank you for your vision, strength, and for inviting Cadasta to partner in your goals for your future.

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