Brasília, Brazil, 9 June 2025 – Forest Trends, Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), and Greendata have launched a new project initiative, Strengthening Indigenous Territories: Governance, Climate Finance, and Biodiversity Value Chains. Focusing on the value of traditional knowledge, territorial governance, and equitable access to climate finance, this project will be implemented over the next two years across all Brazilian biogeographic regions. It is grounded in the leadership of Indigenous Peoples at every stage and decision-making process, with full respect for each people’s historical, cultural, and environmental context.
The initiative will be carried out in Indigenous Lands within the Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal, Pampa, and Atlantic Forest biomes. Its goal is to support Indigenous Peoples in strengthening their autonomy in managing their territories, protecting their ways of life, and engaging in global climate solutions through strategies designed from within their territories. The project is rooted in the recognition that Indigenous Peoples are key to conserving biodiversity, halting deforestation, and providing sustainable responses to the climate crisis.
From its inception, the project has been built in collaboration with grassroots Indigenous organizations, including the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB). This collective process ensures that decisions reflect Indigenous perspectives and that the project adapts to the realities of each biome. Since November 2024, initial dialogues began with regional Indigenous organizations to identify implementation territories. Consulted groups include the Guarani Yvyrupá Commission (Atlantic Forest), Arpinsudeste (Cerrado), Terena Council (Pantanal), Arpin Sul (Pampa), and ongoing discussions with COIAB (Amazon) and APOINME (Caatinga). Territory selection for each biome is being led by regional Indigenous organizations in coordination with MPI, Greendata, and Forest Trends, ensuring a just prioritization process aligned with Indigenous demands and collective decisions.
The project includes four interrelated pillars:
1. Climate Finance and Territorial Governance
- Support for the implementation of the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI)
- Inter-institutional dialogue to coordinate resources and public policies that strengthen Indigenous governance
2. Strengthening Biodiversity-Based Value Chains
- Participatory mapping of value chains (e.g., cacao, Brazil nuts, açaí, handicrafts)
- Technical support for commercialization, certifications, brand design, and access to ethical markets
3. Indigenous Leadership Training
- Implementation of the Territorial Indigenous Governance Training Program (PFGTI), with six regionally adapted editions (one per biome)
- Training of 240 Indigenous leaders—with at least 40% women and youth—on topics such as climate change, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and bioeconomy
- Development of Indigenous Climate Action Plans based on traditional knowledge and territorial contexts
- Training content and methodologies will be co-developed with local pedagogical committees and a national steering committee that includes Indigenous representatives, partner institutions, and MPI staff.
4. Institutional Strengthening
- Technical training for MPI staff and the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai)
- Production of educational materials on social-environmental safeguards and climate governance
- Creation of specialized technical teams to support Indigenous-led projects effectively
The climate crisis, pressure from agribusiness, mining expansion, and weakened territorial protection policies continue to threaten the lives, livelihoods, and territories of Indigenous Peoples. Meanwhile, the growing interest in climate finance mechanisms—if poorly structured—may impose unjust contracts, unrealistic timelines, and centralized decision making.
This project seeks to respond to this critical moment by strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ governance so they can define and lead their own development and conservation strategies, with full recognition of their rights, cultures, and autonomy. All project activities will be carried out in accordance with the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), ensuring that Indigenous Peoples actively participate in shaping the initiatives that affect their territories. Listening and consultation processes will be ongoing, respectful, and transparent, to uphold the autonomy of Indigenous Peoples and ensure that decisions reflect their collective interests. The Strengthening Indigenous Territories: Governance, Climate Finance, and Biodiversity Value Chains project’s implementation is also aligned with Brazilian law, including Article 231 of the Federal Constitution, and international agreements such as ILO Convention 169.
“Forest Trends is honored to partner with Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples,” says Beto Borges, Director of Forest Trends’ Communities and Territorial Governance Initiative. “We firmly believe that Indigenous Peoples are the best stewards of our forests, and we are excited to work with Minister Sonia Guajajara and her team to expand access to tailored training programs for Indigenous leaders and government staff.”
Currently in its resource mobilization phase, the project will be executed with transparency and accountability, supported by institutional partnerships and funding from private and international sources. Its management model was designed to ensure inclusive implementation, participatory oversight, and direct community involvement. The project has a two-year timeline, running through November 2026.
###
Forest Trends is a civil society organization that works to conserve forests and natural ecosystems by promoting nature-based solutions, sustainable economies, and climate justice. Through its Communities and Territorial Governance Initiative (CTGI), Forest Trends has worked for over two decades in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities to strengthen territorial governance, cultural preservation, and equitable access to climate finance. CTGI has a strong presence across Latin America and extensive experience in pioneering projects that intersect conservation, forest-based economies, and community leadership.
Greendata – Center for Socioeconomic and Environmental Management and Innovation is a Brazilian organization that develops solutions to promote the value of territories, knowledge systems, and sustainable practices of traditional communities. With a focus on social technologies and participatory methodologies, it designs development strategies that are locally grounded, strengthening biodiversity-based value chains, territorial management, and environmental justice. As a key implementing partner for Forest Trends projects in Brazil, Greendata supports initiatives that promote autonomy, well-being, and community resilience in the face of climate and socio-environmental challenges.
The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI) was created in 2023 and is responsible for formulating and implementing public policies to uphold Indigenous rights and promote well-being. Under the leadership of Minister Sonia Guajajara, MPI works to advance the social rights and citizenship of Indigenous Peoples; to preserve, strengthen, and promote their cultures and lifeways; to manage Indigenous territories and ecosystems; and to protect Indigenous lands, including those of isolated and recently contacted peoples.