Case Studies Directory

Community-based monitoring of ancestral land and resources in an urban setting: the experience of the Ibaloy community of Muyot, Baguio City, the Philippines Case Study

Community-based monitoring of ancestral land and resources in an urban setting: the experience of the Ibaloy community of Muyot, Baguio City, the Philippines

The community of Muyot in the barangay (village) of Happy Hallow, Baguio City, has been home to the indigenous Ibaloys for generations. The original inhabitants and their descendants cared for…

Forest Peoples Programme4 February 2026

Community mapping projects prove Ogiek land belongs to them Case Study

Community mapping projects prove Ogiek land belongs to them

This short film explores how the Ogiek of Mount Elgon, Kenya are using mapping technology to protect their lands.

Forest Peoples Programme21 December 2022

Baiga people living with Earth, central India Case Study

Baiga people living with Earth, central India

In central India, Baiga Adivasi indigenous people's lives and food sources are under threat.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

The traditional land use system of the Lua (La-weu) peoples in northern Thailand Case Study

The traditional land use system of the Lua (La-weu) peoples in northern Thailand

By creating conservation forest areas and practising rotational farming, the Lua people's land will remain fertile indefinitely.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Wapichan Monitoring Programme, Guyana Case Study

Wapichan Monitoring Programme, Guyana

Indigenous monitoring of pollution caused by illegal gold mining persaudes the Guyanese government to introduce stronger mining regulations.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

Controlling the invasive Gmelina and bringing back biodiversity in Kalinga, Philippines Case Study

Controlling the invasive Gmelina and bringing back biodiversity in Kalinga, Philippines

Gmelina trees promised a timber harvest after just 10 years, but local communities see a huge drop in biodiversity after planting.

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

Engendering biodiversity: Zenú Women, San Andrés De Sotavento, Colombia Case Study

Engendering biodiversity: Zenú Women, San Andrés De Sotavento, Colombia

Zenú women use their front patios in a variety of ways to promote indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and food security.

Forest Peoples Programme5 June 2020

The Network of Weavers of the Indigenous Reserve of Ipiales, Colombia Case Study

The Network of Weavers of the Indigenous Reserve of Ipiales, Colombia

A revitalisation plan has helped Colombian indigenous communities recover and strengthen their traditional knowledge.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Ruma’mus Ung Gio: A ritual to honour ancestral connections to a sacred spring in Indonesia Case Study

Ruma’mus Ung Gio: A ritual to honour ancestral connections to a sacred spring in Indonesia

This short film follows Warembunga spiritual leader Tonaas Rinto Taroreh as he conducts a ritual to protect and honour ancestral connections to a sacred spring near his community in Indonesia.

Forest Peoples Programme4 April 2023

Maya early-warning systems in Guatemala Case Study

Maya early-warning systems in Guatemala

Indigenous knowledge provides resilience to a changing climate for Maya Kaqchikel farmers.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

The community-based tagal system in Sabah, Malaysia Case Study

The community-based tagal system in Sabah, Malaysia

The Dusun peoples' Tagal concept is adopted by the Sabah Fisheries Department and around 400 river co-management systems.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

The right to citizenship among Baka, Bagyeli and Bedzang in Cameroon Case Study

The right to citizenship among Baka, Bagyeli and Bedzang in Cameroon

Projects help Indigenous peoples in Cameroon attain citizenship so that they can access their rights.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia: indigenous Dayak try to save forest, river and lake habitats under threat from palm oil expansion Case Study

Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia: indigenous Dayak try to save forest, river and lake habitats under threat from palm oil expansion

Dayak people use innovative approaches to attempt to protect their customary land from palm oil companies.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

How members of the Maya Kaqchikel community predict changes in the weather Case Study

How members of the Maya Kaqchikel community predict changes in the weather

This short film shows how members of the Maya Kaqchikel community in Guatemala predict changes in the weather

Forest Peoples Programme22 December 2022

A ritual to call for an end to torrential rain in Indonesia Case Study

A ritual to call for an end to torrential rain in Indonesia

This short film follows a Dayak community from Sungai Utik village in Indonesia, who have endured months of constant rain.

Forest Peoples Programme21 December 2022

Watershed conservation by indigenous communities of Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet, the Philippines Case Study

Watershed conservation by indigenous communities of Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet, the Philippines

Taloy Sur is a mountainous barangay located in Tuba, in the province of Benguet in the Philippines. It abounds in forests and river systems, and indigenous communities have been at…

Forest Peoples Programme23 February 2026

The Kalanguya experience of community-based monitoring and information systems in Tinoc, Ifugao, Philippines. Case Study

The Kalanguya experience of community-based monitoring and information systems in Tinoc, Ifugao, Philippines.

Community research in the Philippines leads to plans to halt environmental degradation and enhance customary governance.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

The Ogiek’s experience with protected areas in Mount Elgon, Kenya: Ways towards rights-based conservation Case Study

The Ogiek’s experience with protected areas in Mount Elgon, Kenya: Ways towards rights-based conservation

IUCN-aided roundtable discussions with the Ogiek and Kenyan authorities facilitated a brief period of mutual understanding.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Indigenous peoples’ education in Filipino schools Case Study

Indigenous peoples’ education in Filipino schools

There is a growing movement, both in schools and out, to revitalise indigenous knowledge through educational activities.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Indigenous peoples participate in NBSAP processes in Costa Rica Case Study

Indigenous peoples participate in NBSAP processes in Costa Rica

Youth, elders and adults from indigenous communities all participated in the creation of a National Biodiversity Strategy.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Safeguarding lands and territories: court cases mounted by the Maya, Belize Case Study

Safeguarding lands and territories: court cases mounted by the Maya, Belize

After years of illegal land invasions, Mayan leaders go to court to fight for recognition of their territory.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

Community-based documentation of positive contributions of traditional rotational farming to carbon sequestration and ecosystem resilience, Thailand Case Study

Community-based documentation of positive contributions of traditional rotational farming to carbon sequestration and ecosystem resilience, Thailand

Research on sustainable indigenous farming methods in Thailand lead to policy support from the government.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

The Wampís Nation demand national and international recognition for conserving and protecting their territory Case Study

The Wampís Nation demand national and international recognition for conserving and protecting their territory

The Wampís Nation are an indigenous autonomous government who are fighting to stop rich investors from entering Wampis territory to carry out logging, oil extraction or mining.

Forest Peoples Programme13 December 2022

IPLCs making good use of REDD+ in Vietnam Case Study

IPLCs making good use of REDD+ in Vietnam

Communities integrate the principles of carbon sequestration and reductions in deforestation in a way that respects human rights.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

El Balché: Sacred trees and bees of the Maya people, Mexico Case Study

El Balché: Sacred trees and bees of the Maya people, Mexico

Maya communities reforest bee-keeping areas with Balché trees, which have many traditional uses.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

Zenu Indigenous women grow crops for their community Case Study

Zenu Indigenous women grow crops for their community

This micro-documentary speaks to the members of the Zenú women’s collective, who work together on the land to grow crops for their community.

Forest Peoples Programme22 December 2022

Wapichan people’s plan to secure and care for their lands, Guyana Case Study

Wapichan people’s plan to secure and care for their lands, Guyana

The Wapichan peoples ' have created a detailed plan to safeguard their territory, but they need legal recognition of their land to do so.

Open & Honest4 July 2018

Revitalising indigenous food systems in Besao, Mountain Province, the Philippines Case Study

Revitalising indigenous food systems in Besao, Mountain Province, the Philippines

Up until the 1980s the Payew people of Mountain Province in the Philippines were largely self-sufficient in food, and even exported some of their surplus bananas and rice. They sourced…

Forest Peoples Programme28 April 2026

Exploring a labelling scheme for biocultural heritage-based products Case Study

Exploring a labelling scheme for biocultural heritage-based products

A new labelling initiatve could give products a unique character, providing a source of income and incentives fo communities.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Getting REDD+ to work for IPLCs in Vietnam Case Study

Getting REDD+ to work for IPLCs in Vietnam

This project gave IPLCs the legal standing to ensure REDD+ strategies respect human rights and traditional knowledge.

Forest Peoples Programme14 September 2020

Criminalisation of a Dayak community in Long Isun, Kalimantan, Indonesia Case Study

Criminalisation of a Dayak community in Long Isun, Kalimantan, Indonesia

A peaceful protest in Long Isun led to a community member being jailed for 109 days.

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

Pgaz K’ynau create a thriving social enterprise in north Thailand Case Study

Pgaz K’ynau create a thriving social enterprise in north Thailand

This short film shows how the indigenous community of Pgaz K’Nyau in northern Thailand have created a thriving social enterprise.

Forest Peoples Programme21 December 2022

The Indigenous Tierra Madre Case Study

The Indigenous Tierra Madre

The ITM in India is a celebration of the cultural and biological diversity of indigenous communities.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Linking community-based monitoring and reporting of oil pollution to environmental enforcement: FECONACO’s Territorial Monitoring Programme Case Study

Linking community-based monitoring and reporting of oil pollution to environmental enforcement: FECONACO’s Territorial Monitoring Programme

Indigenous communities flag areas where oil extraction has caused pollution and destruction of ecosystems to the Peruvian state.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Sharian: the Wampis Academy of Leaders, Peru Case Study

Sharian: the Wampis Academy of Leaders, Peru

A youth academy will cultivate young leaders who will defend and promote the autonomous development of the Wampis Nation.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Bio-cultural protocol of the traditional healers of snake bite, Sri Lanka Case Study

Bio-cultural protocol of the traditional healers of snake bite, Sri Lanka

Native healers face many challenges to carry out their work in Sri Lanka, but their bio-cultural protocol hopes to change this.

Forest Peoples Programme29 October 2020

Children of the water: Plan de Vida (Life Plan) of the Misak people, Colombia Case Study

Children of the water: Plan de Vida (Life Plan) of the Misak people, Colombia

The Misak create a political strategy to ensure the existence of community life and spirituality linked to Mother Nature.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Pgaz K’Nyau community social enterprise as alternative livelihoods for young generations, northern Thailand Case Study

Pgaz K’Nyau community social enterprise as alternative livelihoods for young generations, northern Thailand

To reduce urban migration in Pgaz K'Nyau youth, young people are given the opportunity to create community social enterprises.

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

Traditional knowledge and customary sustainable practices to conserve the endangered red panda in Ilam, Nepal Case Study

Traditional knowledge and customary sustainable practices to conserve the endangered red panda in Ilam, Nepal

Indigenous communities in Ilam use customary law and traditional knowledge to protect the red panda's natural habitat.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

The story of the Potato Park Case Study

The story of the Potato Park

The Potato Park in Peru helps indigenous communities revitalise their traditional knowledge and food security.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Local government regulations support community-led natural resource management in Thailand Case Study

Local government regulations support community-led natural resource management in Thailand

Thai local governments are financing community management of lands, as well as rehabilitating Karen indigenous lifestyles.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Indigenous Digir women maintain food security for their community. Case Study

Indigenous Digir women maintain food security for their community.

Nana Yala (Mother Earth) follows a collective of Indigenous women from the Digir Community in Panama as they work together on their fields

Forest Peoples Programme22 December 2022

The Wampis nation in the Peruvian Amazon declares the creation of the first autonomous indigenous government Case Study

The Wampis nation in the Peruvian Amazon declares the creation of the first autonomous indigenous government

Wampis Nation leaders hope an autonomous government will give them political strength to protect their territory from extractivism.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

Environmental leadership workshops for indigenous youth in Mountain Province, Philippines Case Study

Environmental leadership workshops for indigenous youth in Mountain Province, Philippines

Young indigenous people accept their role as as inheritors of the land by creating solutions to environmental problems.

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

Protecting community-led conservation of Wapichan wiizi in Guyana Case Study

Protecting community-led conservation of Wapichan wiizi in Guyana

The Wapichan conserved headwaters area offers a unique contribution to global biodiversity and to Guyana’s 30×30 target.

Forest Peoples Programme28 January 2026

Restoration and reforestation of the Cañamomo Lomaprieta Indigenous Reserve, Colombia Case Study

Restoration and reforestation of the Cañamomo Lomaprieta Indigenous Reserve, Colombia

Members of the Indigenous reserve are working on environmental restoration practices, with no support from the government.

Forest Peoples Programme5 June 2020

Shipibo-Conibo people defend their territories from palm oil in the Peruvian Amazon Case Study

Shipibo-Conibo people defend their territories from palm oil in the Peruvian Amazon

Through ground-breaking legal action, the Shipibo-Conibo people are fighting against illegal palm oil plantations on their land.

Forest Peoples Programme14 September 2020