A spatial overview of the global importance of Indigenous lands for conservation
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The decline in nature is lower in areas managed by Indigenous Peoples than in other lands.
“Although the decline in nature is lower in areas managed by Indigenous Peoples than in other lands ( 60 )”
From Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change (2019) · cites this paper as [60]
The Fig. 2 discussion reports that 67% of Indigenous Peoples’ lands were classified as natural, compared with 44% of other lands, and describes lower-intensity land use. These are spatial comparisons, not measurements of decline over time, so they do not establish that nature is declining more slowly on Indigenous-managed lands. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredWorldwide, the area traditionally owned, managed, used, or occupied by Indigenous Peoples represents ~8 million km2 in 87 countries, overlaps with at least 35 to 40% of the area that is formally protected, and a similar proportion of all remaining terrestrial areas with very low human intervention.
“Worldwide, the area traditionally owned, managed, used, or occupied by Indigenous Peoples (red circle), representing ~8 million km 2 in 87 countries, overlaps with at least 35 to 40% of the area that is formally protected (yellow circle), and a similar proportion of all remaining terrestrial areas with very low human intervention (blue circle) [<4 Human Footprint Index ( 18 )] [based on ( 60 )]”
From Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change (2019) · cites this paper as [60]
The Extent and conservation importance section identifies Indigenous Peoples’ lands in 87 countries or entities. The passage near Fig. 1 says they manage or have rights to at least 37.9 million km², of which about 7.8 million km² lies within protected areas—not that their total area is ~8 million km². That passage supports the roughly 40% protected-area overlap, while the passage near Fig. 2 reports 37% of remaining natural lands. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredGlobally, Indigenous peoples and local communities have a key role in maintaining ecosystems resilient to global change.
“Globally, Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) have a key role in maintaining ecosystems resilient to global change113.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [113]
In “Consequences of Indigenous influence on land management” (page unavailable), the paper says Indigenous Peoples and local communities contribute to biodiversity conservation, and that Indigenous Peoples sustain ecosystem diversity worldwide. It describes Indigenous management institutions as resilient, but does not establish that the ecosystems they maintain are resilient to global change. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIPLCs defend their territories against illegal deforestation and land use disturbances, and they also promote forest restoration by expanding diverse agroforestry systems.
“IPLCs defend their territories against illegal deforestation and land use disturbances49,113, and they also promote forest restoration by expanding diverse agroforestry systems121,122.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [113]
The 'Consequences of Indigenous influence on land management' section says Indigenous Peoples protect biodiversity on their lands, and the 'Fig. 2 around here' section reports that most Indigenous lands have low-intensity land uses. Neither passage establishes that IPLCs defend their territories specifically against illegal deforestation or land-use disturbances. The agroforestry clause is attached to other citations, so it is not assessed here. (LLM, conf=0.79)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNature is overall better preserved within lands managed by Indigenous Peoples.
“the fact that nature is overall better preserved within them ( 60 )”
From Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change (2019) · cites this paper as [60]
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- Authors
- Garnett, S. T., Burgess, N. D., Fa, J. E., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Molnár, Z., Robinson, C. J., Watson, J. E. M., Zander, K. K., Austin, B., Brondizio, E. S., Collier, N. F., Duncan, T., Ellis, E., Geyle, H., Jackson, M. V., Jonas, H., Malmer, P., McGowan, B., Sivongxay, A., & Leiper, I.
- Affiliations
- Charles Darwin University (AU)
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (GB)
- Manchester Metropolitan University (GB)
- HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research (HU)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- Wildlife Conservation Society (US)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Stockholm Resilience Centre (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Garnett, Stephen T.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Sustainability
- Published
- 2018-07-16
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 369-374
- ISSN
- 2398-9629 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2840063536
- Cited by
- 1,447
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 170 · 2025: 206 · 2024: 182 · 2023: 241 · 2022: 196 · 2021: 160 · 2020: 149 · 2019: 125 · 2018: 17
- FWCI
- 66.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- e-space.mmu.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Sustainability (publishedVersion)
- e-space (Manchester Metropolitan University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
- Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Land Rights and Reforms
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Keywords
- indigenous territories, indigenous peoples, land tenure rights, traditional land management, protected areas, primary forest, conservation, climate agreements, benefit sharing
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