Conservation is meant to protect nature. Yet in many parts of the world, it continues to come at the expense of the Indigenous Peoples who have safeguarded forests, biodiversity, and ecosystems for generations.
From Criminalization to Genuine Partnership: Transforming Conservation Laws to Rights-based Legal Frameworks, published by Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), examines how conservation laws and policies affect Indigenous Peoples across Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Drawing on regional legal analyses and country case studies, the report identifies recurring patterns of exclusion, criminalization, forced displacement, restrictions on traditional livelihoods, and the denial of Indigenous governance systems.
The report argues that the central challenge is not the ambition of global biodiversity goals, but the persistence of conservation models rooted in colonial approaches that exclude Indigenous Peoples from decisions about their own lands and territories. Despite overwhelming evidence that Indigenous governance contributes to healthier forests, stronger biodiversity protection, and more resilient ecosystems, conservation policies too often undermine the very systems that have proven most effective in protecting nature.
Rather than rejecting conservation, the publication calls for a shift from criminalization to genuine partnership. It outlines practical legal and policy reforms to align conservation with international human rights standards, including the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to lands, territories, and resources; the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC); an end to forced evictions and criminalization; and increased support for Indigenous-led conservation and territorial governance.
The report concludes with recommendations for governments, conservation organizations, donors, and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, emphasizing that biodiversity goals cannot be achieved by weakening the communities that have protected the planet’s most important ecosystems for centuries. Rights-based conservation is not only more just—it is also more effective.
Download the report to explore the comparative legal analysis, country case studies, and recommendations for transforming conservation into a model that protects both biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
