There is no credible pathway towards nature-positive without respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) often live in critical ecosystems and coexist with threatened species. They manage about 40% of all terrestrial protected areas and their ecological knowledge enables a sustainable existence worldwide. Yet, less than 13% of companies assessed express a clear commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights. To carry out projects with the potential to affect IPLCs, companies must commit to obtaining Free, Prior and Informed Consent from them to ensure their agency in the future of their territories. Additionally, despite the regular persecution of environmental- and rights-defenders, only a handful of companies have a policy in place to prevent such violent outcomes.