Government, Indigenous and Philanthropic leaders call for land tenure and forest finance pledges to be delivered at COP30 in Brazil
Government, Indigenous and Philanthropic leaders call for land tenure and forest finance pledges to be delivered at COP30 in Brazil
London United Kingdom, 26th June 2025: Governments, including Brazil, the United Kingdom, Norway, Peru, Colombia, Germany and Ghana, Indigenous Peoples organisations, including the Global Alliance for Territorial Communities, and philanthropies, including Bezos Earth Fund and Ford Foundation, today called for the delivery of two major commitments at COP30 in Brazil this November to scale action for nature, climate and justice.
This rallying call was launched following discussions at a roundtable during London Climate Action Week, convened by the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, titled ‘Nature’s Guardians: On the Road to COP30 & Beyond’.It seeks to build on the historic $1.7 billion commitment to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities made at COP26 in Glasgow, where 140 governments also pledged to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
The group calls for governments to join the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment, facilitated by the Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership. This ambitious commitment aims to recognise and secure a substantive number of hectares of Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ lands and territories and strengthen existing legislation. Governments and private sector donors are also called to deliver a bold, inclusive “Forest Tenure Pledge 2.0” that ensures direct access to finance for Indigenous and community-led initiatives, further advancing land tenure security.
Her Excellency Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, said: “Indigenous peoples have always been the true guardians of nature. Recognizing our rights, demarcating our territories, and valuing the knowledge and solutions we offer is not only fair, but essential to protecting the land, the forests, and the climate future we all depend on.”
His Excellency Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, said: “At the upcoming climate summit in Brazil, we need to see a historic commitment to scale up land and territorial rights for Indigenous Peoples and local communities in tropical forest countries. This will require collective political ambition and will be reflected in the hectares we secure, the rights we recognize and the funding we deliver.”
His Excellency, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change of the United Kingdom, said: “The only way to protect current generations in the UK is by making Britain a clean energy superpower and the only way to protect future generations is by leading global climate action. The UK is back in the business of climate leadership, because this is the route to good jobs, energy security and tackling the climate crisis.
“We are proud to stand alongside Brazil, Peru and Norway as climate leaders as we prepare for COP30. This work is essential in accelerating action on forests, and securing tenure rights is a proven, powerful solution that can help to mobilise much-needed finance.”
Her Excellency Raquel Hilianova Soto Torres, Vice Minister of Strategic Development of Natural Resources, Peru, said: “Governments must work hand in hand with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who are at the forefront of climate action, to secure their lands, resources, and ways of life. For this reason, Peru is calling for a renewed financial commitment and the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment. Delivered together, these initiatives can advance IPLC Tenure Rights in Tropical Forest Countries”
The leaders encourage the recognition of the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in climate and nature strategies, ensuring their direct and meaningful engagement – including the co-design, monitoring and implementation of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF).
As a result of these discussions, leaders in attendance have issued the following call to action:
London Call to Action: Nature’s Guardians — On the Road to COP30
Life – all life – is dependent upon nature. Around the world there are individuals and communities who dedicate their lives to protecting nature, for us all. These Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, are partners and leaders, rights-holders with their own solutions. For them, nature is not a separate entity. It is life itself — the source of memory, the dwelling of ancestors, the ground of community. Speaking of “protecting nature” means protecting the web of relationships that sustain all life, human and more-than-human. Their knowledge, practices, and ways of life are not only aligned with the health of ecosystems — they are essential to it.
As we approach UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, we have a historic opportunity to scale ambition and action for nature, climate, and justice. Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, play a vital role in protecting ecosystems and sustaining the health of our planet. Protection of Indigenous territories and community lands can make a huge contribution to deliver the global goals to protect 30% of land, sea and freshwater by 2030. Ahead of COP30 we call on governments, philanthropic institutions, private sector and civil society organisations to work together in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. It is time to turn global recognition into resolute commitment.
Specifically, we call for funders and partners to:
- Recognise the critical role of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, in global nature and climate strategies, and partner with them to turn global commitments into action, including through tenure reform, improved governance, applying the principles of free, prior and informed consent, and rights to life and those regarding traditional knowledge;
- Center Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, including women and youth, in nature and climate decision-making, implementation, and accountability efforts;
- Support an Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment that strengthens land tenure systems, protecting the land and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities at scale, and particularly in tropical forest countries, to be announced at COP30;
- Renew and deepen commitments through a bold “Land and Forest Tenure Pledge 2.0” that delivers, where possible, long-term, enabling, and direct access to finance for Indigenous- and community-led initiatives and their allies; and
- Engage Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, in a meaningful manner in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility co-design, monitoring and decision-making and implementation, to be launched at COP30.
As we approach COP30, the leaders from government, philanthropy, private sector, and Indigenous Peoples, reunited today in London to align behind these priorities and call to accelerate progress toward a just and resilient future.
This call to action is proudly endorsed by:
| Governments | Philanthropies | Indigenous Organisations |
| Federal Government of Brazil Republic of Colombia Federal Republic of Germany Republic of Ghana Kingdom of Norway Republic of Peru United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Bezos Earth Fund ClimateWorks Foundation CLUA (Climate and Land Use Alliance) Ford Foundation Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation International Conservation Fund of Canada Jacobs Futura Foundation Marshall Foundation Minderoo Foundation Nia Tero Rainforest Trust Re:wild Rockefeller Brothers Fund Synchronicity Earth The Christensen Fund The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Wyss Foundation | Global Alliance for Territorial Communities |
| Other Organisations | ||
| Tenure Facility Rights and Resources Initiative Rainforest Foundation Norway |
Lindsey Allen, Climate and Land Use Alliance, said: “At the Climate and Land Use Alliance, we stand together with Indigenous leaders, governments, private sector and philanthropic leaders to send a clear message ahead of COP30: Indigenous peoples, Afro-Descendants and local community rights, climate action, and the protection of nature are critical.”
Cristian Samper, Bezos Earth Fund, said: “Indigenous peoples and local communities have played a critical role in protecting tropical forests for generations. Their role as guardians of nature is crucial to achieve the goal to protect 30% of the planet by 2030”
