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Terrindigena: For the Rights of Indigenous Communities In The Amazon

Project

terrindigena amazonie forêt autochtones communautés
© Fundación Gaia Amazonas
Project start date
Status

Ongoing

AFD financing amount
12 720 000 €
Country and region
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Location
North region of the Amazon river
Type of financing
Grant
Partners
French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM)
Beneficiaries
NGOs Gaïa Amazonas, EcoCiencia, IéPé, ISA, IBC and NCI
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The project, financed by AFD and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) with a €12.72 million grant, is contributing to efforts to protect over 50 million hectares of land in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in partnership with 60 indigenous organizations.

Context

The Amazon rainforest is essential to maintaining the fundamental ecological balances of the planet. It is today threatened by deforestation, the degradation of its ecosystems and the overexploitation of its resources. The creation of protected areas and the recognition of indigenous territories are two of the main tools to protect it and curb deforestation. These areas cover about 47.2% of the Amazon (RAISG – Amazon Network of Georeferenced Socio-Environmental Information).

The north region of the Amazon River is one of the best preserved Amazon areas, but now faces increasing environmental threats (deforestation, water and soil pollution) and sociocultural threats (increased vulnerability of indigenous communities).

Description

The project’s five main areas of operation are located in the north region of the Amazon River, in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The TerrIndigena project is implemented by the NGOs Gaïa Amazonas (Colombia), EcoCiencia (Ecuador), IéPé (Brazil), ISA (Brazil), IBC (Peru) and NCI (Peru), in partnership with 60 organizations of indigenous communities living in these territories. The activities are based on four areas:

  • Strengthening governance tools to improve the representation of indigenous rights and the protection of territories.
  • Community monitoring of endogenous and exogenous pressures and threats.
  • Implementing income-generating activities compatible with traditional values and cultures, which respect ecosystems.
  • Exchanging knowledge and experience at regional level and coordinating stakeholders.

Impacts

  • Updating and/or implementation of 28 life plans and 18 networking agreements with external stakeholders, which include free, prior and informed consent.
  • Monitoring of the pressures, threats and changes for 26,820,000 hectares of forest cover through an intercultural system combining monitoring via GIS systems and monitoring via the communities’ own traditional indicators.
  • Support for the development of 7 economic initiatives based on non-timber forest products and integrated in the culture of the communities.