Land Titling Reduces Deforestation
Last updated
Last updated
Indigenous land titles have been granted at record speed in Peru thanks to a new approach. The development is significant because titling is “the most effective way to protect Indigenous peoples’ land from deforestation”, write Miguel Guimaraes Vasquez and Wendy Pineda in a commentary published on Mongabay News. Noting research that shows titled lands experienced a 66% decrease in deforestation in the Amazon (https://lnkd.in/gakf3n_7), Vasquez and Pineda make the case that land titling is transformative for Indigenous communities in Peru. Such ownership not only strengthens communities’ ability to protect their lands but also fortifies surrounding regions. As they write, “titled lands act as a buffer zone, protecting adjacent Indigenous territories from invasion.” The journey to secure these titles is fraught with challenges. Vasquez and Pineda note that more than 30 Indigenous leaders have been killed in Peru over the last two decades while advocating for the recognition of their ancestral lands. Yet, despite these dangers, the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP) has worked with Rainforest Foundation US using cutting-edge technology, such as geospatial maps and satellite tools, to accelerate the titling process, which once took years but now yields results in as little as 11 months. What makes this approach distinctive is its emphasis on “territorial consolidation.” Historically, titling has divided Indigenous lands into fragmented parcels, making them more vulnerable to illegal activities. Vasquez and Pineda argue that their new model not only strengthens the legal borders of Indigenous territories but also aligns with an Indigenous worldview of a unified, common territory. They believe this approach has broader potential. “We believe this model can be replicated in other regions of the Amazon and perhaps even beyond,” they write. “We envision a future where Indigenous communities stand united in reclaiming their roots, defending their lands, and shaping their destinies. Together, we are working to make this dream a reality.”
