Indigenous Peoples have long been stewards of biodiversity, with their practices and knowledge intricately tied to ecosystems and resilience. Yet, this mutual reliance, combined with their marginalization from socio-political and economic processes, means they are disproportionately affected by the increasing intensity and frequency of climate-related disasters. Recognizing their role and ensuring their participation in conservation and disaster risk reduction efforts is thus essential for reversing biodiversity loss while building resilience against disasters.
With this understanding, UNDRR supports a whole-of-society approach as a key principle when addressing disaster risks through a nature-lens. This aligns with efforts toward achieving the common goals of biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction and human well-being, as outlined in international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, among others.
Given the intrinsic link between Indigenous Peoples and the nature they protect, their knowledge and practices are embedded with resilient and adaptive considerations, making them invaluable in advancing both disaster and nature resilience. These practical, time-tested solutions are further explored in the Words into Action Guidelines on Using Traditional and Indigenous Knowledges for Disaster Risk Reduction.
In this regard, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16), hosted by the Colombian government in Cali in November 2024, marked significant progress. A permanent subsidiary body for Indigenous Peoples and local communities was established, formally recognizing their rights and participation in ongoing and future conservation efforts under the Convention (CBD/COP/16/L.5).
In line with the willingness of the Parties to strengthen the role of vulnerable communities, UNDRR – in collaboration with its Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean – organized a side event title “Resilience and Biodiversity Conservation through Indigenous Knowledge”. The session shared practical insights on how community-based practices such as water management systems and soil stabilization techniques can strengthen ancestral community, while addressing disaster risks and ecosystems degradation. The discussions further affirmed Indigenous knowledge alignment with the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by promoting nature-based solutions and inclusive resilience-building for both nature and people who rely on it.
Women leadership ensures the continuity of ancestral wisdom and strengthens the bond between communities and nature. – Dalí Angel, Coordinator of the Latin-American and the Caribbean Indigenous Knowledge Network for Disaster Risk Reduction
Speakers and participants exchange experiences and knowledge at the Resilience and Biodiversity Conservation through Indigenous Knowledge side event, 30 October 2024. Photo: UNDRR
To further advance the work on disaster and nature resilience, UNDRR has recently launched a guidance for governments to strengthen disaster risk reduction within their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). NBSAPs are a critical tool for setting national targets and measures that reinforce biodiversity protection and restoration as fundamental pillars of national DRR. The guidance offers practical recommendations for setting national targets and measures that reinforce environmental protection and restoration as fundamental pillars of national DRR, in line with global agendas.
To address the interwind crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, working with nature in disaster risk reduction – and vice versa – must become a standard practice. The meaningful participation of those most affected in planning and implementation processes offers a clear roadmap for inclusive, sustainable and effective action toward both nature and disaster resilience.
