Indigenous Governance Key to Protecting Amazon Basin Connectivity

Indigenous governance is essential to maintaining the ecological connectivity of the Amazon Basin, according to recent research and on-the-ground reports. Strengthening Indigenous territorial governance helps preserve the integrity of rivers, lowlands, wetlands, and Andean areas, which are vital for the functioning of the Amazon’s ecosystems.

The Science Panel for the Amazon reports that 23% of the Amazon lowlands, 24% of rivers, 25% of wetlands, and 28% of the Amazonian Andes are affected by at least one anthropogenic activity. These threats—including hydroelectric dams, mining, and deforestation—disrupt landscape connectivity, which is critical for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Indigenous territories and conservation units experience less ecosystem disruption compared to other areas, highlighting their role as effective barriers against deforestation and environmental degradation. Experts argue that supporting Indigenous governance at a transnational level is vital to protect the Amazon as a whole.

In the southern tip of Colombia’s Cauca department, known as the “boot” for its shoe-like shape, volunteer members of the Nasa people’s Indigenous guard patrol their territories in the Andean foothills to prevent invasion and deforestation. The municipality of Piamonte, which covers most of this region, suffered the highest loss of forest cover in Cauca between 2001 and 2024, according to Global Forest Watch data.

“There are two fronts: illegal mining by illegal armed groups, and legal mining” by companies with permits, said Edinson Ramos Usnas, a member of the Nasa people and coordinator of Cauca’s regional guard. “Mining cuts down trees, it destroys the land, it creates pits. This is causing many species, including native tree species, to disappear,” said Gloria Rivera, a Nasa woman from Cauca.

The Kapawi River in the Amazon is a lifeline for more than 1,000 Indigenous peoples and is home to endangered pink river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis). Protecting such waterways requires maintaining ecological connectivity across the Basin, which Indigenous governance helps ensure.

Experts recommend creating dam-free river sanctuaries and biodiversity corridors in areas least affected by deforestation to facilitate maintain landscape connectivity. Guaranteeing the protection of Indigenous territories and supporting their governance is a key solution for sustaining the Amazon Basin’s ecological integrity.

Key Takeaways

• Indigenous governance is critical for protecting the connectivity of the Amazon Basin’s rivers, lowlands, wetlands, and Andean areas.
• Anthropogenic activities such as mining, deforestation, and dams affect over 20% of key Amazonian ecosystems.
• Indigenous territories experience less ecosystem disruption, making them effective barriers against environmental degradation.
• Supporting Indigenous governance at a transnational level is vital for the long-term protection of the Amazon.
• On-the-ground efforts, such as Indigenous guards in Cauca, Colombia, demonstrate active resistance to illegal and legal mining threats.