Despite making up about a quarter of Latin America’s population, Afro-descendant communities have long been disregarded in international environmental policymaking, despite their significant conservation efforts. These communities, who are descended from Africans who were forcibly transported to the Americas during the slave trade, frequently managed to escape slavery and establish themselves in isolated areas, establishing sustainable land management techniques based on traditional African knowledge. Their significance in forest protection is highlighted by a study published on July 22, 2025, in Nature Communications: Earth and Environment. The study found that deforestation drops by 55% in Afro-descendant territories.

This study, presented at the 16th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia, emphasizes the importance of recognizing, funding, and integrating Afro-descendant conservation techniques globally to improve biodiversity and combat climate change.

Why Are Afro-Descendant Lands Key to Biodiversity Conservation?

Afro-descendant regions are powerhouses of biodiversity, according to a study spearheaded by Sushma Shrestha Sangat of Conservation International, which included specialists from MIT and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. More than 57% of these lands are home to a diverse range of species that are essential to the health of ecosystems, placing them in the top 5% of all lands in terms of biodiversity.

Deforestation rates are 29% lower within protected areas managed by Afro-descendant communities, 36% lower outside of them, and an astounding 55% drop in deforestation is observed in Afro-descendant territories surrounding protected areas compared to national statistics, according to the study, which compiled spatial, statistical, and historical data. These results are the result of sustainable farming methods that strike a balance between ecosystem preservation and human requirements, such as rotational farming and selective harvesting. These communities ensure ecological stability in areas susceptible to environmental deterioration by preserving dense forest cover, which safeguards habitats for many species.

Also Read: Africa’s Wetlands Among World’s Most Degraded, Putting Millions At Risk

How Do Afro-Descendant Practices Support Climate Resilience?

Over 486 million tonnes of irrecoverable carbon are stored on Afro-descendant lands, which is a vital resource for addressing climate change. Once lost, irrecoverable carbon cannot be recovered promptly, which is pertinent to tackling global warming. The study highlights how traditional, knowledge-based sustainable land management techniques of Afro-descendant groups preserve carbon sinks and prevent deforestation. Agroforestry and minimum land disturbance, for instance, maintain soil carbon and forest integrity.

“Afro-descendant communities have been managing landscapes for centuries in ways that support both people and nature, but mainstream conservation has largely ignored their contributions,” Sangat added. Their participation is crucial in the battle against climate change, as incorporating these practices into global climate plans could significantly enhance efforts to prevent a rise in global temperatures.

Also Read: Africa’s Deadliest Climate Crisis In Over A Decade: 2021–2025 Marked By Unprecedented Human Toll

What Barriers Do Afro-Descendant Communities Face in Conservation?

As deforestation drops by 55% in Afro-descendant territories, the communities still face several obstacles, despite their achievements, chief among them being the absence of legal recognition for their lands. In Colombia, 1.76 million hectares of Afro-descendant land remains untitled, while 9.1 million hectares in Brazil are still unrecognized. More than 10.5 million hectares of Indigenous and Afro-descendant lands in Suriname lack legal status. Due to this uncertainty, these people are vulnerable to industrial encroachment, illicit logging, and land grabs, which endanger both their means of subsistence and conservation initiatives.

Socioeconomic factors, including poverty and limited access to resources, further exacerbate vulnerabilities, particularly in biodiverse areas prone to climate-related threats such as flooding and droughts. “This study highlights how our deep cultural and spiritual connection to the land has sustained vital forest areas,” stressed Hugo Jabini, a Maroon leader from the Saamaka tribe of Suriname. “For political authorities to stop viewing us as land claimants, we hope that increased awareness will help.”

Also Read: Eighteen EU Countries Urge To Simplify Deforestation Law And Delay Implementation

How Can Global Policies Support Afro-Descendant Conservation Efforts?

The report recommends three crucial steps to maintain and expand Afro-descendant conservation achievements: incorporating their practices into international biodiversity and climate policy, increasing funding for community-led projects, and securing legally recognized land rights. Securing land tenure through legal recognition will shield communities from external pressures and enable them to continue with their management. Payments for ecosystem services or carbon credits are examples of innovative financing that could support the economy and encourage conservation.

“There is no denying that the world can learn a lot from their land management practices,” said Martha Cecilia Rosero Peña, PhD, Director of Social Inclusion at Conservation International. Formal land rights must be given top priority in nations such as the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Panama, and Afro-descendant knowledge should be incorporated into international frameworks to enhance conservation outcomes. To support these communities in the face of socioeconomic and climate pressures, former Colombian Culture Minister Angélica Mayolo emphasized the importance of providing economic opportunities.

Also Read: Colombia’s Deforestation Surged 35% In 2024, Covering Over 1,000 Square Kilometers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What makes Afro-descendant land management practices sustainable?

Rotational farming, agroforestry, and selective harvesting are examples of ancestral wisdom employed by Afro-descendant cultures to mitigate environmental impact while sustaining their livelihoods. These methods support long-term ecosystem resilience by preserving biodiversity, soil health, and forest cover.

Q2. Why is legal recognition of Afro-descendant lands critical?

Land tenure is secured by legal recognition, which guards against industrial expansion, unlawful logging, and land grabs. It guarantees communities’ rights to manage lands essential to biodiversity and carbon storage and gives them the ability to carry on conservation initiatives.

Q3. How can global policies integrate Afro-descendant conservation practices?

By incorporating African representatives into environmental policymaking, integrating their sustainable land management methods into climate strategies, and providing financial mechanisms such as carbon credits to support community-led conservation, global policies can incorporate Afro-descendant practices.

Also Read: How Companies Can Limit Deforestation?