Recent studies reveal Afro-descendant communities in Latin America manage lands with lower deforestation rates. Their ancestral knowledge-based practices protect biodiversity and store vast amounts of carbon. Despite their crucial role, these communities face legal uncertainties and limited recognition in global environmental policies.
Afro-Descendant Communities and Their Land Management
Afro-descendant peoples are the descendants of Africans brought to the Americas during the slave trade. Many escaped slavery and settled in remote regions. They developed sustainable land-use methods rooted in ancestral knowledge from Africa. These practices have preserved forests and biodiversity for centuries. Their lands cover large areas rich in biodiversity and carbon storage.
Impact on Deforestation Rates
A 2025 study published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment quantified deforestation rates on Afro-descendant lands. It found deforestation is 29% lower inside protected areas, 36% lower outside, and 55% lower along protected area edges compared to national averages. This shows their land stewardship is highly effective in forest conservation.
Biodiversity and Carbon Storage Significance
Over half (57%) of Afro-descendant lands rank among the top 5% globally for biodiversity. These regions also contain more than 486 million tonnes of irrecoverable carbon. Protecting these forests is vital to mitigating climate change. Their sustainable practices maintain ecosystem health and carbon storage capacity.
Legal Recognition and Policy Challenges
Despite their contributions, Afro-descendant communities often lack formal land rights. For example, Brazil has 9.1 million hectares and Colombia 1.76 million hectares of unrecognised Afro-descendant territories. Suriname’s Afro-descendant and Indigenous lands exceed 10.5 million hectares without legal recognition. This insecurity threatens their conservation efforts.
Calls for Action and Global Policy Integration
Experts urge governments to legally recognise Afro-descendant territories. Increased funding and research are needed to support their conservation work. Integrating their sustainable land management into global climate and biodiversity policies is essential. Innovative financing and economic opportunities can help these communities facing socioeconomic and climate pressures.
Recognition of Cultural and Environmental Contributions
Afro-descendant leaders stress their deep cultural and spiritual connection to the land. Their stewardship has preserved vital forests for generations. Greater awareness and political support are needed to move beyond viewing them as mere land claimants. Their knowledge offers valuable lessons for global environmental sustainability.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the role of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in global biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.
- Examine the challenges of legal land recognition for marginalized communities in Latin America and its impact on environmental governance.
- Analyse the significance of ancestral knowledge systems in sustainable natural resource management and their integration into modern policies.
- Point out the socio-economic and environmental implications of deforestation in tropical regions and propose measures for inclusive conservation.
