Keeling Curve

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Indigenous Peoples have largely been underrepresented in the climate movement, despite the fact that about 36% of the world’s remaining intact forests are on Indigenous Peoples’ lands and Indigenous communities safeguard 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. In fact Indigenous managed forests are better maintained, with higher preserved biodiversity than those on non-Indigenous lands. The Kayapo Project is an Indigenous led NGO alliance. The NGO alliance includes the International Conservation Fund of Canada, and three Kayapo NGOs the Protected Forest Association, Kabu Institute, and Raoni Institute. The mission of the Kayapo Project is to empower the Kayapo People in their ongoing efforts to safeguard their territory and culture in the face of persistent frontier culture that values extractivist behaviors (mining, logging, agriculture, etc). This is done through four areas of action including territorial monitoring and surveillance, equitable and sustainable economic opportunities, political action and legal support, and strengthening and affirmation of Kayapo knowledge and culture. 

This project will engage Kayapo youth through media based curriculum at 18 existing Kayapo guard posts. This project incorporates Indigenous knowledge and culture into an existing territorial monitoring and surveillance program by engaging up to 2500 youth guardians annually in a facilitated knowledge sharing opportunity.