UN International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 9th August 2024

At Climate Asset Management we continue to support the UN Day for the World’s Indigenous Peoples through our mission, which is to secure a more climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive world for all through bold, scalable nature-based investment solutions.

Geneva | 9th August 1982: This was the date of the very first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.  In December 1994, by resolution 49/214, the UN General Assembly decided to observe International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples every year on 9th August, in order to raise awareness of the needs of these population groups.

This year the day is focused on “Protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact”.

With 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the world living across 90 countries, Indigenous Peoples’ make up less than 6% of the global population but represent as much as 19% of the extremely poor (Indigenous Peoples Overview (worldbank.org)).   Indigenous Peoples often lack formal recognition over their lands, territories and natural resources, however, their territories encompass approximately 28% of the earth’s surface and 11% of the world’s forests, which makes them guardians of a material percentage of the world’s precious remaining biodiversity.

To mark the day, Climate Asset Management is celebrating the work we are doing to support local communities across our portfolio projects and highlighting some of this work below.

Group Ranches in Southern Kenya: Rapid Rotational Grazing with the Maasai

In 2022, our Nature Based Carbon Strategy made its first investment into a project to implement sustainable grazing practices together with Maasai tribes in southern Kenya.

The project will see the re-introduction of rapid rotational grazing practices,  promoting assisted natural regeneration of grasslands.  This heralds a return to the traditional Maasai grazing methods.

The potential impact benefits of the project are considerable across Climate, Biodiversity and Community, including the restoration of perennial grasses, and improved soil condition and water retention, leading to increasing productivity and cover supporting wildlife populations among insects, birds and mammals.

The project also actively supports and encourages employment within the Maasai community, creating new jobs and supporting enterprise, infrastructure and education initiatives across communities.

Queensland, Australia: Native Macadamias and the indigenous community

The first anniversary of our acquisition of c.1,800 ha in Bundaberg Queensland is approaching. This project will see former high-intensity sugar cane farmed land transformed into native macadamia orchards.

We are working closely with the local indigenous community to engage indigenous youth aged between 16 and 24 in restoration and conservation activities across the site, providing them with work experience and employment opportunities while connecting with the native habitat integrated into the investment.

The indigenous youth receive support from traditional elders and community support groups connecting them with their heritage and culture.

Our work on the project includes the establishment of a habitat restoration site incorporating the reintroduction of native and endangered plants.  With the farm situated between two National Parks, the aim is to create a biodiversity corridor that improves connectivity across these native vegetation areas.

At Climate Asset Management we continue to support the UN International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples through our mission, which is to secure a more climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive world for all through bold, scalable nature-based investment solutions.