At a time when land grabs, deforestation, and environmental changes continue to threaten Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), Cadasta Foundation is proud to launch Mapping Change: Local Voices of Land Rights and Resilience, a new webinar series designed to bring these communities’ powerful stories to the forefront.
The series aims to elevate the voices of those on the frontlines of land and resource rights. These are the communities not only experiencing the brunt of land-based conflict and ecological degradation, but also offering some of the most innovative and resilient solutions.
The webinar, set for June 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. EST via Zoom, will focus on a critical and inspiring theme: the integration of traditional knowledge with modern technology. We are honored to welcome a dynamic group of land rights leaders to help launch this important conversation:
Bridging Worlds: Tradition Meets Technology
Around the globe, Indigenous and local communities are increasingly blending traditional land stewardship practices with emerging digital tools. From the Amazon rainforest to the highlands of Southeast Asia, communities are using GPS devices, drones, and digital mapping platforms to document land boundaries, monitor environmental changes, and advocate for formal land rights.
These technologies are not replacing traditional knowledge—they are amplifying it. The June webinar will highlight how communities are embedding oral histories, customary laws, and community-led data collection into digital systems. This integration does more than create maps; it creates living records of cultural identity, land use, and ecological stewardship.
A Global Lens on a Global Issue
The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. Globally, Indigenous Peoples and local communities legally own less than 20% of their customary lands, even though they steward more than a third of the Earth’s intact forests and store vast amounts of carbon. Secure land rights are not only a matter of justice; they are essential to addressing the climate crisis, halting biodiversity loss, and achieving sustainable development.
When these communities can clearly document and assert their rights, they are better equipped to resist displacement, enforce conservation, and engage with governments and private actors on equal footing. Yet, documentation alone is not enough. It must be community-driven, culturally appropriate, and recognized by formal systems. This is where the work of organizations like Cadasta come into play.
Why This Matters Now
As global momentum builds toward land justice and environmental stewardship, we must ensure that local voices aren’t just heard—they are at the center of the conversation. The Mapping Change series will serve as a crucial platform for learning from grassroots leaders, sharing development models, and sparking dialogue between diverse stakeholders.
Cadasta invites allies, practitioners, funders, researchers, and policymakers to mark their calendars for June 4, 2025, and join this timely and necessary conversation. Together, we can explore how old wisdom and new tools can converge to protect the most vital resource of all: the land beneath our feet.