Indigenous leadership and rights are essential to reversing forest and land loss

Exploring global progress, challenges, and solutions for forest conservation and biodiversity

FSC IF

Global efforts to conserve forests, grasslands, and other terrestrial ecosystems are falling short of 2030 goals. This was the central finding presented during the State of Forests and Land webinar, hosted by Systems Change Lab, which introduced new data tracking progress on biodiversity, climate, and equity targets.

Researchers reported that none of the 26 outcome indicators assessed is on track for 2030. Although permanent forest loss has declined compared with earlier peaks, deforestation is not slowing quickly enough. The discussion also underscored the need to protect remaining ecosystems, restore degraded landscapes, improve land management, and address pollution and overexploitation of wild species.

For Minnie Degawan, Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation, the findings also raise urgent questions about the safety of indigenous forest defenders, recognition of land rights and access to resources. She stressed that Indigenous Peoples have cared for their territories for generations, yet too often remain excluded from decisions about the financing intended to support conservation.

“Nature needs us, and we need nature.”

Minnie urged a shift away from treating nature as a commodity and toward recognizing it as part of our lives and relationships. This perspective, she explained, is fundamental to respecting Indigenous Peoples’ authority to continue caring for their lands.

“We are not just saying we want the money, but we are saying we want to be part of the decisions of where it goes and how it is spent.”

The panel also examined the importance of aligning policies and financial incentives with conservation, supporting locally appropriate restoration, and ensuring women and communities have genuine decision-making power. Together, these messages reinforced the need for solutions shaped by the people who know and steward their landscapes.

Missed the webinar? Watch the recording to explore the findings and perspectives shared by the speakers.

FSC seeks stakeholder input on FPIC Guidance for Remedy

Help strengthen FPIC implementation in FSC remedy processes

FSC IF

FSC invites stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Implementation in the FSC Remedy Framework guidance through a public survey.

FPIC is an important component of the FSC Remedy Framework, helping ensure that affected rights holders play a central role in dialogue processes and in agreeing to remedy actions. The guidance aims to build shared understanding for applying and verifying FPIC requirements specifically in the context of remedy processes.

The survey seeks stakeholder input on areas where further technical input may be useful in different remedy scenarios. Feedback will inform the Technical Working Group’s review and further development of the guidance.

All interested stakeholders are encouraged to participate. The survey is open until 17 November 2026.

Participate in the survey:

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3CWYLP7

Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/Q3LPRFP

French: https://fr.surveymonkey.com/r/KJPXL3J

Indonesian: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QBSZZMP

For questions, please contact remedy@fsc.org.

Original publication share by the Forest Stewarship Council https://fsc.org/en/newscentre/integrity-and-disputes/fsc-seeks-stakeholder-input-on-fpic-guidance-for-remedy

Forests & Indigenous Voices | October 2026

News from around the world

FSC IF

The Forests & Indigenous Voices Newsletter brings you monthly stories and news on Indigenous leadership and knowledge, global advocacy, nature-based solutions, and opportunities to connect and engage.

GLOBAL NEWS

Armenia

FSC Indigenous Foundation at CBD COP17: Advancing Indigenous Leadership in Biodiversity Conservation

The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) is participating in the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, alongside Indigenous representatives, FSC colleagues, and global partners.

Throughout the conference, the FSC-IF is advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, leadership, and self-determination in forest governance, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Indigenous territories, respecting Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and customary governance, supporting Indigenous-led biodiversity stewardship, and highlighting the role of women and youth.

Engaging with Indigenous brothers and sisters in different spaces, from IIFB caucus meetings and side events to informal dialogues, one key message continues to resonate: at the heart of our discussions is our shared commitment to caring for nature, maintaining healthy forests, and sustaining biodiversity.

For Indigenous Peoples, nature is one, and we are one with nature.

It is important to remember why we are here and how we can engage with all actors through trust, mutual respect, and meaningful dialogue, recognizing that the future of nature concerns us all.

From discussions on Indigenous Peoples’ rights and their full and effective participation in decision-making spaces to powerful demonstrations at the conference venue, one message is clear: We must hold ourselves accountable and ensure that we are truly taking action for nature.

Cameroon

Strengthening Indigenous Participation in Forest Governance Across Africa

In collaboration with REPALEAC, we brought together Indigenous representatives, women, youth, and partners in Douala, Cameroon, to strengthen dialogue on Indigenous Peoples’ participation in forest governance and FSC certification.

Participants shared experiences, priorities, and perspectives on making FSC certification more accessible and inclusive, while emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and collective Indigenous representation.

The discussions also provided opportunities to strengthen regional collaboration and explore ways to ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ voices and priorities are reflected in decisions affecting their forests and communities.

The FSC-IF extends its appreciation to REPALEAC for its collaboration and to FSC Eastern Africa and FSC Southern Africa for sharing insights into FSC standards.

Watch

Panama

Community Thriving Narratives

The Development Vision of Emberá Purú shares, through the voices of its leaders and community representatives, how the community is shaping its own path toward the future.

Featuring Deleuze Vacorizo from Caja Rural, Nisberia Ortega from IMBISU OBC, Solvio Córdoba from JAAR, and Edwin Bacorizo from the Parents’ Club, the documentary explores community-led initiatives related to the local economy, cultural preservation, access to clean water, tourism, and children’s education.

It is a story of self-determination and community autonomy, where decisions about the present and future of Emberá Purú are made by the community itself.

This video is part of Community Thriving Narratives, a component of the Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models project, which aims to highlight the experiences, knowledge, and aspirations of Indigenous communities through their own voices and perspectives.

Watch

Colombia

Strengthening Partnerships and Indigenous Collaboration in Latin America

October 7–9 | Bogotá, Colombia

Represented by Darwin Velásquez, the FSC Indigenous Foundation participated in the FSC Latin America Regional Meeting, strengthening relationships with FSC members, Indigenous representatives, and regional partners.

The FSC-IF engaged in formal discussions and dialogues and explored opportunities for collaboration, including technical exchanges and partnerships. With FSC Ecuador, potential joint initiatives supporting Indigenous organizations were highlighted.

Highlights

Upcoming Events

The State of the World’s Forests and Land

October 27 | 9:00–10:30 AM EDT

Are global efforts to care for forests and land moving fast enough?

Join Minnie Degawan, and global experts for a Systems Change Lab webinar exploring progress, challenges, and actions needed to address the climate and biodiversity crises.

Powering Indigenous Communities: Co-ownership, Participation and Equitable Benefit-sharing

Join IRENA and the Coalition for Action on 27 October at 4 PM GST for the webinar exploring how renewable energy projects can support a just and inclusive energy transition by respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Opportunities for Indigenous Youth

2027 Indigenous Youth Fellowship: Call for Proposals

Application deadline: Tomorrow, October 25, 2026

Cultural Survival is inviting applications for its 2027 Indigenous Youth Fellowship, supporting youth-led projects that strengthen cultural identity, leadership skills, and community participation.

Since its launch in 2018, the program has awarded more than 157 fellowships, reaching over 350 Indigenous youth worldwide.

Apply

Indigenous Peoples’ leadership at CBD COP17

Advancing rights, biodiversity, and forest stewardship

FSC IF

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) brings together governments, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, and partners in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026, to advance global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and strengthen the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

At the UN CBD COP17, we join Indigenous representatives, women and youth, Forest Stewardship Council colleagues, and partners to advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, leadership, and self-determination in forest governance.

We aim to advance meaningful Indigenous participation in biodiversity decision-making, forest governance, and sustainable finance, while promoting conservation frameworks and systems that recognize Indigenous territories, respect Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and customary governance, and support Indigenous-led forest stewardship.

Throughout the conference, FSC-IF will participate in discussions and side events addressing biodiversity finance, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, gender, forest governance, and responsible business engagement.

Join us at these events:

22 October | 15:00–15:45

From Commitments to Accountability: How Assurance, Data, and Partnerships Can Mobilize Biodiversity Finance

Business & Biodiversity Hub (UNEP-WCMC)

FSC: Sharon London | FSC-IF: Maria Esther De Leon

22 October | 17:00–18:00

Gender and Biodiversity in Latin America: Scaling Impact through Certification, Ecosystem Services and Value Chains

CBD Women’s Caucus Pavilion

Speakers: Valentina Figuera Martínez and Berta Medrano, CBD Women’s Caucus; Mega Ayu Lestari, Secretariat of the Working Group on ICCAs Indonesia, Camila Cosse Braslavsky, Support, Forest Stewardship Council; and Maria De Leon, FSC-IF.

Moderator: Dian Yusvita Intarini

23 October | 09:30–10:30

Halting and Reversing Deforestation by 2030: Implementing the COP30 Presidency Roadmap

Nature Positive Pavilion, Small Room

FSC: Camila Cosse Braslavsky and Anand Punja | FSC-IF: Maria Esther De Leon

Event details: https://lnkd.in/eyyRSQgt

23 October | 18:15

Healthy Forests: Indigenous Leadership in Forest Biodiversity Conservation

Spitak, Side-event Room 2

Opening remarks: Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Forest Stewardship Council.

Moderator: Vivian Peachey, FSC Canada.

Speakers: Roshanak Kashkooli, Global Youth Biodiversity Network; Meenal Tatpati, CBD Women’s Caucus; and Vital Bambanze, UNIPROBA.

With support from Dian Yusvita Intarini, FSC-IF.

Event details: https://lnkd.in/egm6UEFs

23 October | 18:15

From Consultation to Co-Creation: Advancing Responsible Business Engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Lori, Meeting Room 4, Block 2, 3rd Floor

Co-hosted by the FSC Indigenous Foundation and UNEP-WCMC.

FSC-IF speaker: Maria Esther De Leon

Event details: https://lnkd.in/et9Yi2YH

Strengthening Dialogue and Collective Action

For the FSC Indigenous Foundation, participation at CBD COP17 is an opportunity to strengthen relationships, exchange experiences, and advance collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, governments, international organizations, and forest sector partners.

Biodiversity conservation must recognize Indigenous Peoples not only as participants, but as rights holders and leaders in decisions affecting their territories, forests, and futures.

1 2 3 … 26 »