First-of-its-kind study shows Afro-descendant peoples are key environmental stewards; 56% of their lands are top 5% in global biodiversity.
Afro-descendant peoples in four Amazon countries show remarkable achievements in environmental stewardship, according to new research from Conservation International, published today in Nature Communications Earth and Environment. The study assessed Afro-descendant lands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname, finding significantly lower rates of deforestation and larger quantities of both biodiversity and irrecoverable carbon (the carbon that, if lost due to ecosystem conversion, could not be re-sequestered for at least 30 years).
The paper is the first peer-reviewed study to combine statistical, spatial and historical data together to quantify the critical role of Afro-descendants in protecting nature. It follows last year’s formal recognition by the Convention on Biological Diversity at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) of the vital role Afro-descendant peoples play in biodiversity and supporting global conservation goals – and comes as Brazil prepares to host the UN Climate Summit (COP30) later this year, bringing global attention to the Americas’ role in tackling climate change.
“Afro-descendant peoples across the Americas have long served as environmental stewards without recognition or reward—most of their territories are not even formally recognized,” said Martha Cecilia Rosero Peña, Ph.D., Social Inclusion Director at Conservation International. “The evidence, however, is indisputable; the world has much to learn from their land management practices.”
Key Findings
The study focused specifically on recognized Afro-descendant lands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. Afro-descendant peoples in these countries hold management rights on 9.9 million ha of land (1% of the total 1 billion ha land area for the four study countries).
Afro-descendant lands significantly exceeded the norm for these countries in three prominent indicators of conservation value:
- Deforestation rates for Afro-descendant lands were…
- 29% lower when the lands were within Protected Areas
- 36% lower when the lands were outside Protected Areas
- 55% lower when the lands sat at the edge of a Protected Area
- More than half (57%) of Afro-descendant lands are among the top 5% globally in biodiversity, including 99% of all Afro-descendant lands in Ecuador
- These lands contain high densities of irrecoverable carbon – over 486 million tonnes of it collectively – and its continued protection under Afro-descendant community management is essential to preventing the worst effects of climate change
The study’s findings highlight a critical gap. While nearly one in four people in Latin America identify as Afro-descendant, Afro-descendant peoples are largely underrepresented in global environmental forums, including UN climate and biodiversity summits, where policies, funding and leadership decisions are shaped.
“For centuries, Afro-descendant communities have managed landscapes in ways that sustain both people and nature, yet their contributions remain largely invisible in mainstream conservation,” said Sushma Shretha, Ph.D., director of Indigenous Science, Research, and Knowledge at Conservation International and the lead author of the paper. “This research makes clear that their environmental stewardship is not just historical. It is ongoing and it must be recognized, supported and learned from.”
Hugo Jabini, a human rights and environmental Maroon leader from Suriname’s Saamaka Afro-Descendant Tribe, said: “This study is very important to us, Saamaka people, as it highlights for the first time how, through our deep cultural and spiritual connection to the land, we have sustained vital forest areas. We hope this raises awareness, so that [political leaders] no longer see us as mere claimants of land.”
”Participation in international forums like COP30 can significantly enhance the visibility, representation and influence of Afro-descendant leadership in global environmental policy, contributing to more equitable and environmental governance,” added Jabini.
Conservation Legacy
Afro-descendant peoples – and the sustainable land management practices they use today – trace their practices to the ingenuity and experience of their ancestors who were forcibly taken from Africa through the transatlantic slave trade. Some escaped before being enslaved, while others fled slavery and established their own settlements in remote regions throughout the Americas. In dense forests, marshlands and mangroves, they found refuge and, over generations, developed “escape agriculture” – innovative practices that sustained communities while remaining hidden from colonial forces. “It is important to note that those who remained on plantations also undertook these innovative practices, providing food for settlements,” said Rosero.
Many of these practices, such as “food forests,” blended traditional African knowledge to new environments and established resilient ecosystems that sustained these communities and became critical strongholds for biodiversity and carbon storage.
The study calls for action items similar to those still needed for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose environmental stewardship and land rights are similarly underrecognized despite a large body of scientific evidence:
- Legal recognition of Afro-descendant territories to ensure their continued protection;
- Increased research and funding to support Afro-descendants and their conservation work; and
- Integration of sustainable land management practices used by Afro-descendant peoples into global climate and biodiversity policies.
“Afro-descendant communities protect critical ecosystems. This pioneering study quantifies their impact and shows that justice, secure land tenure, and biodiversity gains align. Global negotiations that seek real impact must place Afro-descendant leadership at the center, and the Permanent Forum stands behind them to secure that seat,” said Amb. Martin Kimani, Chair of the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
“Collective land titling for Afro-descendant communities is a proven effective mechanism for environmental conservation, contributing significantly to the preservation of strategic ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Angélica Mayolo, former minister of culture for Colombia and an MLK Scholar with MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative, who hails from the Afro-descendant hub of Buenaventura, Colombia.
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“To build on this success, it is essential to advance the formal recognition of property rights in countries where this has not yet been achieved, such as Panamá, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. Equally important is the development of innovative financing instruments and economic opportunities for Afro-descendant communities living in biodiverse regions under substantial socioeconomic pressure and vulnerable to climate-related risks.” said Mayolo.
From Recognition to Action: Conservation International’s Work with Afro-Descendant Communities
Conservation International is working alongside Afro-descendant peoples to elevate their leadership in conservation and climate action. Through research and data collection, community engagement initiatives such as the Afro Women Fellowship Program and advocacy efforts on the global stage, the organization is helping to secure recognition, funding and policy support for Afro-descendant land stewardship and ensure these communities have a platform to shape conservation strategies that affect their lands and livelihoods.
“Afro-descendants have been protecting biodiversity and managing ecosystems for centuries using sophisticated conservation practices that the world is only beginning to understand,” added Rosero. “Their leadership is not just about preserving the past, it’s about shaping the future of climate and conservation policy. By working alongside these Afro-descendant peoples, we are strengthening nature-based solutions that benefit both people and the planet.”