Indigenous Stewardship Proven to Strengthen Conservation Outcomes Worldwide, Major Review Finds

A comprehensive new review of global scientific research has found that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples consistently deliver strong conservation outcomes, often matching or surpassing those achieved in state-run protected areas. The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Indigenous governance and stewardship are critical tools in addressing the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

The study, published in the journal People and Nature, was led by William Nikolakis, associate professor in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship at the University of British Columbia. The review is considered the most comprehensive assessment to date of the relationship between Indigenous stewardship and conservation outcomes.

After examining hundreds of scientific papers from around the world, the researchers found a clear and positive link between Indigenous management of lands and ecological health. According to the study, Indigenous territories frequently support high levels of biodiversity, maintain forest cover and contribute significantly to carbon storage, despite often receiving limited legal recognition and financial support from governments.

Nikolakis said the evidence demonstrates that Indigenous-managed lands are achieving conservation outcomes that are at least equal to, and often better than, those found in many government-protected areas. He emphasized that these results are particularly notable because Indigenous communities in many countries continue to face challenges in securing land rights, governance authority and resources for stewardship activities.

The review analyzed 343 studies published in English before narrowing the dataset to 111 peer-reviewed research papers. Most of the studies were published within the past decade, reflecting increasing scientific interest in Indigenous-led conservation. A significant proportion of the research focused on the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s most biodiverse and ecologically important regions.

The findings revealed that approximately three-quarters of the studies reported positive environmental outcomes linked to Indigenous stewardship. These benefits included greater forest conservation, stronger biodiversity protection and enhanced carbon sequestration. Such outcomes are increasingly important as countries seek effective strategies to meet international climate and biodiversity targets.

The researchers noted that Indigenous stewardship is not simply a matter of preserving land through exclusion. Instead, many Indigenous communities actively manage ecosystems using traditional ecological knowledge and long-established practices that have evolved over generations.

One example highlighted in the study is Indigenous fire stewardship in Canada. For centuries, many First Nations communities used controlled burning to reduce wildfire risks, maintain ecosystem health and manage invasive species. However, colonial policies suppressed and, in some cases, criminalized these practices. Today, as climate change contributes to increasingly severe wildfire seasons, Indigenous fire management techniques are being reconsidered and supported by governments as valuable tools for landscape management.

Co-author Garry Merkel, director of the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship and a member of the Tahltan Nation in northwestern British Columbia, said Indigenous perspectives often view humans as part of the natural world rather than separate from it. This worldview, he argued, encourages approaches that focus on coexistence and ecological balance rather than control over nature.

Merkel explained that conservation, from an Indigenous perspective, involves understanding how people can live responsibly within ecosystems while respecting the rights of other living beings. Such approaches can offer valuable insights for modern conservation efforts seeking more inclusive and sustainable solutions.

The review also identified key policy measures that could strengthen conservation outcomes further. More than 60 percent of the analyzed studies recommended improving legal recognition of Indigenous land rights, securing tenure over traditional territories, providing financial resources for stewardship activities and supporting Indigenous governance systems.

Researchers argued that protecting Indigenous rights and empowering communities to manage their lands could serve as an effective mechanism for tackling environmental challenges on a global scale. Indigenous territories already encompass vast areas of ecologically significant landscapes, many of which remain relatively intact compared with surrounding regions.

While the majority of studies reported positive outcomes, the review also acknowledged exceptions. Eight studies found lower conservation performance on some Indigenous lands. Researchers attributed these cases to factors such as poor soil fertility, limited water availability, intensive land-use pressures and insufficient resources for enforcing management regulations. These findings suggest that environmental success depends not only on stewardship traditions but also on adequate support and favourable ecological conditions.

The study also addresses growing misinformation surrounding Indigenous conservation. Nikolakis noted that some critics have misinterpreted a 2024 study published in Nature, which challenged the commonly repeated claim that 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity exists on Indigenous lands. According to Nikolakis, the correction of that statistic does not undermine the broader evidence supporting Indigenous stewardship.

He further pointed out that Indigenous Peoples often control only a small fraction of land formally recognized under their governance. In British Columbia, for example, he estimates that only about 0.4 percent of land is under formal First Nations control, despite widespread public perceptions that Indigenous communities possess extensive territorial authority.

As governments worldwide search for effective solutions to biodiversity loss and climate change, the study concludes that supporting Indigenous stewardship represents one of the most evidence-based conservation strategies available. By recognizing land rights, investing in community-led management and strengthening Indigenous governance, policymakers could help safeguard ecosystems while advancing social and environmental justice.