Do Indigenous peoples really conserve 80% of the world’s biodiversity?
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Loading... - Brian Lyus
- 04 Oct 2024
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A recent commentary piece in the journal Nature has sparked controversy in the conservation world by claiming that the widely-cited statistic that 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity is protected by Indigenous peoples is baseless and wrong. The authors of the piece argue that the statistic is not supported by any real data and that it is impossible to quantify biodiversity.
However, not all researchers agree with the authors' conclusions, and many Indigenous activists have called the commentary unethical. Some argue that the statistic may not be entirely accurate, but it is still a useful rough estimate that highlights the importance of Indigenous peoples' role in conserving biodiversity.
The issue is complex, and there are different opinions on how to calculate the actual number. Some researchers suggest using species richness, key biodiversity areas, ecoregions, or the distribution of plants, wildlife, and fungi as proxies for calculating how much Indigenous peoples conserve. Others propose using land maps like LandMark, the best available global map of Indigenous and community lands, or maps used in a 2018 Nature study.
Gathering accurate data on Indigenous lands is also a challenge, and both these maps have significant gaps. Researchers should use up-to-date data on Indigenous lands, including those that are not yet titled. States' lack of recognition of ancestral lands, the absence of mapping Indigenous lands in country maps, and unresolved land conflicts make it difficult to obtain accurate data on the full scope of all Indigenous lands.
Despite the challenges, many researchers agree that Indigenous peoples play a crucial role in conserving biodiversity, and that their lands are in better shape from an ecological perspective than lands managed by the state or privately owned lands. Recognizing and respecting Indigenous title to land is an important conservation strategy, and there is also a compelling human rights argument that states must respect Indigenous rights when taking conservation action.
The controversy surrounding the 80% statistic highlights the need for more research and data on Indigenous peoples' role in conserving biodiversity. It also underscores the importance of respecting Indigenous rights and acknowledging their connection to the land, which is physical, cultural, and spiritual.
