Los pueblos indígenas son guardianes de la biodiversidad y sus conocimientos tradicionales son clave para combatir la crisis climática.
Analysis
Multiple studies confirm that Indigenous-managed lands often exhibit higher biodiversity levels than protected areas (e.g., *FAO 2021*, *Garnett et al. 2018*). Their traditional knowledge—such as agroforestry, fire management, and sustainable hunting—has been documented as effective in mitigating deforestation and carbon emissions (*IPBES 2019*, *UNEP 2021*). However, the statement implies a *universal* and *unqualified* effectiveness, ignoring cases where Indigenous practices are disrupted by colonization, land dispossession, or coercive assimilation policies. Additionally, their contributions are frequently undermined by lack of legal recognition or funding (*Right & Resources Initiative 2022*).
Background
The statement was made during **COP14 (2018)**, a UN conference focused on biodiversity under the **Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)**, where Indigenous rights and traditional knowledge were central themes. Indigenous territories cover **~28% of the Earth’s land** but safeguard **80% of its biodiversity** (*World Bank 2021*). However, their role is often framed in romanticized terms without addressing structural barriers like land tenure conflicts or exclusion from policy decisions.
Verdict summary
While evidence strongly supports that Indigenous peoples play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, the claim oversimplifies the complexity of their impact and the systemic challenges they face in climate action.
Sources consulted
— FAO (2021). *Forest Governance by Indigenous and Tribal Peoples*. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. [https://www.fao.org/3/cb3355en/cb3355en.pdf](https://www.fao.org/3/cb3355en/cb3355en.pdf)
— Garnett, S. T., et al. (2018). *A spatial overview of the global importance of Indigenous lands for conservation*. *Nature Sustainability*, 1(7), 369–374. [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0100-6](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0100-6)
— IPBES (2019). *Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services*. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. [https://ipbes.net/global-assessment](https://ipbes.net/global-assessment)
— Right and Resources Initiative (2022). *Climate Finance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities*. [https://rightsandresources.org/publication/climate-finance-for-ip-lc/](https://rightsandresources.org/publication/climate-finance-for-ip-lc/)
— UNEP (2021). *Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: Insights on Sustainability*. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme. [https://www.unep.org/resources/report/indigenous-peoples-food-systems](https://www.unep.org/resources/report/indigenous-peoples-food-systems)
— World Bank (2021). *The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Biodiversity Conservation*. [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples](https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples)