Transformative pathways: indigenous peoples and local communities leading and scaling up conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

State of implementation/results

• National partners are supporting indigenous and local communities in biodiversity conservation activities such as reforestation, repopulation of native animal and plant species, heirloom seed exchanges and seed banks, prevention of land degradation and recovery of land and biodiversity, development and implementation of community life plans, cultural revitalisation, engagement with stakeholders in relation to communities‘ land rights and nature protection.
• Community mapping and biodiversity monitoring programmes are ongoing, supporting community self governance and management of natural resources. Training and accompaniment in monitoring activities is provided by FPP, Awana Digital, and ICCS at the University of Oxford, who also develops capacity-building materials and technical guidance documents relevant to communities‘ needs, available in several languages on the project website.
• Transformative Pathways website and newsletter present articles and publications from project partners in 5 languages - English, Spanish, Thai, Swahili and Malay. Some of the training materials are also available in French. Training materials depository has also been developed and recently gone live.
• The project supports participation of indigenous representatives at global and regional meetings related to CBD and other relevant processes and organises side-events to highlight the importance of indigenous peoples’ contribution to biodiversity conservation.
• Project partners and target communities have submitted their case studies for the upcoming third edition of the Local Biodiversity Outlooks.
• In October 2025, representatives of several Transformative Pathways partners participated at the World Conservation Congress. Transformative Pathways featured in several presentations throughout the Congress and was the focus of a dedicated session on “Supporting rights and equity in practice”.
• UNEP-WCMC and FPP, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, delivered a second Expert Workshop on Traditional Knowledge Indicators, in Cambridge, UK in January 2026. The workshop was attended by experts from Indigenous and local community organisations, national governments (Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, Colombia, Cameroon), the CBD Secretariat and technical agencies from 4 continents. The workshop gathered information on progress and experiences with rights-based monitoring among IP and LCs and national governments and challenges and opportunities for improvement at the national level. It also included training and guidance to Parties on the traditional knowledge indicator methodologies and approaches for rights-based monitoring. The workshop outcomes will be submitted to the CBD Secretariat to inform the discussions at the upcoming meetings (SBSTTA 28, COP 17).
• AIPP continues to grow the Asia regional learning hub for Indigenous Peoples on biodiversity and climate by organizing regional conferences. The last (fifth) conference held in North Sumatra, Indonesia, brought together 157 Indigenous Peoples' representatives and allies from 53 organizations across 16 countries, creating a space where Indigenous Women's experiences, knowledge, and visions took the spotlight. The Conference adopted the first regional declaration of Indigenous Women on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution, known as the Tano Batak Declaration. This declaration now guides the policy engagement of Asian Indigenous Women at all levels, including at COP30.
• In celebration of the International Day for Biodiversity, Transformative Pathways Project partners, under initiative of AIPP, amplified over 60 powerful voices of Indigenous Peoples including Youth, Children, and Women (aippnet.org/…). Notably, 74% of these voices came from Indigenous Women and Girls. This milestone was achieved in collaboration with 32 organizations and networks, including 6 Indigenous Youth networks and 4 Indigenous Women's networks.

Latest Update:
05/2026

Further links

• Guidance document: Ensuring the sustainability of customary use on Indigenous and community-held lands – guidance document
• Guidance document: Conservation and human rights: an introduction
• Article: Now is the time for conservationists to stand up for social justice
• Guidance document: Introduction to community-based environmental monitoring
• Article: ‘Participatory’ conservation research involving indigenous peoples and local communities: Fourteen principles for good practice
• Article: International Day for Biodiversity, AIPP online campaign
• Article: World Indigenous Day 2025 marked by Ogiek of Chepkitale
• Publication: Enabling conditions for conservation on Indigenous and community lands
• Article: UNEP-WCMC blog about "Environmental action that respects the rights of all"