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:

In this edition, we follow Indigenous voices across territories and global spaces, from communities exchanging knowledge on Indigenous nature-based economies, to a powerful call for Indigenous worldviews to guide global action on climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.

---

Currently in Mongolia

“Beyond Fragmentation: Advancing Coherence, Equity, and Indigenous Leadership Across the Rio Conventions”

At COP17 UNCCD, Nia Tero officially launched the report “Beyond Fragmentation: Advancing Coherence, Equity, and Indigenous Leadership Across the Rio Conventions;” authored by Minnie Degawan, Indigenous rights expert and Kankanaey-Igorot from the Philippines.

“The report examines Indigenous Peoples’ recognition and participation in the Rio Conventions. Climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are all interconnected, Minnie, source Inter Press Service.

During the launch, Minnie recalled with vivid memories, one of the biggest gatherings of Indigenous Peoples in the world in the UNCED and how in that time (33 years ago), Indigenous Peoples travelled, not as representatives of organizations, but as representatives of their Peoples. “We went to Kari-Oca with a message: Nature is one,” she shared.

Now, in this current climate, we need to make sure this worldview stands.

Solutions to climate change cannot be separated from solutions to biodiversity loss, just as land degradation cannot be disconnected from deforestation. All of these are interconnected and that is an important thing that Indigenous Peoples need to reclaim, reassert and push for, she said.

For the youth who are starting to participate in the conventions, Minnie offered words of encouragement: “be grounded in your community – always return to your origin.”

---

The Indigenous Peoples’s Caucus at the COP17 UNCCD

Stronger together – for a resilient planet.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus aims to facilitate the meaningful, effective, and coordinated participation of Indigenous Peoples in the processes of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). In doing so, it strengthens dialogue, coordination, and engagement between Indigenous Peoples and Parties to the Convention in matters related to policy development, negotiations, implementation, monitoring, and review.

---

Global Pastoralist and Indigenous Pastoralists’ Call For Action: Ulaanbaatar Declaration 2026

During the first day at COP17, Pastoralists, Indigenous Peoples, and other groups from various regions of the world marched to deliver the “Global Pastoralist and Indigenous Pastoralists’ Call For Action: Ulaanbaatar Declaration 2026” to the COP 17 Presidency.

Read the declaration

---

The Role of Forests in Meeting the Objectives of the UNCCD

Discover key outcomes from the FSC Indigenous Foundation side event, where Indigenous leadership and cross-sector cooperation highlighted the vital role of forests in advancing UNCCD objectives.

---

Panama

Knowledge exchange between Embera-Wounaan & Kichwa Peoples

Indigenous communities and organizations from Panama and Ecuador came together in Darién from August 8 to 11 for a technical exchange centered on strengthening Indigenous nature-based economies. As part of the FSC’F’s project “Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models,” with support from BID Lab, the exchange created a space for peer-to-peer learning, knowledge and cultural sharing and regional collaboration.

For me, the arrival of the Kichwa brothers and sisters was important for the exchange of knowledge. They shared with us how they succeeded with their products and organizations, how they marketed wayusa leaves, chocolate, and plantains, and how that provides a livelihood for their communities. I thank them for sharing their ideas with us. This is important to us because we’ve already been planting this seed in our community for two years, hoping it will grow into a tree that bears fruit, improving the economy for our future generations.

Luviana Chamapuro, Wounaan People, Oropéndolas Indigenous Organization

---

Indigenous and Community Economy Exchange

After engaging in the knowledge exchange in Darien, on August 12, the Embera-Wounaan communities travelled with the Kichwa brothers and sisters to Panama City to join the event “Indigenous and Community Economy Exchange: Regional economic models that strengthen forest governance, biodiversity, and livelihoods” hosted by AMPB.

They had an open dialogue about strengthening a shared vision of the indigenous and community-based economy as a model of territorial development that contributes to territorial governance, the conservation of forests and biodiversity, and the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

---

Türkiye

Respect – Connection – Collective reflection

Indigenous leaders from across the world gathered in Istanbul for three days to exchange perspectives and shape a shared vision for the future of forests. Through meaningful dialogue and collective reflection, they strengthened connections and brought Indigenous voices, knowledge and experiences to the heart of conversations on forest governance.

Together, they explored how the FSC certification system can more fully respect FPIC, Indigenous Peoples’ rights and governance, while recognizing their knowledge, values and ways of caring for their lands.

Forests are sacred homes for Indigenous Peoples. Rooted in this profound connection, their leadership will continue to shape and safeguard the future of the world’s forests.

---

Worldwide

The knowledge keepers: Indigenous women leading forest governance on five continents

A river that purifies. A community whose very name means ‘‘caretakers of the forest.’’ A word – inayan – that teaches that whatever we do has consequences. Around the world, Indigenous women are leading forest governance in courtrooms, committees, and communities, carrying knowledge passed down through generations.

In collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), we shared 6 inspiring stories of women whose leadership and knowledge are creating lasting impact.

During the start of COP17 of the UNCCD, the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) held a side event on August 17, titled “The Role of Forests in Meeting the Objectives of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.” It highlighted the often-overlooked contribution of forests and Indigenous Peoples to combating land degradation, desertification, and drought.

The panel was composed by:

• Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair, Indigenous Peoples Forum to Combat Desertification and FSC-IF Council chair.

• Ms. Cindy Cheng, Regional Director of the Forest Stewardship Council Asia and Pacific (FSC APAC)

• Ms. Aissatou Ibrahim, Vice Coordinator of Network of Indigenous and Local Communities for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC)

• Mr. Natanael Braga Pereira, Specialist in Indigenism for Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples National Foundation (FUNAI)

• Mr. Morse Flores, Director, Global Indigenous Policy & Partnerships, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Moderator: Ms. Minnie Degawan, FSC-IF Managing Director

The discussion revealed clear common ground around key priorities: preventing land and forest degradation, recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ rights and leadership, valuing Indigenous knowledge alongside scientific and technical approaches, and ensuring access to long-term financing. Translating these priorities into action requires cooperation among Indigenous Peoples, governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector.

That is why bringing together and listening to Indigenous leaders working across different regions and institutions, including Africa, the Brazilian government and The Nature Conservancy, alongside the Forest Stewardship Council, was so valuable. Their contributions brought distinct roles, experiences and expertise into the conversation, offering concrete examples of how Indigenous leadership and cooperation across sectors can advance shared priorities in practice.

Highlights of the side event

A central message in the discussion was that prevention is more effective and less costly than restoration. Indigenous Peoples are recognized as long-standing custodians of forests and territories, possessing traditional knowledge and governance systems that can prevent forest degradation and support ecosystem restoration.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim stressed the importance of recognizing and securing Indigenous Peoples’ collective rights to their lands, territories, forests, and natural resources, as well as ensuring their meaningful participation in decisions that affect them. She also emphasized the need for direct financing and support for Indigenous-led conservation and land management.

“In discussions on Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD), we often forget about the solutions. Forests are part of the solution, and Indigenous Peoples are the guardians of these forests.” Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of FSC-IF Council

From the African context, Aissatou Ibrahim (REPALEAC) highlighted the importance of community participation, traditional knowledge, and local governance in protecting forests and restoring degraded landscapes. Indigenous and local communities were presented not simply as beneficiaries of conservation programs but as rights holders, knowledge holders, and active leaders in managing ecosystems.

Natanael Braga Pereira explained that Brazil has strengthened its institutional framework for Indigenous Peoples, including through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and policies supporting territorial and environmental management of Indigenous lands. Indigenous territories were highlighted as important areas for preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity, maintaining water resources, and reducing carbon emissions.

“Demarcating, protecting, strengthening environmental management, and promoting the ecological restoration of indigenous lands are fundamental actions to achieve the objectives of the UNCCD.” Natanael Braga Pereira, FUNAI

Cindy Cheng (FSC Asia and Pacific) emphasized the role of responsible forest management and certification in preventing degradation before restoration becomes necessary. FSC certification provides a framework that integrates environmental protection, social rights, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and economic viability. She also underscored the essential role of Indigenous communities on the ground: “They are the feet, eyes, ears, and hands on the ground.”

However, she noted that certification can be difficult for Indigenous and community-managed forests because of financial, technical, documentation, and monitoring requirements. She highlighted the potential of continuous improvement approaches to make certification more accessible while maintaining its credibility and standards. She also stressed that sustainable forest management should recognize the broader ecosystem services generated by forests, including biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, water regulation, and livelihood benefits.

The Nature Conservancy perspective, presented by Morse Flores, Director Global Indigenous Policy and Partnership reinforced four major lessons from conservation initiatives around the world. First, rights must come before restoration: conservation is more durable when Indigenous Peoples have authority and resources to manage their territories. Second, prevention is better than restoration, with Indigenous territories often serving as important barriers to deforestation. Third, Indigenous knowledge and science are stronger together, particularly through Indigenous Guardians and community-based monitoring programs. Fourth, conservation requires long-term and sustainable financing rather than short-term projects.

Examples from Canada, the Amazon, Australia, and Mongolia demonstrated how Indigenous governance, conservation finance, technical support, and long-term partnerships can produce durable outcomes.

Overall, the side event reinforced that forests and Indigenous-led stewardship are essential to achieving the objectives of the UNCCD, from preventing land degradation to strengthening ecosystem and climate resilience. Moving forward, speakers emphasized the need to better integrate forests, Indigenous rights and knowledge into UNCCD implementation, supported by direct and long-term financing. They also called for stronger synergies between the UNCCD and other environmental frameworks addressing forests, biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management.

The event’s overarching message was clear: healthy forests, secure Indigenous rights, Indigenous leadership, and sustainable financing are mutually reinforcing foundations for achieving land degradation neutrality and resilient landscapes.

A meaningful closing

The event closed with the presentation of a moose hide pin in support of the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement of men and boys, and all Canadians, standing against violence toward women and children. Wearing the moose hide signifies a commitment to honour, respect and protect women and children and to work together to end violence.

The gesture offered a meaningful close to an event that had emphasized throughout the discussion the importance of responsibility, respect and working together to turn shared commitments into action.

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we honour Indigenous women protecting forests and shaping a sustainable future. In collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), we share 5 inspiring stories of women whose leadership and knowledge are creating lasting impact.

August 6, 2026
A river that purifies. A community whose very name means ‘caretakers of the forest.’ A word – inayan – that teaches that whatever we do has consequences. Around the world, Indigenous women are leading forest governance in courtrooms, committees, and communities, carrying knowledge passed down through generations.

Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, and as part of FSC’s Where Women Took the Forest campaign, we spoke with six women from five continents about identity, leadership, and the forests they call home. Their words are below, as told to FSC.

Minnie Degawan (Kankanaey-Igorot, Philippines), Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation · Tolita Davis-Angeles (Cobble Cobble, Barunggam Nation, Australia), Chair of the FSC First Nations Committee and founder of Gandan Yarnings · Sara Omi Casamá (Emberá, Panamá), lawyer and president of the Territorial Women Leaders of Mesoamerica · Peggy Smith (Miskwaanakwadook, Red Cloud Woman; Cree ancestry, Canada), member of the FSC Canada Indigenous Chamber · Cindy Kobei (Ogiek, Kenya), lawyer and advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights · Yu-An Chen (Iupi’i ’akuyayana; Tsou Tribe, Chinese Taipei), Chairperson, Chiayi County Alishan Indigenous Tfuya Community Cooperative.

^{Sara Omi Casamá (Embera, Panama)}

What the forest means

Ask six women from six peoples on five continents the same question: what does the forest mean to you? And you hear six answers, and one.

Degawan: “When I go into the forest, I feel complete, because I’m in something of which I am a part. In truth it is a symbiotic relationship where we need the forest, and the forest needs us.”

Davis-Angeles: “The feeling of being on Country [the Aboriginal English expression for ancestral lands and one’s living connection to them] means everything to me. It’s the one place I feel completely whole, safe, content, connected. I never feel lost there, because I know the forest will show me the way home.”

Omi Casamá: “The forest is a place of tranquility; it’s like being at peace. What I like most about the forest is the river. I feel that the river purifies me, soothes me, and gives me the energy I need to continue on this path.”

Smith: “I remember once an Anishinaabe elder, a very wise woman, said to me, ‘If you’re looking for guidance, go to the forest and sit. Just be there, and the answers will come to you.’ And it’s true, the forest brings me peace, relaxation, and answers.”

Kobei: “The name of my community, ‘Ogiek’, means ‘caretakers of the forest’. We are not just people who live in the forest, we are people who take care of the forest. The forest is our home.”

Yu-An: “Most of my childhood memories are from the mountains and forests. Now when I go back to the forest, I recall those childhood memories. It is a very relaxing and comfortable place for me.”

The forest is where their stories begin. It is not where they end – because for each of these women, a moment came when caring for the forest meant stepping into the rooms where decisions about it are made.

^{Cindy Kobei (Ogiek, Kenya)}

The moment the path changed

For Minnie Degawan, that moment came at a courtroom door in Manila, where she had been asked to translate for elders from a village near her own.

Degawan: “I still remember the moment when I entered the court and saw a row of flip-flops lined up at the door. And inside, there were two groups of men: the lawyers dressed in very formal court attire, and the elders dressed in their traditional clothing and barefoot, because it is their culture to leave their footwear at the door. It was such a shock – I had never seen this divide illustrated so visually. I had come to Manila to study to become a doctor, but after that I realized that there was a greater need to bring the voices of the people to the capital.”

Sara Omi Casamá met the same divide in a law classroom in Panamá – and became the first Indigenous woman in her country to become a lawyer.

Omi Casamá: “At the same time that I was learning about my rights as an Indigenous person, I was also studying law from a Western perspective. In the classroom, we never heard about the rights of Indigenous Peoples, or about the work they were doing. That was very striking to me. It felt like a transition from being a young woman to becoming a grown woman who understands the problems and needs of her community, and how to turn them into opportunities.”

^{Minnie Degawan (Kankanaey-Igorot, Philippines)}

Leading by listening

Governance, in these women’s hands, can look like listening as much as standing at a podium.

Davis-Angeles: “I started my consultancy, Gandan Yarnings, as a way of having Indigenous voices heard. Gandan means elder sister, and ‘yarning’ is how we do business – we sit and have a yarn, we yarn things out. I’ve always been told that we’ve got two ears and only one mouth, so we should be listening twice as much as we’re speaking.”

Yu-An: “Leadership doesn’t necessarily mean standing at the front and speaking, or mimicking a strong, commanding leadership style. Women have their own strategic qualities, including listening, empathy, and caring for others – not different to men, but bringing a greater variety of qualities. Women don’t need to take on unlimited responsibility or sacrifice themselves to prove their commitment. It is enough to take part and lead in our own way.”

^{Tolita Davis-Angeles (Cobble Cobble, Barunggam Nation, Australia)}

Where knowledge meets the system

And increasingly, the knowledge these women carry is entering the formal systems of forest governance – universities, ministries, and courts – and forest management itself.

Smith: “I’m interested in the idea of ‘two-eyed seeing’, being able to use both an Indigenous perspective and a Western science perspective together for forest management. In northwestern Ontario there is an Indigenous community in discussion with the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources about how they can modify their forest management practices to protect yellow birch, which has several medicinal uses. It’s heartening to see those kinds of discussions going on, but I still see some reluctance to take traditional knowledge seriously.”

Kobei: “When we go to court, and we need to prove that the community has lived in the Mau Forest for however many years, it is women who are able to provide the evidence, because they are the knowledge holders. Women’s knowledge is valuable on this matter because they tend to be more connected to the community, they’re more connected to their children, they serve a whole generation of people.”

Davis-Angeles: “Ranger groups, like forestry in general, have tended to be heavily male-dominated, but now we are seeing support for women ranger programmes, recognizing that we need women out there caring for Country alongside the men, particularly around women’s sacred places and medicine trees.”

^{Peggy Smith (Miskwaanakwadook, Red Cloud Woman; Cree ancestry, Canada)}

To the ones who come next

Six paths, one direction. We asked each woman what she would say to the Indigenous women who follow.

Kobei: “Be proud of your identity. Be proud of the community you come from. Listen to the women who have gone before you – they have walked the journey, they know the challenges, and they have lessons they want to share. And do not be afraid to be a leader.”

Davis-Angeles: “Every day when I drop my daughter off at school I tell her, ‘You’re strong, you’re smart, and you’re resilient’. And I really hope that she sees that the more she uses her voice, the taller that she stands – for herself, and for those who can’t speak and stand – the bigger the impact she will have in her lifetime.”

Degawan: “My advice is to remember inayan. One of the concepts of inayan is that we are but a small dot in the whole scheme of things. I strive to teach my daughter that even if you think you are a big dot, you are still just a dot, and your role is to be part of something much greater than yourself. And if our dot can connect with the other dots, together we can become a beautiful rainbow.”

Six women, five continents, one thread: the knowledge was always there and increasingly, so are the decisions.

These conversations are a first door into their stories. Over the coming weeks, as part of Where Women Took the Forest, we will share each woman’s journey in full in our Knowledge Keepers series from the Mau Forest to the Cordillera to Alishan.

Follow #WhereWomenTookTheForest on FSC’s channels.

^{Minnie Degawan (Kankanaey-Igorot, Philippines)}

Originally published by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Learn more about FSC’s work with Indigenous Peoples, forests, and communities.

^{Photo: David Flood}

Last June, the 49th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium, hosted by Intertribal Timber Council, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin & Stockbridge-Munsee Community, welcomed more than 500 delegates from across the United States, creating a unique space for Tribal Nations, forestry professionals, and partners to strengthen relationships and share experiences in Indigenous forest stewardship.

^{Photos: Satnam Manhas, David Flood}

The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), participated in the Timber Symposium, with Satnam Manhas alongside David Flood, FSC PIPC Chair, and with participation of Lorraine Rekmans, FSC International Board member.

David Flood, from Matachewan First Nation, reflected on the gathering saying “it felt very welcoming, like one big family among the Intertribal Timber Council.”

Satnam Manhas also reflected on the experience, highlighting the opportunity to learn from the Menominee’s approach to forest management: “Having everyone see how the Menominee manage their forest not only for timber, but for the benefit of all species, demonstrated the importance of Indigenous stewardship and how traditional knowledge systems continue to shape sustainable forest management. It was also inspiring to see how their experience helped influence the FSC Standards.”

Likewise, Lorraine Rekmans, Serpent River First Nation, shared that the gathering, with the Menominee Tribal Enterprises at the 49th Inter Tribal Timber Symposium, was an amazing opportunity to build new partnerships. She added “the Menominee People have selectively harvested timber continuously since 1854 and they are experts in sustainable forest management. The are excellent partners to have in the FSC Network.”

---

Regional meeting between Indigenous leaders, FSC–IF and FSC

In parallel with the symposium, the FSC-IF hosted a meeting on June 8 to facilitate the selection of members from the U.S. Region on the FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC).

^{Photos: Satnam Manhas}

The meeting provided a space for dialogue on forest stewardship and the important role Indigenous Peoples play in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Participants discussed the role of PIPC members and agreed on a nomination process that reflected their own cultural values and decision-making traditions. After taking time to reflect together, attendees returned with a nomination, demonstrating Indigenous governance grounded in respect and dialogue.

A central part of the dialogue was the exchange of knowledge and perspectives between Indigenous leaders from the FSC Canada Indigenous Chamber and Indigenous participants from the United States.

The knowledge exchange also encouraged reflection on the historical experiences that continue to shape Indigenous stewardship in Canada and the United States. Reflecting on this, David shared:

“Indigenous Peoples in both countries have faced long-standing challenges related to their lands, cultures, and rights. Despite this history, Indigenous Nations continue to strengthen their governance, affirm their rights, and maintain their relationships with their traditional territories. Reconciliation is an ongoing process. FSC certification, particularly through Principle 3, can contribute by recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and supporting respect for Free, Prior and Informed Consent.”

^{Photos: Satnam Manhas}

The meeting also brought together representatives from across the FSC system, including FSC North America, FSC US, FSC Investment and Partnerships, and FSC members. Their participation created an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen collaboration, and foster dialogue between Indigenous leaders and the broader FSC community.

---

“To our Menominee brothers and sisters and the Menominee Tribal Enterprise family, thank you for a week of enrichment as you hosted the 49th Intertribal Timber Council meeting and helped facilitate the North America US Regional meeting.’’

David Flood, Matachewan First Nation