Strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ tenure security offers one highly effective, relatively low-cost strategy to protect the world’s remaining intact forests, at least 36% of which stretch across these communities’ territories. Several studies find that, in the tropics, deforestation across Indigenous lands is significantly lower than in nearby forests, and, in some cases, comparable to or less than losses within strictly protected areas. Yet an analysis of legal frameworks in 73 countries covering 85% of Earth’s land finds that, despite holding and using at least half of the world’s land, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendent Peoples, and local communities legally own just 11% of global land. While the total area of land legally designated for and owned by these groups increased by just over 100 million hectares (Mha) from 2015 to 2020, at least 1,375 Mha of community lands – an area roughly the size of Antarctica – has not yet been recognized under national laws and regulations.  

Strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ tenure security offers one highly effective, relatively low-cost strategy to protect the world’s remaining intact forests, at least 36% of which stretch across these communities’ territories. Several studies find that, in the tropics, deforestation across Indigenous lands is significantly lower than in nearby forests, and, in some cases, comparable to or less than losses within strictly protected areas. Yet an analysis of legal frameworks in 73 countries covering 85% of Earth’s land finds that, despite holding and using at least half of the world’s land, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendent Peoples, and local communities legally own just 11% of global land. While the total area of land legally designated for and owned by these groups increased by just over 100 million hectares (Mha) from 2015 to 2020, at least 1,375 Mha of community lands – an area roughly the size of Antarctica – has not yet been recognized under national laws and regulations.