Indigenous Territories and Protected Areas (ITPA) are crucial for preserving the Amazon rainforest.
But they are under threat from human activities like deforestation and mining.
Protected areas are healthier and more connected, a study highlights.
This suggests that supporting Indigenous communities and recognising their lands can prevent ecosystem breakdown and help achieve global conservation goals.
The Amazon basin, often called the lungs of the Earth, is home to 10 per cent of all known plant and animal species. Spanning nine countries in South America, this vast rainforest plays a critical role in regulating the global climate, generating rainfall and supporting Indigenous and local communities. But its future is under severe threat due to increasing human pressures.
In a major study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scientists from around the world found that Indigenous Territories and Protected Areas (ITPA) play a vital role in keeping the Amazon rainforest connected and healthy. These areas allow natural processes like animal movement, water flow and nutrient cycling to continue without being blocked or broken up by human activities.
The research, led by Camila Duarte Ritter from the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Brazil assessed the impact of six major human activities, deforestation, fires, roads, oil and gas extraction, mining and dam construction, on the Amazon’s forests, wetlands and rivers.
Worryingly, over 25 per cent of the Amazon has already been harmed by things like deforestation, fires and mining, putting the forest and its countless animals and plants in danger.
Using remote sensing and ecological models, the scientists found that Indigenous land and protected forests covering more than half of the Amazon are doing a much better job at staying healthy compared to areas with no protection.
In fact, while 38 per cent of unprotected land has been damaged by human activities, only 14-16 per cent of protected areas have been affected. These protected zones also keep the forest, rivers and wetlands more connected and alive. Some rivers that flow from the Andes, like the Napo and Putumayo, are still mostly untouched, but they are now being threatened by illegal mining and dam projects.
The study warned that if deforestation and big infrastructure projects keep growing without control, it could lead to a large-scale breakdown of the Amazon’s ecosystems. To prevent this, the researchers suggested taking strong action, such as supporting Indigenous communities, officially recognising Indigenous lands that aren’t yet registered, and strictly protecting key rivers, which they call “connectivity sanctuaries” because they help keep the forest and its life systems connected.
As countries rush to meet the 30x30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a global agreement that aims to protect at least 30 per cent of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030, focus of this framework is recognising the vital role of Indigenous peoples, their leadership, traditional knowledge and rights are seen as central to achieving these conservation goals.
Protecting the Amazon, especially through Indigenous stewardship, can bring powerful results. Some other studies also show that granting legal rights to Indigenous communities can reduce deforestation by up to 75 per cent, while protected areas store billions of tonnes of carbon, helping to fight climate change.
Nearly 70 per cent of carbon loss in the Amazon occurs outside protected or Indigenous lands, highlighting their importance. These regions also safeguard vital wildlife corridors and support rainfall patterns across South America. Simply put, when Indigenous lands are protected, the forest stays standing and the planet breathes easier.
As climate extremes intensify and political pressures mount, the authors stress that Indigenous stewardship, local knowledge and sustainable land practices are humanity’s best hope to keep the Amazon breathing.
“This is not just about saving trees, it’s about saving everything that depends on them,” the paper concludes. According to the authors, strengthening governance and promoting sustainable initiatives within ITPAs represent an effective strategy for conserving ecosystem connectivity.
Final summary: Indigenous Territories and Protected Areas (ITPA) are essential for the Amazon's preservation, as they maintain ecosystem connectivity and health. A study highlights that these areas are less affected by human activities like deforestation and mining. Supporting Indigenous communities and recognising their lands are crucial steps to prevent ecosystem breakdown and achieve global conservation goals, especially under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.