Introduction

The loss of ancestral land as a result of colonization and agricultural expansion, the degradation of forests and soils, and the struggle for legal recognition is an experience shared by many indigenous communities. This has significant implications for indigenous livelihoods, as many communities and indigenous groups often live closely with the land, forests often serving as a source of food, homes, and cultural importance. 

Indigenous justice and climate change are closely tied together. Indeed, it is estimated that around 24% of above-ground stored carbon, or 54.5 gigatonnes of carbon, is stored in tropical forests held by communities and indigenous peoples.1 Lands taken from indigenous peoples are often cleared and converted for agriculture and mining. This degrades forests, driving the release of carbon and counteracting their carbon storage potential. 

Protecting indigenous peoples’ rights to their ancestral lands not only supports their livelihoods, but it would serve as a strong tool for climate mitigation. Of course, there are challenges associated with protecting their land titles: often communities and indigenous peoples do not have formal rights to their lands, because governments do not uphold or even recognize their land titles. Traditional indigenous knowledge should also be valued and supported, as these are the practices that help lower rates of deforestation and degradation. Countless studies have shown that indigenous and community lands exhibit lower rates of deforestation, making the protection of indigenous property rights an excellent climate change mitigation tool. It is an important and necessary action for social justice and climate action.