Voices of the Land: Amplifying Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Action

Forests are more than trees—they are living ecosystems of culture, sustenance, and ancestral wisdom. For Indigenous Peoples, forests provide not only food and medicine, but also identity and a profound spiritual connection to Mother Earth. 

And yet, with accelerating deforestation, what is at stake is not only biodiversity—but generations of Indigenous knowledge and responsible forest management practices that have quietly sustained the planet. 

🌱 This Mother Earth Day, we are proud to mark the soft launch of Voices of the Land, a global campaign by the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF)—in collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)—that uplifts Indigenous Knowledge Systems as vital, time-tested solutions for climate resilience and responsible forest stewardship. 

🎥 Voices of the Land | Soft Launch Video

Filmed in Aotearoa (New Zealand) during the Oceania Regional Meeting of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC), this video captures voices from the land—Indigenous leaders and youth expressing what forest stewardship and honoring Mother Earth means to them.

More than a vision statement, the video is a call to action. It provokes emotion, invites global collaboration, and urges decision-makers, organizations, and allies to recognize Indigenous leadership in climate solutions. 

🌍 Why Voices of the Land?

This Mother Earth Day, we remember: 

• Indigenous Peoples protect 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity—yet their knowledge, languages, and cultural practices remain under threat. 
• 25% of the world’s land is managed by Indigenous communities who have maintained these landscapes through generations of stewardship. 
   

This campaign is a response to an ecological emergency—and a cultural one. 

Voices of the Land seeks to bridge Indigenous knowledge with global sustainability efforts, advocate for Indigenous rights, and spark real action through policy, funding, and partnerships. 

🌐 This Mother Earth Day, how will you stand with her? 
Whether you’re a policymaker, business leader, environmental advocate, or ally, there are many ways to be part of this movement: 

🤝 Advocate: Use your platform to elevate Indigenous voices in climate conversations. 
🌾 Contribute: Support Indigenous-led initiatives through funding, technology, or resources. 
📢 Share: Amplify the campaign in your networks and help build a global chorus for change. 

📩 Interested in collaborating? Reach out to us at fsc.if@fsc.org 
Together, let’s create space for Indigenous guardians of the forest to lead the way. 

🌎 This Mother Earth Day, let’s not just celebrate the Earth—we must protect those who have protected her for generations.