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Environmental Defenders-(ED) is an environmental conservation and human rights organization dedicated to protecting biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We work in the Albertine Rift region, specifically the Murchison-Semliki, Greater Virunga, and Ituri landscapes, spanning the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, within the broader Congo Basin.
Our mission is to foster resilience for both environmental and human security. We achieve this by assisting marginalized Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities in the Albertine Rift region to live sustainably and safeguard their cultural practices, water sources, lands, and the surrounding environment.
Indigenous people are not only the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but they are also the guardians of vital ecosystems and biodiversity in forests that are necessary to lower carbon emissions and boost climate resilience. They make significant contributions to adaptation and mitigation efforts, such as when it comes to using nature-based solutions. But in Africa, the failure to acknowledge the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples and the absence of substantive interaction with the state continue to be problems.
of the planet’s remaining biodiversity is protected by indigenous people.
of global carbon is stored above ground in the world’s tropical forests managed by indigenous peoples and local communities
Even though there have been some gains, particularly on the normative level, including, crucially, the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants in 2018, the situation for indigenous peoples is still difficult in a number of African countries.
Several critical trends persist and worsen in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Indigenous peoples’ rights to their land, territories, and natural resources are violated, along with their freedoms of speech, assembly, and self-organization, access to justice, and other rights.
Indigenous peoples who live on lands with abundant fossil fuels, minerals, and forests, as well as a high level of biological diversity, are frequently targeted by commercial and political interests in the lands they manage and the resources they contain. Indigenous human rights defenders, especially those defending land rights and the environment, face discrimination, persecution, and harassment on a regular basis. Certain indigenous peoples, particularly indigenous women and girls, youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities, face double challenges.
The important role of indigenous peoples in the protection and conservation of the environment is well established and should be advanced.
The important role of indigenous peoples in the protection and conservation of the environment is well established and should be advanced.
Despite having contributed the least to climate change, indigenous peoples are among the first to suffer from its consequences. They are also increasingly negatively impacted by climate action and green investments in their lands and territories, including the establishment of conservation areas and national parks, renewable energy projects, and so on. Land and natural resource depletion contributes to the extinction of traditional livelihood practices, valuable indigenous knowledge, and food insecurity. It also carries the risk of impeding broader mitigation efforts, as indigenous peoples are not only the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but also stewards of the majority of remaining biodiversity, making significant contributions to adaptation and mitigation efforts, such as through nature-based solutions.
However, despite having contributed the least to climate change, indigenous peoples are among the first to face its effects. They are also increasingly negatively impacted by climate action and green investments in their lands and territories, are increasingly negatively impacted by climate change mitigation initiatives on their customary lands such as the establishment of conservation areas and national parks, renewable energy projects, etc. The loss of land and natural resources contributes to the loss of traditional livelihood practice, valuable indigenous knowledge, and to food insecurity. It also entails risks of hampering mitigations efforts more broadly as indigenous peoples are not only the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change but also stewards of most of the remaining biodiversity, with important contributions to adaptation and mitigation efforts, e.g. in regards to nature-based solutions.
Land owned by indigenous peoples is increasingly being exploited, illegally acquired, and grabbed as a result of the rising demand for land and natural resources.
The growing demand for land and natural resources make indigenous peoples’ land a target for increased exploitation, illicit acquisitions, and land-grabbing.
Indigenous peoples endure forced evictions, various human rights abuses, violations, and conflicts, as well as the threat of losing their last remaining lands and territories. Attacks on those who protect lands and forests that are being sought after for mining and extractive industries, logging, agri-businesses, conservation purposes, etc., are becoming more frequent.
Indigenous peoples are at the heart of human rights violations and conflicts. Competition for land and natural resources leads to human rights violations and the denial of basic human rights such as shelter and food. Land grabbing and invasions contribute to mass forced evictions of indigenous peoples from their traditional lands and territories, as well as other grave human rights violations, killings, and conflicts.
Indigenous women face a variety of forms of discrimination as a result of their indigenous identity, gender, and poverty.
Indigenous women experience multiple forms of discrimination due to their indigenous identity, their gender, and poverty.
The governance and power structures of indigenous peoples are frequently very sexist and may remove women and their viewpoint from decision-making, rendering women more susceptible to violations of their human rights. Indigenous women are particularly vulnerable because they frequently suffer the most when land is lost and they are no longer able to support themselves and their children. They also typically have very little influence and decision-making ability on land problems, which makes them more vulnerable. Indigenous women are frequently the victims of various types of violence, including structural violence, which makes them victims of daily life’s events. They deal with a variety of forms of violence, including trafficking, gender-based killings, domestic violence, violence in conflict situations, and sexual and domestic violence. Despite facing significant obstacles and discrimination, indigenous women and girls are powerful and engaged changemakers.
Among other problems, indigenous youth face prejudice, illiteracy, forced relocation, unemployment, incarceration and a lack of legal protection, trafficking and sexual exploitation, food instability, hunger, and STDs. Compared to other youth, Indigenous youth commit suicide and self-harm at considerably higher rates.
Environmental Defenders is dedicated to protecting the vital ecosystems of the Albertine Rift and Congo Basin while upholding the rights of the communities who depend on them. We believe that a healthy environment is fundamental to human well-being and that environmental degradation directly threatens human rights, including the rights to life, health, and culture.
Our work is rooted in the principles of equitable governance, effective management, and positive conservation outcomes. We champion nature-based solutions as a key strategy for combating climate change and empowering marginalized Indigenous communities to sustainably manage their lands and resources.
Our approach includes:
Environmental Defenders works to conserve the interconnected ecosystems of the Albertine Rift and Congo Basin, two regions of immense biodiversity facing increasing threats. We actively engage in tree planting, reforestation efforts, and seed banking to ensure the long-term health of these vital ecosystems. Our work includes restoring damaged land, preserving critical habitat for threatened wildlife and plants, and establishing wildlife corridors to facilitate movement and genetic exchange across these landscapes. Through biodiversity monitoring and targeted conservation initiatives, we’re working to prevent species extinction and maintain the delicate balance of these interconnected ecosystems. We believe that educating and raising awareness within communities are crucial for long-term conservation success, and we actively engage in environmental education programs throughout the Albertine Rift and Congo Basin regions.
Environmental Defenders empowers Indigenous communities to build resilience and protect their land rights. We assist them in advocating against and taking direct action against illegal land sales and forced evictions, ensuring their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent is respected.
Our support includes direct legal aid, land surveying, and mapping to secure their land tenure. Recognizing the crucial role of women, we form, register, support, and equip women’s groups, fostering their leadership within the community. Furthermore, we enhance economic resilience by increasing agricultural productivity and market access through the formation and strengthening of producer groups and cooperatives. This is achieved through comprehensive training, learning exchanges, multi-stakeholder dialogues, business mentorship, and capacity building in essential areas such as gender awareness, life skills, financial literacy, and basic literacy and numeracy skills.
We stand with environmental defenders and land rights activists who face persecution, threats, and violence for their courageous work protecting our planet. We provide a lifeline of support, including emergency assistance such as legal aid, medical grants, and relocation; psychosocial support to address the emotional and mental toll of their work; security training to enhance their safety and that of their organizations; and advocacy to raise awareness and promote their protection. We believe that safeguarding these brave individuals is essential for a just and sustainable future for all.
contact@watetezi.org
PO-BOX, 9520
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Only 0.29g of CO2 is produced every time someone visits this web page. Our Website is running on sustainable energy