The World’s Best Forest Guardians: Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples and local communities have an unsurpassed connection to the Earth's forests. ... Continue Reading
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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
Article
The Rainforest Alliance's Work in Peru
Peru: Where indigenous knowledge, climate science, and global markets meet.... Continue Reading
Article
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
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Indigenous and Local People Lead Major Conservation Initiative in Mexico
An innovative new project puts indigenous and local communities in the driver's seat. ... Continue Reading
All resources for Indigenous communities
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Videos
Who Are the Best Guardians of the Forest?
Indigenous and local communities manage almost a quarter of the world’s lands, which means they care for an astonishing 80 percent of Earth’s biodiversity.
Videos
Can We Grow Food in Harmony with Nature?
What if farming not only fed people, it also nourished the land? With regenerative agriculture practices, farming can do just that. Planting native trees and shrubs, for example, improves soil fertility; improving soil fertility makes crops more productive and resistant to pests; eventually, pesticides can be eliminated.
Article
The Rainforest Alliance’s Work in Mexico
We are working to grow Mexico’s domestic market for sustainably produced products.
Article
The World’s Best Forest Guardians: Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples and local communities have an unsurpassed connection to the Earth's forests.
Annual Report
2020 Annual Report: We Thrive Together
Explore our achievements and discover what gave us energy and hope in 2020—a year unlike any other. View more
Media Coverage
Worsening Situation in Amazon a ‘Warning to Humanity’
Emmanuelle Berenger, lead sustainable forest manager for the Rainforest Alliance, stated that preserving forests for humanity’s well-being is not an option anymore, rather it is a must.