ICI Video | ICI Presents: When the River Speaks
When the River Speaks follows Maglin, a young Yine mother from Peru’s Madre de Dios, as she carries her community’s voice to the global Minamata Convention to confront mercury contamination threatening Indigenous lives and territories. Supported by the Inclusive Conservation Initiative, Yine communities are strengthening territorial governance, training mercury monitors, and empowering women and youth to advocate for policies that protect their rivers, health, and futures.
ICI Video | Lighting the Path with Indigenous Knowledge
2025 marks a defining year for Indigenous leadership in global environmental policy. Hear from Indigenous leaders of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) on how Indigenous Knowledge is lighting the policy path -- from Abu Dhabi, to COP6 for the Minamata Convention, and to UNFCCC COP30 in Belém.
Walking the Talk: Indigenous Leadership Advances Inclusive Conservation Worldwide
Discover how Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities across 10 territories in 12 countries are leading inclusive conservation through biocultural mapping, direct financing, and community-driven governance. The ICI Phase Three report reveals measurable impacts across more than 6 million hectares, proving that Indigenous leadership is delivering durable biodiversity and climate solutions worldwide.
ICI Report | Inclusive Conservation Initiative Phase 3 Report – Walking the Talk: How Inclusive Conservation is Delivering Results
Phase 3 marks ICI’s transition from design to delivery, with Indigenous-led organizations across 12 countries directly managing conservation efforts at scale. The report highlights how Indigenous governance, gender-responsive systems, and culturally grounded monitoring are now shaping national policies and global agendas—offering a replicable model for rights-based, community-led conservation that works. With direct access to finance and decision-making power, they advanced land rights, governance, gender equity, and policy influence—proving that Indigenous-led action is critical to effective, scalable conservation.
ICI Video | The Path is Made by Walking: Indigenous Leadership Advances Inclusive Conservation in Kenya
This video features IMPACT Kenya’s use of biocultural mapping to secure pastoralist land rights and highlights how the Inclusive Conservation Initiative is enabling Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to lead conservation across 10 territories in 12 countries. The 2024–25 Achievements and Learning Report shows how ICI is shifting power through rights-based finance, from land tenure gains in Tanzania to gender-responsive frameworks in the Amazon and biocultural education programs in Mesoamerica.
We are not beneficiaries of conservation efforts – we are partners
On International Mother Earth Day, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities across ten geographies are demonstrating that they are not beneficiaries of conservation, but equal partners shaping biodiversity action through scaled, direct finance. From biocultural mapping to landmark co-governance agreements, the Inclusive Conservation Initiative shows how Indigenous leadership is redefining conservation worldwide.
COP16: Advancing Indigenous Leadership and Inclusive Conservation
At CBD COP16, Indigenous leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo showcased how direct access to biodiversity finance, legal recognition of ICCAs, and traditional governance are transforming conservation outcomes. Through ANAPAC and the Inclusive Conservation Initiative, IPLCs are advancing women’s leadership, securing territories of life, and shaping global biodiversity policy.
ICI at COP16: Fostering Inclusive Conservation and advancing Indigenous Rights
At COP16 in Cali, Colombia, Indigenous co-chairs of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative demonstrated Indigenous governance in action, reaching consensus on 15 strategic decisions to guide global conservation. Through direct engagement with the GEF and IIFB, ICI leaders advanced the case for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as primary decision-makers in biodiversity finance and policy.
Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) Phase 2 Report: A Focus on Inclusive Finance
The ICI Phase 2 Report highlights how $14.5 million in direct-access agreements are enabling Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to lead conservation through their own governance systems. Supported by the GEF, the report demonstrates how inclusive finance is transforming biodiversity protection while advancing rights-based, self-determined climate and conservation solutions.
ICI Report | Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) Phase Two Report: A Focus on Inclusive Finance
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) Phase 2 Report provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made towards inclusive conservation practices and the implementation of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs)-led initiatives over the past year. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this initiative highlights the leadership of IPs and LCs in conservation efforts and the delivery of global environmental benefits (GEBs).
Brief | Road Map for Advancing Rights and Equity in Conservation
International workshop on advancing rights and equity in the implementation of Target 3 | January/February 2024 Nanyuki, Kenya.
Indigenous Leaders Of ICI Advocate For Inclusion At GEF Assembly
Indigenous leaders from the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) participated in the GEF Assembly in Vancouver, advocating for inclusive conservation and greater recognition of Indigenous-led initiatives. They highlighted the importance of direct funding, Indigenous governance, and gender equity, while welcoming the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) to support Indigenous and local communities.
ICI Video | ICI-GEF 1st Global Learning Exchange
The first Inclusive Conservation Initiative Global Learning Exchange was hosted by the Isaak Olam Foundation on the unceded territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in August 2023, bringing together Indigenous leaders from all ten ICI initiatives and members of the GEF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group. The gathering included the inaugural meeting of the ICI Global Steering Committee ahead of the 7th GEF Assembly in Vancouver, marking a milestone in Indigenous-led global conservation governance.
ICI Video | the Inclusive Conservation Initiative
This video introduces the GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative, a new model providing large-scale, long-term direct financing to Indigenous and local community organizations to drive environmental, cultural, and economic impact. Representatives from nine initiatives across 12 countries share how this approach is strengthening Indigenous leadership and transforming conservation from the ground up.
First phase of ICI implementation highlights importance of Indigenous-led conservation and need for increased funding
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) Phase One Report showcases the first phase of Indigenous-led conservation efforts, demonstrating their effectiveness in protecting 7.6 million hectares of biodiverse landscapes. The report emphasizes the need for increased funding and adaptive finance mechanisms to support Indigenous Peoples and local communities in stewarding lands, waters, and natural resources globally.
ICI Report | Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) Phase One Report: Spearheading Inclusive Conservation
On 09 August 2023 (International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples), the Inclusive Conservation Initiative released its Phase One Report, summarizing the first phase of its implementation, from ideation in December 2019 to implementation status in mid-2023.
The first year of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI): Kicking off a global paradigm shift, together
In its first year, the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) launched nine subprojects across 12 countries to empower Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as leaders in conservation and decision-making. By promoting Indigenous governance, gender equality, and direct access to climate and biodiversity finance, ICI is building a global movement for inclusive, culturally grounded, and impactful environmental stewardship.
ICI Video | Highlights of the launch of the GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) at CBD COP 15
The GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) was launched on December 9, 2022, at CBD COP 15 to increase direct financing for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, supporting global environmental, cultural, and economic benefits. The event featured remarks from the GEF, IPAG, IUCN, and Conservation International, and highlighted subprojects from IMPACT Kenya, Futa Mawiza, and IMPECT.
ICI events at CBD COP 15
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) participated in multiple events at CBD COP 15 in Montreal, including the official launch on December 9, 2022, to promote direct action and funding for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Key sessions highlighted traditional knowledge, human rights, and integrating Indigenous priorities into climate and biodiversity strategies.
ICI is at COP 27!
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) participated in COP 27 in Sharm el Sheikh, sharing insights on the power of direct climate finance to support Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Key events highlighted inclusive partnerships, translating pledges into action, and strengthening Indigenous leadership for climate and biodiversity solutions.