At Environmental Incentives (EI), we take a systems approach to identify solutions to tough challenges, and supporting locally led development is key. Achieving global climate change and conservation commitments is only possible when Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) are true partners in this work. In fact, Indigenous communities are the world’s greatest stewards of biodiversity and tropical forests, with IPLC territories containing about 80 percent of Earth’s remaining biological diversity.
This blog examines the intersection of locally led development, conservation and sustainable management, and compliance tools—and how together, small actions, in unexpected places, can lead to enduring positive change.
Creating a Compliance Document for Impact
Through our work on the USAID Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean Environment Services Support Contract, EI has had the opportunity to bring an important innovation to Biodiversity and Tropical Forest (FAA 118/119) analyses, which guide Missions to prioritize funding for biodiversity conservation and forest protection. FAA 118/119 refers to Sections 118(e) and 119(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which mandates that USAID country development strategies and plans outline and assess the efficacy of all actions taken to conserve and sustainably manage tropical forests and biodiversity. Unfortunately, because FAA 118/119 makes no explicit mention of IPLCs in their Best Practice Guide, these analyses usually omit IPLC contributions and their role in conservation. Recognizing an opportunity to support locally led development, EI took action to remedy this.
Connecting with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Since 2021, EI has worked with USAID Missions to incorporate the role of IPLCs as a cross-cutting theme in 118/119 analyses. USAID Missions in Venezuela, Paraguay, and Guatemala recognized the importance of including IPLCs in their FAA 118/119 analyses, with forthcoming IPLC-focused chapters or subsections. For each Mission, the process of adjusting FAA 118/119 analysis has been unique, but always includes collaboration with local Indigenous leaders, organizations, and academics. Not only does this result in a more robust, inclusive analysis, but it also has broader impacts worth exploring. This approach offers USAID a platform to underscore the mutual benefits of Indigenous community involvement, traditional stewardship practices, and conservation efforts, while ensuring that programs integrate social and economic benefits for Indigenous communities.
Taking Small Steps for Great Results
While seemingly a minor adjustment, modifying FAA 118/119 compliance documents to include IPLCs has a substantial impact. Symbolically, it identifies environmental compliance as a vehicle for change and underscores USAID’s commitment to locally led development. It also acknowledges the key role IPLCs have in preserving global biodiversity: in the LAC region alone, IPLCs manage biodiversity hotspots that store more than 1/8th of the world’s tropical forest carbon. As such, connecting IPLCs and FAA 118/119 analysis is important not only because it is a scalable step toward meaningful partnership but also because it acknowledges the significant correlation between regions rich in biodiversity and the presence of IPLCs.
Ultimately, inclusive and locally led development necessitate an all-hands-on-deck approach, and no contribution is too small. By working with environmental compliance tools, we can support USAID in pursuing inclusive development and local partnerships. While this is just the beginning, it is an important step in the right direction.
Lead photo: Sanema boy fishing in Caura river basin, Venezuela by Tamia Souto.
