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Protecting Indigenous peoples’ rights to land, water and resources is a long-term investment in the future for all of us: after all, though they are only five per cent of the global population, Indigenous people look after 80 per cent of global biodiversity. Their traditional ecological knowledge is vital for the survival of our planet and humankind but Indigenous voices are often excluded when it comes to decision-making around their own ancestral lands. 

In the 1980s the Congolese government forcibly seized the Kahuzi Biega Forest, evicting the Batwa Pygmy peoples who lived there, and converted it into government-protected land without consulting the community. They then sold dense, healthy forests to mining and logging companies. Since the government evicted the Indigenous peoples, forest cover in this area has reduced by a shocking 40 per cent. 

In response, the Kivu Indigenous Peoples Movement (CPAKI – Collectif Pour Les Peuples Autochtones Au Kivu), a group of community members affected by the displacement, came together to educate locals about their rights, protect other Indigenous communities from forced evictions, stop destructive logging and mining in their forests, and build self-sufficiency through sustainable agriculture. 

Emboldened by the strength of their growing movement, and eventually by small grants support through Global Greengrants Fund, Indigenous Mbuti people stood up for their rights and successfully resisted eviction from their territory when the Itombwe National Park was created in the 2000s. They now play a co-management role in the forest’s protection. As a result, Itombwe will be better protected, as well as continuing to sustain Mbuti livelihoods. 

Global Greengrants Fund works through a decentralised and participatory decision-making model in which decisions on funding are made through volunteer advisors who live locally in the regions in which we fund. They are part of movements themselves and have a deep understanding of the actors and dynamics. We rely on the inside knowledge these advisors have of local action and movements. 

Protecting Indigenous land rights correlates directly with protecting forests, which are critical in safeguarding our planet against catastrophic climate change. The large-scale global impact of supporting Indigenous forest communities is therefore evident. We are also proud to have supported a movement that has inspired local people to stand up for their rights. Their success has encouraged others to follow suit: clear evidence of their effectiveness in leveraging opportunities and building power. Our small grants can go a remarkable way in supporting movements to bring in new voices and expand their networks to reach new people – building the power of people to protect their land and their rights.

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