Indigenous Peoples living in intact forests are key to climate fight

A new analysis finds that at least 35 percent of the world’s remaining intact forest landscapes are managed or owned by Indigenous Peoples. The findings build on a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the significant contribution of Indigenous Peoples to protecting these vital forest ecosystems.

Intact forest landscapes globally now total 11.62 million square kilometers (4.4 million square miles), or 24 percent of all forests globally. They are disproportionately valuable for the environmental services that they provide, not least for their role in climate protection. They are estimated to absorb around 28 percent of the world’s carbon emissions annually, while also storing very significant carbon stocks – around ten years’ worth of human-caused emissions.