Center for the Support of Native Lands

Native Lands works to protect biological and cultural diversity around the world, with a focus on Latin America. We do this by assisting indigenous peoples to develop and carry out their agendas for the preservation of the region's natural and cultural heritage. We believe that: The preservation of the biological and cultural heritage of the region is of vital importance to us all. Over the centuries, indigenous peoples have developed ways of life and systems of natural resource management that are invaluable for the conservation of the region's natural ecosystems. The most effective way to protect the region's biological and cultural heritage is through collaborative action that combines traditional indigenous practices with strategies of Western conservation, for they are mutually reinforcing. Indigenous peoples must have secure territorial rights, strong organizations, and vigorous cultures to effectively protect their natural and cultural heritage.