Strengthening conservation through Indigenous leadership in the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest makes up nearly a third of all the tropical rainforest left on Earth and it acts as a vital carbon sink which stabilises the global climate. Colombia is home to 10% of the Amazon, however certain reserves have become significantly degraded due to deforestation for agriculture and timber. The project is located between the Putumayo and Caquetá rivers and spans part of the largest remaining area of continuous rainforest in Colombia.
enhanced through the sustainable use of natural resources
for community members as well as new initiatives to establish Indigenous wisdom
in the modern indigenous world
and job opportunities
avoided on average annually
of Amazon rainforest is under protection
and autonomy of Indigenous communities are strengthened
(AATIs) have joined with national and International partners to develop and carry out the project
The project stems from a community initiative aimed at identifying, prioritising, and implementing action towards sustainable forest management. Through participatory and inclusive methods, it drives reforestation and conservation based on the Indigenous traditions which teach the people to use the land with the least impact on its biodiversity. In this way, it promotes the ancestral Amazonas way of living with mutual respect for the forest, its vegetation, and what it provides for the planet on a global scale.
Not only does this project work towards a low-carbon future, with reforestation and restoration of the area sequestering planet-warming CO2, it also preserves and protects the Indigenous cultures and traditions which have been tied to the forest for centuries. It promotes sustainable development, strengthens local governance, and conserves the forest's biodiversity, moving towards an improved global climate.
