Search Climate Insights Directory

This report by Natural Justice and Kalpavriksh analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ conserved territories and areas (ICCAs). It identifies systemic threats to these areas, including a lack of legal recognition for customary land rights and the imposition of exclusionary conservation models. While noting positive developments in international law and specific national initiatives, the report argues that state institutions often continue to undermine ICCAs through discriminatory legislation and inaccessible judicial systems. It provides comprehensive recommendations for governments and international bodies to recognize the self-determination of Indigenous peoples and support the integrity of ICCAs through both legal reform and non-legal support mechanisms.

This briefing by Natural Justice analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Territories and Areas of Conservation by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (TICCAs). It examines the gap between international human rights standards and national implementation, highlighting how fragmented laws and a lack of recognition for customary land rights undermine the ability of Indigenous and local communities to maintain the ecological integrity of their territories.

This guide provides an introduction to the United Nations human rights system, detailing the organs of the UN, the International Bill of Human Rights, and the specific mechanisms available for the protection and advocacy of Indigenous peoples and local communities.

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an introduction to the United Nations human rights system, specifically tailored for indigenous peoples and local communities. It explains the structure of the UN, the evolution of international human rights law, and the specific mechanisms available for the protection of indigenous rights.

This document is a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, provided by a coalition including Natural Justice and Forest Peoples Programme. It outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity conservation, highlighting successful local practices, systemic barriers such as 'fortress conservation' and non-recognition of land rights, and the increasing risks faced by environmental defenders.

This e-learning guide by Natural Justice introduces the international legal frameworks that recognize and support the traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity by Indigenous peoples and local communities, with a primary focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an introduction to the international legal frameworks that recognize and support the traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities. It focuses primarily on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), detailing specific articles, voluntary instruments, and other international declarations that grant rights and responsibilities to communities and governments.

This e-learning guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an overview of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It explains the historical emergence of the Declaration, defines who is considered 'Indigenous' under international law, and details the specific rights and responsibilities of Indigenous communities, States, and the United Nations. The document serves as a toolkit for communities to identify relevant provisions for advocacy, self-governance, and the protection of lands, territories, and resources.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the historical evolution of Brazil's regional identity and its transition toward becoming a regional power. It argues that Brazil historically distinguished itself from 'Latin America'—which it viewed as synonymous with Spanish America—and has only recently shifted its foreign policy focus toward active engagement and leadership within South America.

This fact sheet describes LandMark, an interactive global platform launched in 2015 and redesigned in 2024 to help Indigenous Peoples and local communities map and document their land rights and secure tenure.