Every person on Earth has the right to food, water and a healthy environment — and to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Studies have found that when indigenous people are given rights to govern their land, biodiversity increases and more trees remain standing. Conservation efforts that neglect to take these rights into account, however, place individuals and communities at risk of losing their livelihoods and cultural identities.
Our role
Conservation International has trained, worked with and learned from indigenous peoples for more than 30 years. To ensure that our work respects the rights and voices of these communities and individuals, we use a “rights-based approach.” This means that from our on-the-ground field projects to international policy negotiations, we respect human rights, protect vulnerable groups and encourage good governance: the core principles of the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights, a group of global conservation nonprofits, including Conservation International.
Our solutions
Ensuring participation
From mapping protected areas to implementing land restoration plans, all conservation decisions must be made with nothing less than the full participation of the communities affected by these decisions. Conservation International and its Policy Center for Environment and Peace takes special care to make sure that everywhere we work, the rights of people — indigenous peoples, rural communities, men and women — are respected.
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Free, Prior and Informed Consent in context
Lack of land tenure — that is, ownership and decision-making power over land and natural resources — remains a stubborn problem for rural and indigenous communities around the world.
© Cristina Mittermeier -
Men and women: Partners in conservation
Gender roles and culture are often overlooked in conservation efforts. Through careful collaboration with communities, governments, partners and international agencies, we assure that the unique priorities of women and men are equitably represented in conservation decision-making.
© CI/photo by Daniel Rothberg
Training and information sharing
The free exchange of ideas and sharing of lessons between different sectors of society is imperative to the success of a “rights-based approach.” For this reason, Conservation International has created diverse training materials on key conservation topics — so everyone has the information they need to be part of the solution.
For example, to equip indigenous peoples and other local communities with the information and tools they need to face a changing climate, Conservation International designed a variety of manuals, presentations and courses. One specific toolkit provides local leaders with the information they need to train their communities to fully and effectively participate in ongoing efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change. The materials provide a global context for climate change and key issues related to adaptation, while giving trainers the flexibility to incorporate their own knowledge and experience to customize the information for a local audience.
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Conservation Stewards Program
In many parts of the world, communities don’t use natural resources sustainably — simply because there is no economic alternative. To break this cycle, our Conservation Stewards Program offers education, healthcare, wages and other benefits to local people who agree to protect important habitats.
© Cristina Mittermeier -
Global staff training
To assure that our staff has the tools and resources necessary to integrate human rights concerns into their work, we design workshops and training events tailored to specific regions and needs. Hear field staff from around the world explain why human rights are important to their work.
© Art Wolfe/ www.artwolfe.com -
Maasai woman inspires change in rural Kenya
Beatrice Lempaira, from the Maasai tribe in Northern Kenya, talks about her experience with Conservation International's Indigenous Leaders Conservation Fellowship. Through the fellowship, she was able to explore the involvement of Maasai women in rangeland management.
© CI/photo by Peter Stonier -
A collective voice for indigenous rights
Conservation International’s Indigenous Advisory Group provides essential feedback and advice for respecting indigenous peoples’ rights in all that we do. Hailing from Brazil, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia and Kenya, group members share their diverse expertise on indigenous rights and climate change.
© CI/photo by Sebastian Perry
What can you do?
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“Nature is part of our life”: Yance Arizona, from the...
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