Many indigenous forest communities lack secure tenure or ownership rights to the lands on which they live. The ‘traditional’ or ‘customary’ use of lands is often not recognised in governments’ formal ‘legal’ land tenure laws. Because of this, forests are often susceptible to invasion by logging and mining companies, as well as from colonists seeking land for farming, leading to the destruction of indigenous peoples’ culture as well as the environment.

Much of the work of the Foundation aims to strengthen the territorial security of forest peoples, thus ensuring that they are able to resist outside pressures.

The mapping of territories can be a powerful tool to help secure land rights for indigenous communities. Mapping by the forest communities themselves helps to show that there has been long-term occupation and use of the land.

Good quality maps are often an essential precursor to the granting of legal land title, or the establishment of protected and indigenous forest reserve areas. The Rainforest Foundation has supported numerous such projects since 1989, and continues to do so.

Examples of mapping:
-Carte Baka
-Carte de Liyela
-Global
-Caura Map

• Ambohimahamasina - Madagascar
• Ashaninka Territorial Security - Peru
• Baka Rights and Mapping - Cameroon
• Capacity Strengthening - DRC
• Mapping project - DRC
• Upper Mazaruni Land Claim - Guyana
• Yekwana and Sanema - Venezuela

Choose another theme Select Capacity Strengthening Community Forests Deforestation Income Generation Law and Policy Territorial Mapping and Security