Advocate for more Indigenous protected areas

Indigenous communities globally manage at least 25% of the world’s lands, 17% of all forest carbon, and vast stretches of freshwater and marine habitats. When First Nations peoples manage and steward the land and water courses, powerful outcomes are achieved for people and nature. Guided by culture and deep knowledge and connection to the land,  it is in most cases that more biodiversity is sustained in those places than in government protected areas. 

Around the world, indigenous communities are calling for their rights to their traditional land to be acknowledged and the establishing of Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) where they can care for the ecosystems on that land. There needs to be a lot more support, funding and advocacy to elevate these campaigns, and there are a variety of respectful ways you can help but seeking out avenues to support communities in your local area is a great place to start.

• Australia
• United States
• Canada
• Global South

Australia

Country Needs People

Country Needs People is a growing group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians that are calling on decision-makers to support, and garner more funding for, Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas.

• Join the call - send a message directly to your local candidates to grow and secure funding for Indigenous rangers and Indigenous protected areas.
• Share your voice - add your own individual message of support.

United States

Real Rent Duwamish

Real Rent calls on people who live and work in Seattle to make rent payments to the Duwamish Tribe. Seattle was named after a Duwamish leader but the tribe itself has yet to be compensated for the loss of their land, resources, and livelihood.

• Donate to Real Rent to support reviving the culture of the Duwmish Tribe

Landback

Landback is a movement with a long legacy of organizing and sacrifice to get Indigenous Lands back into Indigenous hands in the United States. Currently, there are Landback battles being fought across the country, to the north and the South.

• Donate

Canada

Indigenous Leadership Initiative

The Indigenous Leadership Initiative supports Indigenous Nations in honouring their responsibility to care for lands and waters. The Indigenous Leadership Initiative partners with Indigenous Nations in the creation of IPCAs. They have helped support Nations’ land use plans and negotiations with Crown governments. 

• Learn more

Global South

Survival International

Survival International was founded in 1969 and fights for tribal peoples’ survival. They stop extractive industries from destroying tribal lands, lives and livelihoods across the globe. They also lobby governments to recognize Indigenous land rights and document and expose the atrocities committed against tribal people, as well as taking direct action to stop them.

• Donate

Advocating for more Indigenous protected areas is part of a larger collective response. Learn more and find other actions about restoring and regenerating habitats.

Know of any other resources? Share your ideas.