Understanding Indigenous Perspectives on Climate and Nature
On February 11th, Emergent convened its first webinar of 2025 on "Understanding Indigenous Perspectives on Climate and Nature", in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund. This webinar is the first in a series of knowledge-sharing sessions Emergent will host this year.
The session invited corporate sustainability professionals to hear directly from Indigenous Peoples and local community leaders to better understand their perspectives on forest, climate, and nature protection programs, the challenges they face, and opportunities to further partner and collaborate.
Speakers included:
🔹 Paul Roughan of the ‘Are ‘Are Peoples, Solomon Islands, Founder of Islands Knowledge Institute and Nia Tero's Pasifik Strategy
🔹 Gustavo Sánchez Valle, President of the Red Mexicana de Organizaciones Forestales Campesinas (Red MOCAF)
🔹 Tatiana Martinez, a leader of the Bribri People, Costa Rica
🔹 Santiago García Lloré, Senior Manager, IPLC & Conservation Partnerships, Forests
🔹 Carol Burga, Director, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Stakeholder Engagement (moderator)
Catch up on the webinar or read our key takeaways below.
Passcode: v4w?RM&E
Note: to watch the webinar in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, select the globe icon at the bottom of the video and select your preferred language.
1) Indigenous Leadership requires systemic trust
“If we really do mean Indigenous-led, then it means following the leadership of Indigenous Peoples.”
Paul Roughan emphasized that Indigenous-led conservation must go beyond token consultation. Indigenous communities should be empowered to define their roles, strategies, and approaches. This requires financial resources, long-term partnerships, and, most critically, systemic trust to enable Indigenous guardianship to thrive.
2) Community-Led Conservation is powerful but often undervalued
“The contribution that the communities make for the management of the forests, if we quantify it economically, is probably greater than public investment and private investment.”
Gustavo Sánchez Valle pointed to the significant, yet often undervalued, role of local communities in protecting forests, particularly in the face of wildfires. Despite their central role, communities frequently lack access to necessary climate finance and decision-making power. Valle called for a shift away from outdated donor-beneficiary models, urging a new paradigm where communities are treated as equal partners in forest management, not just beneficiaries.
3) Inclusive and Transparent Decision-Making is essential
“The right to consultation must be respected, and there must be a process of inclusion and participation… so that benefits are constructed in a clear, transparent way.”
Tatiana Martinez highlighted the importance of inclusive governance, stating that forest protection efforts must integrate the voices of youth, women, and elders within Indigenous communities. Transparency and accessibility of information are critical to ensuring communities can engage meaningfully in conservation programs.
4) Consultation Must Be Meaningful, Not Performative
Santiago García Lloré cautioned against consultation processes that are reduced to mere checkbox exercises. He called for culturally sensitive, in-depth dialogues that capture local perspectives and facilitate long-term collaboration.
“Having IP&LCs in the process not just as beneficiaries but as real partners ensures the success of any initiative.”
5) Climate Finance and impacts must be measured
“How do we verify that the impact of these programs extends beyond economic investment to the deeper conservation of our culture?”
Tatiana Martinez also emphasized the importance of monitoring the true impact of financial investments in Indigenous communities. Climate finance must go beyond economic metrics to ensure that resources contribute to cultural preservation, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term environmental stewardship.
A major takeaway from the discussion was that private sector engagement must extend beyond financial investments. When done right, corporate involvement can open opportunities for education, capacity building, and broader recognition of IP&LC contributions to forest and ecosystem preservation.
For companies and investors looking to engage in forest conservation, the path forward is clear:
- Move Beyond Consultation: Adopt Indigenous-led approaches that shift Indigenous peoples and communities from beneficiaries to partners in decision-making.
- Prioritize Trust-Building: Develop long-term partnerships based on transparency, respect, and sustained support.
- Ensure Equitable Benefit Sharing: Ensure Indigenous Peoples and local communities have been consulted (not just surveyed) in the production of benefit sharing plans in forest protection programmes.
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