200+ organizations, one coalition. What brings us together is a common mission to protect and elevate the rights and struggles of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities to own, develop, and protect their traditional territories and ecosystems. Remaining agile and responsive, our coalition is pioneering a future where every individual has a say in the stewardship of their land and resources, leading to concrete policy reforms and lasting impact on the planet.
We are a united front of organizations of all sizes—local, national, regional and international—coming together to leverage the power of its coalition to collaborate across an array of topics and expertise. From research and advocacy to grassroots mobilization and capacity building, we magnify each others’ voices in support of land and resource rights. We take proactive measures to engage with governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to advance our shared mission.
Working on climate, biodiversity, land tenure, youth and women empowerment, our coalition’s goal is to promote Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local community-led conservation.
REPALEAC, Rights and Resources Initiative, and CLARIFI build on four years of impact to strengthen land rights and sustainable financing for communities.
“This is unprecedented: 35 women are going to have at least 100 hectares. It’s a revolution.”
— Mama Cécile Ndjebet, founder of REFACOF
Environmental defenders are on the frontlines of safeguarding biodiversity, addressing climate change, and protecting human rights. The concept of collective protection has emerged as a critical framework in the defense of defenders who often act in unison to protect their communities and draw support from them. Collective protection emphasizes the need to protect not only individual defenders but also the broader community structures that support and sustain their work.