The World’s Best Forest Guardians: Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples and local communities have an unsurpassed connection to the Earth's forests.
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Indigenous peoples have an unsurpassed connection to the Earth’s forests. They manage at least one quarter of the world’s lands, home to approximately 80 percent of our planet’s biodiversity. Even with their often-limited access to financial resources or legal support, Indigenous peoples have proven to be the best guardians of the world’s forests.
The Rainforest Alliance has always made it a priority to partner with—and learn from—Indigenous peoples. We support the conservation efforts and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples through our landscape and community programs, by providing technical assistance and facilitating market connections for their businesses, which are rooted in their traditional ecological knowledge and exemplary land stewardship practices.
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Warmi Awadora: An ancestral tradition gives Indigenous Peruvian women an economic boost
Watch this video to learn about Warmi Awadora, a brand of Kichwa women weavers in Peru who are improving their livelihoods while preserving their cultural heritage.
Indigenous Community Forest Enterprise in the Peruvian Amazon
Watch this video about the people of Madre de Dios, who have developed forest-friendly enterprises that support conservation and guard against environmental threats.
Join Forest Allies
Learn about how the Forest Allies community of practice can help your company recognize Indigenous peoples as effective forest stewards and future business partners.
Integrated Community Forest Management Position Paper
Read this paper to discover our principles and strategies for stopping forest degradation and supporting forest communities in vulnerable tropical regions.
Our Work: Indigenous communities
The Rainforest Alliance's Work in Peru
Peru: Where indigenous knowledge, climate science, and global markets meet.
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Sustainably harvested wood is at the heart of this new business run by indigenous Maya women.
Indigenous and Local People Lead Major Conservation Initiative in Mexico
An innovative new project puts indigenous and local communities in the driver's seat.
All resources for Indigenous communities
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Guatemalan Indigenous Entrepreneur Meets with Kamala Harris
A longtime participant in our programs in Guatemala met with Vice President Harris.... Continue Reading
Protecting the World’s Forests Takes a Village—and Then Some
Climate change and inequality are inextricably bound, and we need to recognize that who owns, controls, and benefits from natural resources determines the future of the land—and the communities who call it home.
The Deforestation Solution That Not Enough People Are Talking About
Giving indigenous communities legal title to their land has been shown to be more effective at protecting forests than declaring them national parks.
The Rainforest Alliance’s Work in Peru
Peru: Where indigenous knowledge, climate science, and global markets meet.... Continue Reading
Indigenous Women Launch a Furniture-Making Business in Mexico
Sustainably harvested wood is at the heart of this new business run by indigenous Maya women.... Continue Reading