Indigenous women help nature thrive
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) celebrates Indigenous women as vital custodians of biodiversity and traditional knowledge across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. From seed conservation and sacred forest protection to community health and climate resilience, these leaders demonstrate how women’s knowledge sustains ecosystems and strengthens Indigenous governance.
Indigenous Peoples are custodians of the Earth’s biodiversity
On the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity 2022, CI’s Minnie Degawan, a member of the Kankanaey-Igorot Indigenous group in the Philippines, and IUCN’’s Anita Tzec, Maya Yucatec from Belize, highlight the importance of strengthening the leadership and capacities of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in preserving biodiversity.
ICI Report | GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative Inception Workshops Report
The implementation of the GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) began on February 21, 2022 through an inception phase composed of a series of virtual workshops held from February 21 to April 07, 2022. The ICI Project Management Unit (PMU) produced an inception report documenting all key highlights, activities, and decisions of the inception phase.
Indigenous stewardship of nature can revitalize our globe — investing in IPs and LCs-led solutions means investing in our planet
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) is channeling USD 25 million in direct financing to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to transform conservation through locally led governance, traditional knowledge, and sustainable livelihoods. From the Himalayas to the Andean Cordillera and the African rangelands, these Indigenous-led solutions demonstrate that investing in IPLC leadership is one of the most effective pathways to protect biodiversity and address the climate crisis.