ICCA-GSI

Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPs and LCs) are the environmental stewards of many of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and associated cultural heritage. Studies show that the territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (ICCAs) cover somewhere between 21 and 32 percent of global land, with 91 percent of them in “good and fair ecological condition,” and contain at least 36 percent of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). 

ICCA Phase 2 supports Indigenous People and Local Communities to conserve biodiversity, strengthen governance of their territories, and build resilience to climate change.

Priority Areas:

• Community Conservation – Strengthening governance of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs).
• Ecosystem Restoration – Protecting forests, watersheds, and coastal ecosystems.
• Sustainable Livelihoods  – Promoting eco-friendly income sources that reduce pressure on natural resources.
• Climate Adaptation  – Supporting water, agriculture, and disaster risk management projects.
• Knowledge & Capacity Building  – Sharing best practices and empowering local CSOs and communities

ICCA-GSI is a multi-partnership initiative that is delivered by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). ICCA-GSI is funded by the Government of Germany, through its Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Key partners include the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Global Programme on Protected Areas (IUCN GPAP), the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP WCMC), and the ICCA Consortium.