Resources

Scientific Manuscripts

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 2026. Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems and practices for climate survival

Key Finding: We found that the high carbon storage and biodiversity on Indigenous lands is not an accident but rather a result of the cultural practices and ways of life of the people who live and work on those lands.

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Ambio 2024. Reviewing the science on 50 years of conservation: Knowledge production biases and lessons for practice.

Key Finding: Findings reveal positive ecological and social outcomes are strongly associated with higher levels of influence of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their institutions.

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Ecology and Society 2021. The role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in effective and equitable conservation.

Key Finding: Equitable conservation, which empowers and supports the environmental stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and local communities represents the primary pathway to effective long-term conservation of biodiversity.

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Conservation Biology 2020.The importance of Indigenous Peoples’ lands for the conservation of terrestrial mammals.

Key Finding: We found that 60% of assessed mammals had ≥10% of their ranges on Indigenous Peoples’ lands and 23% had >50% of their ranges on Indigenous lands. For threatened species, 47% occurred on Indigenous lands with 26% having >50% of their habitat on these lands.

Reports

2025 Earth Insight and Global Alliance of Territorial Communities.
Indigenous Peoples’ Territories and Local Communities on the Frontlines.

Key Finding: Though Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities represent less than 5% of the global population, they protect over half of the world’s remaining intact forests and nearly half of all Key Biodiversity Areas.

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2025 Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development and Native Nations Institute. Experts, not Obstacles: Indigenous Conservation Excellence and the Trap of Conservation at any Cost.

Key Finding: A clear majority of the studies in our review found Indigenous conservation outcomes to be superior to those achieved by previous conservationists or a comparison group.