Deforestation, often driven by logging, agriculture, and development, is a major contributor to land degradation in indigenous communities.

Land degradation can have severe consequences for indigenous peoples, including loss of traditional hunting and gathering grounds, reduced agricultural productivity, water scarcity, and displacement.

Indigenous knowledge encompasses a wealth of information and practices that can contribute to addressing land degradation, including sustainable land management practices, identification of at-risk areas, and policy development.

Agroforestry, terracing, and contour farming are examples of indigenous land management practices that promote sustainable land use by maintaining soil health, preventing erosion, and conserving water.

Empowering indigenous peoples in land degradation mitigation and restoration involves securing their land tenure, supporting their traditional practices, and ensuring their participation in decision-making processes related to land use.

Indigenous peoples often face challenges in combating land degradation due to limited access to resources and technology, discrimination and marginalization, and government policies that undermine their traditional land management practices.

International cooperation plays a crucial role in addressing land degradation in indigenous communities by providing financial and technical assistance, promoting the recognition of indigenous land rights, and supporting the development of policies and programs that address their specific needs.

The Satoyama Initiative, REDD+ program, and Indigenous Land Management Network are examples of successful indigenous-led initiatives that have made significant contributions to combating land degradation.

Raising awareness about the importance of indigenous knowledge and practices involves education and outreach programs, supporting indigenous-led initiatives, and advocating for policies that recognize and protect indigenous rights.

UNDRIP includes key recommendations related to land degradation, such as recognizing indigenous land rights, providing means for effective land management, and ensuring consultation in policy development.

TEK plays a vital role in promoting sustainable land management by providing insights into human-environment interactions, identifying indicators of land degradation, and contributing to the development of culturally appropriate land management practices.

Facilitating indigenous peoples' participation in decision-making processes involves ensuring their representation, providing access to information and resources, and creating mechanisms for meaningful consultation and dialogue.

Indigenous peoples face challenges in implementing traditional land management practices due to lack of access to traditional lands, restrictive government policies, and discrimination and marginalization.

Promoting the recognition and protection of indigenous land rights involves advocating for the implementation of international agreements and declarations, supporting indigenous-led initiatives, and raising awareness about the importance of indigenous land rights.

Addressing land degradation in indigenous communities requires addressing challenges such as lack of access to resources and technology, discrimination and marginalization, and government policies that undermine traditional land management practices.