Indigenous Peoples’ lands are threatened by industrial development; conversion risk assessment reveals need to support Indigenous stewardship

Christina M. Kennedy; Brandie Fariss; James R. Oakleaf; Stephen T. Garnett; Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares; Julia E. Fa; Sharon Baruch-Mordo; Joseph Kiesecker

doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.006

Indigenous Peoples’ lands are threatened by industrial development; conversion risk assessment reveals need to support Indigenous stewardship

Christina M. Kennedy, Brandie Fariss, James R. Oakleaf, Stephen T. Garnett, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares, Julia E. Fa, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Joseph Kiesecker

Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Indigenous Peoples are custodians of many of the world's least-exploited natural areas. These places of local and global socio-ecological importance face significant threats from industrial development expansion, but the risk of conversion of these lands remains unclear. Here we combine global datasets of Indigenous Peoples’ lands, their current ecological condition, and future industrial development pressure to assess conversion threats. To assess vulnerability and risk of conversion, we create an index based on indicators of the strength and security of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to their territories and resources, their representation and engagement in decisions impacting them, and the capital available to support conservation and sustainable development. We find that nearly 60% of Indigenous Peoples’ lands (22.7 million km²) are threatened in 64 countries. Among the 37 countries with the highest threat, socio-economic and political vulnerabilities increase conversion risk, particularly the limited recognition and protection of territorial rights. We suggest strategies and actions to bolster Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination, rights, and leadership to reduce this risk and foster socio-ecological well-being.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1032-1049
Number of pages	18
Journal	One Earth
Volume	6
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.006
Publication status	Published - 18 Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work is dedicated to all Indigenous land defenders who are fighting to protect their lands and waters from industrial development impacts. We thank Y. Masuda, M. Looker, L. Kehoe, M. Heiner, N. DeMello, R. Cortez, E.M. Madeira, C. Peters, and A. Burgess for helpful comments on this study and manuscript. We also thank C. Corrigan, H. Bingham, J. Van Montfort, and J. Stewart for elevating this topic in the policy arena. Funding for this research was provided in part by The Nature Conservancy (to B.F. and C.M.K.), One Earth (to C.M.K. and J.R.O.), the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) (to Á.F-L.), and USAID as part of the Bushmeat Research Initiative of the CGIAR research program on Forests, Trees, and Agroforestry (to J.E.F.).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

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10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.006

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Cite this

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abstract = "Indigenous Peoples are custodians of many of the world's least-exploited natural areas. These places of local and global socio-ecological importance face significant threats from industrial development expansion, but the risk of conversion of these lands remains unclear. Here we combine global datasets of Indigenous Peoples{\textquoteright} lands, their current ecological condition, and future industrial development pressure to assess conversion threats. To assess vulnerability and risk of conversion, we create an index based on indicators of the strength and security of Indigenous Peoples{\textquoteright} rights to their territories and resources, their representation and engagement in decisions impacting them, and the capital available to support conservation and sustainable development. We find that nearly 60% of Indigenous Peoples{\textquoteright} lands (22.7 million km2) are threatened in 64 countries. Among the 37 countries with the highest threat, socio-economic and political vulnerabilities increase conversion risk, particularly the limited recognition and protection of territorial rights. We suggest strategies and actions to bolster Indigenous Peoples{\textquoteright} self-determination, rights, and leadership to reduce this risk and foster socio-ecological well-being.",

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AU - Fa, Julia E.

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N2 - Indigenous Peoples are custodians of many of the world's least-exploited natural areas. These places of local and global socio-ecological importance face significant threats from industrial development expansion, but the risk of conversion of these lands remains unclear. Here we combine global datasets of Indigenous Peoples’ lands, their current ecological condition, and future industrial development pressure to assess conversion threats. To assess vulnerability and risk of conversion, we create an index based on indicators of the strength and security of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to their territories and resources, their representation and engagement in decisions impacting them, and the capital available to support conservation and sustainable development. We find that nearly 60% of Indigenous Peoples’ lands (22.7 million km2) are threatened in 64 countries. Among the 37 countries with the highest threat, socio-economic and political vulnerabilities increase conversion risk, particularly the limited recognition and protection of territorial rights. We suggest strategies and actions to bolster Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination, rights, and leadership to reduce this risk and foster socio-ecological well-being.

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ER -

Indigenous Peoples’ lands are threatened by industrial development; conversion risk assessment reveals need to support Indigenous stewardship

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