A spatial overview of the global importance of Indigenous lands for conservation

Stephen T. Garnett (), Neil D. Burgess, Julia E. Fa, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares, Zsolt Molnár, Cathy J. Robinson, James E. M. Watson, Kerstin K. Zander, Beau Austin, Eduardo S. Brondizio, Neil French Collier, Tom Duncan, Erle Ellis, Hayley Geyle, Micha V. Jackson, Harry Jonas, Pernilla Malmer, Ben McGowan, Amphone Sivongxay and Ian Leiper
Additional contact information
Stephen T. Garnett: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Neil D. Burgess: UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
Julia E. Fa: Manchester Metropolitan University
Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares: University of Helsinki
Zsolt Molnár: Hungarian Academy of Science
Cathy J. Robinson: Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University
James E. M. Watson: The University of Queensland
Kerstin K. Zander: Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University
Beau Austin: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Eduardo S. Brondizio: Indiana University
Neil French Collier: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Tom Duncan: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Erle Ellis: University of Maryland
Hayley Geyle: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Micha V. Jackson: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Harry Jonas: Natural Justice
Pernilla Malmer: Stockholm University
Ben McGowan: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Amphone Sivongxay: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Ian Leiper: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University

Nature Sustainability, 2018, vol. 1, issue 7, 369-374

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the scale, location and nature conservation values of the lands over which Indigenous Peoples exercise traditional rights is central to implementation of several global conservation and climate agreements. However, spatial information on Indigenous lands has never been aggregated globally. Here, using publicly available geospatial resources, we show that Indigenous Peoples manage or have tenure rights over at least ~38 million km2 in 87 countries or politically distinct areas on all inhabited continents. This represents over a quarter of the world’s land surface, and intersects about 40% of all terrestrial protected areas and ecologically intact landscapes (for example, boreal and tropical primary forests, savannas and marshes). Our results add to growing evidence that recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ rights to land, benefit sharing and institutions is essential to meeting local and global conservation goals. The geospatial analysis presented here indicates that collaborative partnerships involving conservation practitioners, Indigenous Peoples and governments would yield significant benefits for conservation of ecologically valuable landscapes, ecosystems and genes for future generations.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0100-6

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