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
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The Rainforest Alliance's Work in Peru
Peru: Where indigenous knowledge, climate science, and global markets meet.
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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.
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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.
All resources for Indigenous communities
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Forest Conservation Through Indigenous Entrepreneurship
The Rainforest Alliance has a long history working alongside Indigenous Peoples, partnering with Indigenous organizations and communities in some of the world’s most ecologically and culturally... View more
Article
It Takes an Alliance: Activating Support for Indigenous Communities in Mexico
We worked with eight indigenous coffee-farming communities in Chiapas to build skills in fire prevention, business skills, and health and nutrition.
Article
An Indigenous Community Finds a New Home—and Restores a Landscape
Once violently displaced, an Indigenous community in Chiapas, Mexico now flourishes.
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The Indigenous Roots of Regenerative Agriculture
Indigenous peoples have long practiced the key elements of regenerative agriculture. Find a few examples in this article.
Annual Report
2022 Annual Report: We’re all in.
Dive into our 2022 Annual Report—and discover the extraordinary people and places at the heart of our global mission. We’re all in. Are you?... View more
Media Coverage
Forest Recognition for Papua Tribe Raises Hopes for Climate
Indigenous peoples are increasingly recognized as the most effective custodians of the world’s remaining forests.