Although indigenous communities contribute the least to climate change, they are among those most dramatically impacted by it, because of their dependence on the land combined with social marginalization. But their subsistence-based livelihoods, combined with traditional knowledge and federal laws, puts them on the front line of resistance against deforestation, extraction and exploitation of natural resources, and expansion of unsustainable agricultural practices. By practicing their traditional management techniques, like agroforestry systems and crop rotation, indigenous people reduce carbon emissions while safeguarding their traditional way of life. Given that indigenous and community-owned lands represent 18 percent of all land area, including at least 1.2 billion acres of forest, incorporating their practices into “modern” management protocols will help reduce emissions and preserve biodiversity and is why Project Drawdown considers indigenous land management one of the top solutions for fighting climate change.

This collection contains stories (see below) with examples of a range of indigenous peoples’ activities.  In the Amazon rain forest, the Guajajara tribe is taking a stand against illegal logging and burning of the forest. In Ecuador, indigenous communities are harnessing GPS and mapping technology to show their deep knowledge of the land and make an argument for why it should be protected. Indigenous ranger programs in Australia and Canada employ indigenous people to caretake protected lands, and the positive impacts from indigenous land stewardship in Quebec are clear. In California, indigenous tribes are using traditional methods of prescribed burning to preserve land health while encouraging the growth of traditional foods and medicines, as well as revive traditional practices. This solution is one of the Drawdown Ecochallenge actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM STORY COLLECTIONS RELATED TO PROJECT DRAWDOWN. 

Coming in early 2021.

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