As Cadasta marks 10 years of advancing land and resource rights, we continue our Mapping Change webinar series by highlighting how local mapping efforts contribute to global biodiversity and climate goals. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2025
10:00 AM (EST) | 4:00 PM (CET)
Register today 

This next installment will spotlight the work of two of Cadasta’s partners; 

• Karen Environmental Social Action Network (KESAN): Led by Paul Sien Twa, recipient of the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize, KESAN has pioneered Indigenous-led conservation and community resilience in Myanmar.
  
• Unidad Indígena del Pueblo Awá (UNIPA): A collective in Colombia dedicated to protecting ancestral lands and safeguarding biodiversity against growing environmental pressures.

Through their leadership, these communities demonstrate how secure rights and community-driven data are essential to protecting forests, conserving biodiversity, and building resilience in the face of changes in climate and the environment. 

The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Rohini Chaturvedi, Cadasta board member and global expert on land-based solutions to the climate crisis centering Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Dr. Chaturvedi also serves as the Focal Point for the Tenure Facility in India. 

Why Local Mapping Matters for Global Biodiversity and Climate Goals

This year, Cadasta marks 10 years of advancing land and resource rights. As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded that secure land rights and community-driven mapping are not just local victories—they are global imperatives.

All over the world, Indigenous peoples and local communities are on the frontlines of biodiversity protection and climate resilience. They safeguard forests, rivers, and ecosystems that store carbon, regulate water cycles, and sustain life. Yet their contributions often go unrecognized in international climate negotiations or biodiversity agreements.

That’s where initiatives like our Mapping Change series come in working to elevate the voices and innovations of our partners who are driving change from the ground up. Their stories matter not only for their own communities, but for all of us. Their work underscores a vital truth: there is no path to global climate and biodiversity targets without Indigenous peoples and local communities at the center.

As we look ahead, Cadasta remains committed to providing the tools, partnerships, and visibility that enable these communities to map, secure, and protect their rights. Because when they succeed, the world moves closer to achieving its shared commitments to sustainability and justice.

We invite you to join this global conversation through our Mapping Change webinar series and to help us celebrate 10 years of mapping change together.