Mongabay · Natuur

Michael Painter: Champion of Indigenous Land Rights in Conservation

Michael Painter, an ecological anthropologist, dedicated much of his career to integrating Indigenous land rights and rural development with conservation efforts. He passed away on February 11, 2026.

Painter's work, particularly with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), focused on strengthening partnerships with Indigenous organizations in Bolivia, notably in the Gran Chaco and Greater Madidi regions. These efforts included supporting the titling and management of large Indigenous territories.

He advocated for a human-rights-based approach to conservation within WCS, emphasizing safeguards for research involving people and greater recognition of Indigenous rights and governance. His career began with studies in rural development and land use, examining factors like settlement, land degradation, and power dynamics.

In the Bolivian Chaco, Painter collaborated with the Isoceño Guaraní organization (CABI) to develop the proposal for Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park. This partnership also facilitated the titling of significant Indigenous territories under Bolivia’s agrarian reform law, setting precedents for future land titling.

Painter's approach recognized Indigenous organizations as potential conservation partners with their own territorial goals and political interests. He believed organizations like WCS could help strengthen their capacity to engage with governments, companies, and other stakeholders.

His work extended to the Amazon, where as WCS country director in Bolivia and Peru, he supported Indigenous organizations seeking control over territories adjacent to protected areas. This included the titling of Tacana I Indigenous Community Land.

Later, Painter shifted his focus to influencing conservation organizations' practices, working on Indigenous partnerships, livelihoods, and rights. He helped establish the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights and WCS’s Institutional Review Board for research involving human subjects.

Painter argued that conservation projects have political consequences and that conservationists must consider rights, governance, and people's quality of life. He emphasized that conservation extends beyond protected areas and depends on recognizing the land and resource rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.

He viewed biodiversity loss as a 'double injustice,' affecting both ecosystems and the lives of Indigenous and traditional peoples. Painter was pragmatic about partnerships, understanding that interests could clash and that building institutions for negotiation was crucial.

Colleagues remembered Painter for his pragmatism, patience, generosity, and ability to build alliances. His foundational work in establishing partnerships was seen as essential for subsequent conservation efforts in regions like the Gran Chaco.

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