Indigenous lands protect Amazon forests as well as parks
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Researchers studying Ecuador’s Amazon found that Indigenous territories without formal conservation agreements maintained forest health at levels comparable to formally protected areas.
The study examined forest conditions under three governance approaches, government-protected forests, community-managed forests with conservation contracts, and Indigenous territories without contracts, using satellite data to measure vegetation greenness, disturbance from human activity, and resilience to drought. Community-protected forests, benefiting from financial incentives to avoid commercial activity, showed the strongest resilience after the 2015-2016 El Niño drought.
However, Indigenous territories, where communities can sustainably use resources for cultural practices, also demonstrated positive long-term trends in vegetation greenness, performing as well as other managed areas. Government-protected forests in northern Ecuador experienced the most significant long-term degradation, with nearly 78.6% of analyzed areas showing declining vegetation. Researchers attribute this to greater road construction, population density, and oil development in that region, creating ongoing pressure on forests despite protections.
The findings suggest that effective forest conservation depends on governance, local involvement, and sustainable management practices rather than simply establishing protected zones.
