Did you know?
Indigenous peoples and local communities protect more than 50% of world's land surface, but only have formally recognised ownership to just over 10%.
At ILC we jointly commit to...
Secure territorial rights for Indigenous Peoples
"For us, it’s important to be given formal land titles, not so that we can feel like owners, but to protect our territory."
-Teddy Guerra Magin, leader of the Quetchua community of Nuevo Andoas, Peru.
Defending the planet has never been more deadly for indigenous peoples.
Data released by Global Witness shows that 40% of the land and environmental defenders who lost their lives in 2019 were from indigenous communities.
Securing the land and territorial rights of indigenous peoples is critical, not just to protect their lives, but to create more equitable and prosperous societies and to honor the contribution they make in protecting our planet's biodiversity.
Indigenous peoples have a special relationship with their lands, territories and resources, as they are central to their cultures, livelihoods, spirituality, identity, and their continued existence as distinct peoples.
Evidence shows that forests managed by indigenous peoples and local communities store 37.7 billion tonnes of carbon - more than the world’s 2013 emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes
It's clear, the role that indigenous peoples have played as guardians of our planet benefits all of humanity.
But more importantly, it is their right to be there, to have peace of mind and a sense of security over their lands, territories and resources.
Learn more from ILC's toolkit on indigenous peoples and community land rights
what we do
SECURE INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITY LAND RIGHTS CONTRIBUTE TO FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
Download this brief fact sheet
Winner of the International Land Coalition Award in 2018, the Ogiek indigenous peoples won a historic court battle against the Kenyan government.
Click on a video, meet a member!
From colonialism to COVID-19, indigenous peoples show resilience in the face of evictions
8 August 2020
Read More
Indigenous Peoples Secretariat key ally in demarcation and titling of indigenous territories
17 July 2015
Read More
ILC Toolkit #5: Indigenous Peoples and communities land rights
26 April 2018
Read More
land and environmental defenders attacked at higher rates than previously thought
22 April 2022
Read More
From colonialism to COVID-19, indigenous peoples show resilience in the face of evictions
8 August 2020
Read More
Risks to indigenous and other land and environmental defenders heightened during COVID
7 August 2020
Read More
#LandRightsNow campaign against criminalization of land defenders
21 November 2019
Read More