Even as we face the consequencs of climate change, the current development paradigm continues to displace indigenous peoples and local communities to make space for big new projects that exploit forest, water, mineral, and pasture resources; develop the land for tourism; and set aside huge areas as nature preserves. This issue is real and urgent for indigenous communities on every continent. Proper recognition of the land rights of indigenous and local communities is essential for justice and equitability, and traditional land management practices and food systems, far from being antithetical to landscape and biodiversity conservation, are a necessary component of any attempt to achieve truly sustainable development in a habitable global environment.
