Direct access to climate and forest finance by Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and local communities (LCs) is essential for not only meeting forest conservation and restoration goals, but also for supporting Indigenous and local livelihoods, resilience, and adaptation capacity in the face of climate change. Numerous studies show that rates of deforestation are significantly lower in Indigenous Territories, even compared to protected areas. IPs and LCs are also far more vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to ongoing marginalization and historical and ongoing colonialism, and additionally often face threats of violence when mobilizing for environmental protection or defending their land from encroachment or invasion.  
We have not identified a publicly available data source to track the direct access of IPs and LCs to climate and forest finance. However, one analysis found that only 7 percent of total funding pledged at COP26 for IPs’ and LCs’ forest tenure rights went directly to organizations led by these groups. 

Direct access to climate and forest finance by Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and local communities (LCs) is essential for not only meeting forest conservation and restoration goals, but also for supporting Indigenous and local livelihoods, resilience, and adaptation capacity in the face of climate change. Numerous studies show that rates of deforestation are significantly lower in Indigenous Territories, even compared to protected areas. IPs and LCs are also far more vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to ongoing marginalization and historical and ongoing colonialism, and additionally often face threats of violence when mobilizing for environmental protection or defending their land from encroachment or invasion.  
We have not identified a publicly available data source to track the direct access of IPs and LCs to climate and forest finance. However, one analysis found that only 7 percent of total funding pledged at COP26 for IPs’ and LCs’ forest tenure rights went directly to organizations led by these groups.