We Indigenous Peoples are the Protectors of Biodiversity

A statement by Tuntiak Katan, General Coordinator of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, arguing that the recognition and enforcement of Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities' rights are essential for safeguarding global biodiversity and preventing deforestation.

• Indigenous communities in Brazil and across Latin America are facing increased threats from illegal miners, loggers, and land grabbers, who have used the COVID-19 pandemic as cover to seize lands and pollute rivers, particularly in the Amazon Basin. In the Yanomami territories specifically, nearly 14,000 illegal miners have invaded the region.
• Scientific evidence and reports from the IPBES and the World Economic Forum indicate that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are the most effective stewards of nature, protecting 80 percent of the world's remaining biodiversity.
• The World Economic Forum has estimated that the global economic value of intact biodiversity is $33 trillion.
• The author asserts that the survival of Indigenous Peoples is critical not only for the planet but for all of humanity, especially given the scientific link between deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the emergence of new pathogens.

APA

Katan, T. (2020). We Indigenous Peoples are the Protectors of Biodiversity. Forest Declaration Assessment. https://forestdeclaration.org/we-indigenous-peoples-are-the-protectors-of-biodiversity/

Chicago

Katan, Tuntiak. We Indigenous Peoples are the Protectors of Biodiversity. Forest Declaration Assessment, 2020. https://forestdeclaration.org/we-indigenous-peoples-are-the-protectors-of-biodiversity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Katan |first1=Tuntiak |title=We Indigenous Peoples are the Protectors of Biodiversity |publisher=Forest Declaration Assessment |date=3 July 2020 |url=https://forestdeclaration.org/we-indigenous-peoples-are-the-protectors-of-biodiversity/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{katan2020indigenous, author = {Katan, Tuntiak}, title = {{We Indigenous Peoples are the Protectors of Biodiversity}}, publisher = {Forest Declaration Assessment}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://forestdeclaration.org/we-indigenous-peoples-are-the-protectors-of-biodiversity/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }