By Abdullahi Lukman
More than 35 governments and philanthropic organisations have pledged $1.8 billion over five years to support Indigenous Peoples, local communities and Afro-descendant communities in securing land rights across forests, mangroves, savannahs and other ecosystems.
The commitment, announced by the Forest Tenure Funders Group (FTFG), adds to the original $1.7-billion Forest and Land Tenure Pledge launched at COP26 in 2021.
The new funding aims to bolster land tenure systems widely recognised by scientific evidence as one of the most effective tools for climate action.
Indigenous territories contain about 40 percent of the world’s remaining intact ecosystems, yet most of these lands lack full legal protection.
Studies consistently show that forests under Indigenous and community management experience significantly lower deforestation rates, while research also highlights the climate and biodiversity benefits of Afro-descendant territories.
Leaders from Indigenous and community networks welcomed the pledge but urged direct, bureaucracy-free delivery of funds.
Levi Sucre Romero of the Mesoamerican Alliance of People of Forests said the commitment acknowledges their central role in protecting ecosystems, but cautioned that only concrete action—such as streamlined land titling and community-driven funding—will stem rising deforestation, fires and violence in their territories.
Since 2021, the FTFG has channelled $1.86 billion to support community land rights and forest protection, contributing to a 36 percent increase in climate finance directed to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Packard Foundation President Nancy Lindborg said the expanded pledge reflects a shared effort to strengthen institutions, secure land rights and enhance resilience across interconnected ecosystems.
The renewed initiative aims to deliver long-term, direct financing to communities traditionally excluded from climate funding, while recognising their stewardship of diverse landscapes whose combined management enhances global carbon storage.
