Mongabay · Climate & nature

Indigenous Territories Match Protected Areas in Forest Conservation

A study in Ecuador's Amazon reveals that Indigenous territories without formal conservation contracts maintain forest health as effectively as officially designated protected areas.

The research compared three forest governance approaches: government-protected forests, community-managed forests with formal agreements, and Indigenous territories without formal agreements. Satellite data analyzed vegetation greenness, abrupt changes, and resilience to the 2015-2016 El Niño drought.

While community-protected forests showed the best overall performance, particularly in drought resilience, Indigenous territories also demonstrated comparable forest conditions. Notably, these territories had the highest proportion of areas with positive long-term vegetation greenness trends.

Lead author Fernando Troya emphasized that effective conservation involves governance and local participation, not just mapping protected zones. The findings suggest that sustainable management systems are crucial for long-term forest health.

Government-protected forests exhibited the largest proportion of long-term degradation. This was particularly pronounced in northern Ecuador, where factors like roads, population pressure, and oil development are more significant.

These external pressures, including extractive activities, continuously impact forests even when they remain standing. The study highlights the need to understand which management approaches are most effective on the ground for ensuring vital ecosystem services.

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