Indigenous Peoples: International Day to Fight for their Rights

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on August 9. This year, it coincided with the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report. The IPCC’s report quantifies the increased frequency and intensity of extreme climate events around the world, and points out that the Amazon is expected to suffer from longer dry spells in coming decades.

The importance of traditional knowledge, especially of Indigenous Peoples concerning the Amazon Forest and climate change impacts on biodiversity is gaining recognition. The role of these communities designing actions to deal with these challenges is important.  

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recognizes their contributions – through the Partnership for the Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity (PCAB) – they support several projects in Brazil focused on strengthening the territorial and environmental management of Indigenous Lands with the aim of conserving the Amazon, the most biodiverse forest in the world. 

PCAB implementing partners work in close cooperation with traditional and Indigenous Peoples’ cooperatives and associations, and provide support to 153 protected areas. Most projects (88%) are developed on Indigenous Lands and protected areas where sustainable economic activities are allowed.

These actions include strengthening value chains, sustainable income generation for families, and capacity building initiatives aimed at expanding the participation of Indigenous Peoples, especially women and youngsters.

Created by the United Nations (UN) in 1995, the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples seeks to ensure minimally dignified conditions for communities across the planet, especially with regard to their right to self-determination and to their culture and lifestyles, in addition to protecting their human rights.

For more information on PCAB projects benefiting Indigenous communities, please visit our website here.

For more information on our Indigenous women leaders: Carina Cinta Larga, an Indigenous woman who set up a project to resume the planting of traditional crops during the pandemic; Telma Marques Taurepang, honored by the US Embassy for her work and environmental activism; and Sineia Wapichana, who presented  at the US Climate Summit Indigenous Panel.