Case Studies Directory

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

Whanganui River recognised as a legal person, New Zealand Case Study

Whanganui River recognised as a legal person, New Zealand

The Whanganui river is the ancestor to its people, and legal person status means it must be treated as an indivisible whole.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021

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

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

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

Using traditional Miskitu governance practices to care for waterways in Nicaragua Case Study

Using traditional Miskitu governance practices to care for waterways in Nicaragua

The Karata community of the Cayos Miskitu Biological reserve has adopted laws to strengthen its governance, assure its biocultural connection and to preserve its knowledge, traditional practice and ways of…

Forest Peoples Programme5 December 2022

Reducing and reusing waste in the Guna Yala region, Panama Case Study

Reducing and reusing waste in the Guna Yala region, Panama

The Guna General Congress commits to multiple actions to find simple, rapid, low-cost measures to deal with waste.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

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

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

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

How an indigenous group in Far-East Russia fought to protect their lands: the creation of Bikin National Park Case Study

How an indigenous group in Far-East Russia fought to protect their lands: the creation of Bikin National Park

Multimedia story on the creation of Bikin National park, which is unique in its management system that includes indigenous and non-indigenous groups.

Forest Peoples Programme5 October 2022

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

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

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

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

Restoring community lands in Galicia, Spain to adapt to climate change Case Study

Restoring community lands in Galicia, Spain to adapt to climate change

This film shows how a community in northern Spain are working to replace industrially-planted trees with native species.

Forest Peoples Programme21 December 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indigenous monitoring of silk moths in the Arctic and Siberia Case Study

Indigenous monitoring of silk moths in the Arctic and Siberia

Silk moth caterpillars destroy coniferous forests, and indigenous monitoring systems are alerting officals to new sightings.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

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

Loko iʻa: Indigenous aquaculture and mariculture in Hawaiʻi, USA Case Study

Loko iʻa: Indigenous aquaculture and mariculture in Hawaiʻi, USA

Restoring indigenous loko i'a fishing techniques leads to a renewal of traditional practices and values.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

Heirloom recipes of the Cordillera, Philippines Case Study

Heirloom recipes of the Cordillera, Philippines

A recipe book uses traditional ingredients from the Cordillera region to ensure traditional knowledge is safeguarded.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

World Heritage listing as a tool to heal Gunditjmara Country; Budj Bim Indigenous Protected Area, Australia Case Study

World Heritage listing as a tool to heal Gunditjmara Country; Budj Bim Indigenous Protected Area, Australia

After invasion, colonialism and dispossession, the Gunditjmara of Australia regain control over their right to their cultural heritage.

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

History of the Ngati Hine pilot program for the monitoring, recovery, and protection of eels Case Study

History of the Ngati Hine pilot program for the monitoring, recovery, and protection of eels

New Zealand government works with Ngati Hine nation, using their indigenous knowledge to protect and monitor eels.

Forest Peoples Programme4 July 2018

Indigenous eels in Canada Case Study

Indigenous eels in Canada

A threatened eel species should be restored using indigenous knowledge from First Nations.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

The making of the Endorois people’s bio-cultural protocol, Kenya Case Study

The making of the Endorois people’s bio-cultural protocol, Kenya

The protocol sets out the Endorois community's challenges and opportunities and calls for the government to act.

Forest Peoples Programme29 October 2020

The Gwich’in and the porcupine caribou herd, North America Case Study

The Gwich’in and the porcupine caribou herd, North America

Lands that are vital to the survival of endangered carbibou and the Gwich'in people are at risk from oil and gas extraction.

Forest Peoples Programme23 November 2021

Communities tackle beach pollution in Antigua and Barbuda Case Study

Communities tackle beach pollution in Antigua and Barbuda

The ‘Adopt a Coastline’ initiative aimed to change the attitudes and behaviour of local children through fostering and mentoring youth stewards to conserve and protect the marine and coastal assets…

Forest Peoples Programme19 December 2022

Tribes address salmon declines in the US Pacific Northwest Case Study

Tribes address salmon declines in the US Pacific Northwest

The tribes of Washington State attempt to recover salmon stocks, but highlight the need to address large-scale underlying causes.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

Monitoring seagrass in the Torres Strait, Australia Case Study

Monitoring seagrass in the Torres Strait, Australia

Indigenous peoples of the Torres strait monitor and conserve seagrass which supports the largest dugong population in the world.

Forest Peoples Programme24 November 2021

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

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

Climate change adaptation: Restoring community common lands in Galicia, Spain Case Study

Climate change adaptation: Restoring community common lands in Galicia, Spain

A legal designation has allowed many communities to regain control of and restore their forest lands.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

Bikin National Park: innovative co-management in the Russian Federation Case Study

Bikin National Park: innovative co-management in the Russian Federation

Bikin National park is unique in its management system that includes indigenous and non-indigenous groups.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

Climate change and food sovereignty in the Arctic Case Study

Climate change and food sovereignty in the Arctic

A changing climate requires concerted efforts by indigenous inuit knowledge holders to carry out sustainable harvests.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

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 Rooibos Benefit-Sharing Agreement: Breaking new ground with respect, honesty, fairness, and care, South Africa Case Study

The Rooibos Benefit-Sharing Agreement: Breaking new ground with respect, honesty, fairness, and care, South Africa

The Khoi-San peoples of South Africa develop benefit-sharing agreements for companies wanting to use their research on Rooibos tea.

Forest Peoples Programme2 March 2021

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

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

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

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

The potential impact of small grants: GEF-SGP support for Walling Nature Reserve, Antigua-Barbuda Case Study

The potential impact of small grants: GEF-SGP support for Walling Nature Reserve, Antigua-Barbuda

A small grant initiative leads to the first community-managed conservation site in the country and is inspiring others.

Forest Peoples Programme7 September 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

Traditional herders are needed to safeguard biodiversity of species-rich grasslands in Central Europe Case Study

Traditional herders are needed to safeguard biodiversity of species-rich grasslands in Central Europe

A traditional herding family describes their life on the farm and how they work to restore and maintain grazing pastures

Forest Peoples Programme3 August 2022

Good practice for collaborative environmental impact assessment: Raglan Nickel Mine, northern Quebec, Canada Case Study

Good practice for collaborative environmental impact assessment: Raglan Nickel Mine, northern Quebec, Canada

Indigenous Inuit people meaningfully engage in an environmental and social impact assessment of a mine.

Forest Peoples Programme14 September 2020

Sakatia Island (ICCA), Madagascar Case Study

Sakatia Island (ICCA), Madagascar

Customary land conservation practices are protected by municipal and national governments.

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

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

Salmon conservation, indigenous education, and knowledge co-production in Kamchatka Case Study

Salmon conservation, indigenous education, and knowledge co-production in Kamchatka

Kamchatka communities share ancestral knowledge and traditions to protect salmon populations and their environment.

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

Finding positive ways to use invasive species in Benin Case Study

Finding positive ways to use invasive species in Benin

In Benin, community organisations are resisting the spread of the invasive water hyacinth in innovative ways.

Forest Peoples Programme6 December 2022

Indigenous women in land and sea management, Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia Case Study

Indigenous women in land and sea management, Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia

Indigenous women of the Torres Strait Islands are key custodians and teachers of traditional knowledge.

Forest Peoples Programme24 November 2021

Indigenous peoples’ protected and conserved areas: the pathway to Canada’s Target 1 Case Study

Indigenous peoples’ protected and conserved areas: the pathway to Canada’s Target 1

In Canada, through the Pathways Initiative, indigenous peoples and governments establish Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs).

Forest Peoples Programme1 June 2020

Addressing drought through revival of a historic reservoir: Barnes Hill Community, Antigua and Barbuda Case Study

Addressing drought through revival of a historic reservoir: Barnes Hill Community, Antigua and Barbuda

The restoration of a community reservoir leads to wider community efforts to develop their land as a heritage site.

Forest Peoples Programme15 September 2020

Hagyományos pásztorokra van szükség ahhoz, hogy Közép-Európa fajokban gazdag gyepterületeinek biodiverzitása megmaradjon Case Study

Hagyományos pásztorokra van szükség ahhoz, hogy Közép-Európa fajokban gazdag gyepterületeinek biodiverzitása megmaradjon

Cikkünkben Sáfiánné Ibolyával és férjével , Sáfián Lászlóval, akik Magyarország hajdúsámsoni térségében hagyományos pásztorkodással foglalkoznak.

Forest Peoples Programme3 August 2022

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

Defining Alaskan Inuit food security as food sovereignty Case Study

Defining Alaskan Inuit food security as food sovereignty

Defining Inuit hunting, gathering, fishing and water policies is vital for thier food sovereignty and security.

Forest Peoples Programme14 February 2021