Exploring our connection with communities and the Earth

Secure land tenure is the bedrock of indigenous resilience. With the support of Tenure Facility, Indigenous Peoples and other communities can not only assert their territorial claims but also weave their traditions of collective stewardship into the fabric of the law.

That’s just one of the messages from Nonette Royo, Tenure Facility’s executive director, as she explained our work and mission on TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” podcast.

“What’s important is that we depend on each other,” she said. “Where the Indigenous Peoples are is where nature is most intact and is providing a very unique and integrated ecosystem for the cities, the towns, and the water systems.”

She also stressed that our funding isn’t just about protecting land; it’s about safeguarding our future. Research shows that with recognised and respected land rights, deforestation rates plummet, underscoring the vital role of land tenure in preserving our forests amidst the challenges of climate change.

Royo talked about how listening, consulting, and collaborating with various communities are central to Tenure Facility projects.

“The fact that there’s a space where they can share who they are as a people in a safer way is so important in the growing of these different sort of communities,” she said.