For generations, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples and other traditional communities have protected and stewarded the ecosystems we all depend on.
More than a third of intact forest landscapes globally lie within Indigenous territories, and traditional knowledge holds keys to valuable nature and climate solutions. Yet traditional lands, societies, knowledge and practices are threatened by extraction and development.
In 2024, our partners helped communities advance tenure security and governance of their lands and forests across three continents, over an area larger than Italy.
These advances supported thousands of Indigenous, Afro-descendant and local communities, bringing us closer to our Five-Year Target of strengthening tenure across 60 million hectares by 2027.
PART ONE: SEEDS TAKE HOLD
The crucial role of traditional communities and the impacts of resource extraction and unchecked development on their cultures and lands are mirrored across diverse cultures and regions of the world.
The Indonesian region of Papua on the western half of New Guinea harbours some of the world’s most carbon-rich and biodiverse forests.
Indigenous Papuans, who make up most of Papua’s population, find everything they need in these forests – and work to safeguard them for future generations.
But Papua’s forests are also a target for logging, mining, and large-scale agriculture. Deforestation will have a devastating effect, not only on Indigenous Papuans and their descendants, but also on regional biodiversity and the global climate.
In 2024, Indigenous leaders across Indonesia united in action to push for change in Papua. With Tenure Facility’s support, partners mapped over 1 million hectares and secured governmental recognition of more than 500,000 hectares of Indigenous land. This included the largest territory to ever achieve recognition in the region, marking a major step toward protecting these ecosystems and communities for generations to come.
In 2024, Tenure Facility supported 35 active projects across 18 countries. This map highlights where Tenure Facility is funding projects, expanding operations, and assessing future engagement — illustrating our growing global footprint.
We partner with many of the largest and most influential Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local community organisations across the regions we work in. Find out more about who we work with in our Report Appendix.
From the Amazon to Southeast Asia, our partners are turning funding into lasting change. Dive into a selection of their stories below — and discover more in our full 2024 annual report.