Understanding Indigenous Contributions to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in Forest Ecosystems
The Aichi Biodiversity Targets, adopted as part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), represent a global effort to address biodiversity loss and promote sustainable ecosystem management. Spanning 20 ambitious targets across five strategic goals, the framework called for action on a wide range of environmental priorities, including habitat conservation, sustainable use, ecosystem resilience, and the fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. Forest ecosystems—home to more than 80% of terrestrial species and critical to climate regulation and human livelihoods—were central to achieving many of these targets.
While much attention has been given to the role of governments, NGOs, and international institutions in advancing these goals, the contributions of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) have been both vital and underrecognized. Indigenous knowledge, land stewardship, and governance practices have played a crucial role in protecting forest ecosystems and advancing several of the Aichi Targets in tangible and culturally grounded ways.
Key Aichi Targets and Indigenous Contributions in Forest Ecosystems
Target 5 – Reducing Habitat Loss
This target aimed to at least halve the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, by 2020. Indigenous territories often overlap with some of the most biodiverse and least degraded forests in the world. Numerous studies have shown that deforestation rates are significantly lower in areas under Indigenous control compared to state-managed or privately owned lands. Indigenous communities practice land-use systems such as agroforestry, rotational farming, and sacred site protection, all of which help maintain forest cover and prevent habitat fragmentation.
Target 11 – Protected Areas
Target 11 called for at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas to be conserved through effectively managed, ecologically representative, and well-connected systems of protected areas. Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), community-conserved areas, and sacred groves contribute directly to this goal. Many Indigenous groups have long conserved forests through customary laws and spiritual practices, often predating modern conservation paradigms. Recognizing and supporting these areas is key to meeting protection goals while respecting Indigenous sovereignty.
Target 14 – Ecosystem Services
This target emphasized the safeguarding of ecosystems that provide essential services, particularly to vulnerable groups. Indigenous forest management contributes directly to the preservation of vital ecosystem services such as water purification, carbon sequestration, pollination, and soil fertility. Moreover, Indigenous communities are often the most dependent on these services for their well-being, making their engagement in conservation not only ecologically effective but socially just.
Target 18 – Traditional Knowledge
Perhaps the most explicitly relevant, Target 18 called for respect and integration of traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of Indigenous and local communities into the implementation of the Convention. Across forested regions, Indigenous ecological knowledge has provided invaluable insights into sustainable resource use, species interactions, and ecosystem health. Efforts to achieve Target 18 have included documenting TEK, establishing partnerships between Indigenous communities and scientists, and integrating customary governance systems into conservation planning.
Challenges and Missed Opportunities
Despite these contributions, Indigenous peoples were often marginalized in formal implementation processes. Many national biodiversity strategies (NBSAPs) failed to meaningfully incorporate TEK or support Indigenous land tenure. In some cases, conservation efforts even led to the displacement of Indigenous communities or the criminalization of traditional practices. These injustices not only violated human rights but also undermined biodiversity goals by disrupting effective local stewardship.
Additionally, the lack of disaggregated data on Indigenous contributions to Aichi Targets has made it difficult to fully evaluate their impact. This underreporting has contributed to the invisibility of Indigenous roles in global biodiversity governance, despite their on-the-ground effectiveness.
Conclusion: Toward a More Inclusive Future Framework
Understanding and acknowledging the contributions of Indigenous peoples to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets—particularly in forest ecosystems—is essential for learning from the past and shaping a more inclusive and effective approach to future biodiversity frameworks, such as the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Indigenous communities are not only knowledge holders but also active stewards and rights-holders who must be fully involved in environmental decision-making.
Recognizing their governance systems, securing land rights, and fostering respectful, reciprocal partnerships are critical to both forest conservation and global biodiversity goals. As the world moves forward, Indigenous leadership must be centered—not peripheral—in efforts to safeguard the planet’s forests and the rich life they sustain.