Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration: a call to preserve our ecosystems

In recent years, the term "restoration" has gained significant attention, particularly as we confront the urgent challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. However, one restoration initiative stands out as both revolutionary and deeply rooted in wisdom: Indigenous Peoples' Biocentric Restoration. 

What started as a pilot project in Northeast India, Thailand, Peru and Ecuador has now become a global programme. Initially tested in these regions, the initiative has grown to the point of becoming a national plan, officially launched by the President of Costa Rica, and a regional plan in Bolivia. Recently, the initiative has also attracted interest from Brazil and Colombia, and the momentum continues to build with Nepal and India considering participating as well in various regions within their countries. 

This program, especially after the historic creation, at the COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of a permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and other provision of the Convention related to Indigenous Peoples, has drawn renewed attention worldwide. It marks a momentous victory in the global struggle to recognize and amplify the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to environmental stewardship.

What Makes Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration Different?

At the core of this initiative lies the fundamental idea that Indigenous Peoples are the knowledge holders—the guardians of ancient wisdom that has sustained ecosystems for centuries. In many ways, Indigenous Peoples’ communities are the experts when it comes to understanding the natural world. They are not passive participants in the restoration of their lands; they are the primary actors driving the process.

When we want to learn something new, we refer to experts—professors, researchers, and teachers. In the case of restoration, Indigenous Peoples are the teachers. They have lived in deep symbiosis with nature for generations, maintaining a harmonious balance with the land, plants, animals, and all other elements of the ecosystem. No one understands the intricacies of the forest, the soil, or the water better than the Indigenous Peoples’ communities who have nurtured these systems for millennia.

What sets Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration apart is its biocentric approach. The term “biocentric” highlights that this initiative is not about productivity; it is about spirituality, ecosystem health, and interconnectedness, acknowledging the role of Indigenous peoples' cosmogony, food systems, knowledge, and spiritual practices in maintaining biodiversity. As one Indigenous leader powerfully stated, “When there is no forest, there is no life.” In this context, life is the forest itself, which provides everything human beings need. 

In India, the approach is even more relevant in light of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This law is a key legislation for Indigenous Peoples’ communities, recognizing individual and community land rights and addressing the historical denial of their lands and territories that resulted from the perpetuation of the colonial forest legislation. During a recent field visit to India, the FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit and the FAO India Office witnessed firsthand the vital importance of Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration for Indigenous Peoples’ communities. While Indigenous Peoples are not immune to the effects of ecosystem degradation, many have come to understand that their own actions have sometimes contributed to the problem. Short-term decisions to exploit natural resources have led to negative consequences. However, these same communities are now also leading the charge in restoration. They recognize that restoring their ecosystems is not only just a matter of survival – it is an act of reclamation of their cultural heritage and spiritual renewal.

The Knowledge of the Forest: A Lifeline for Humanity

The wisdom embedded in Indigenous practices has proven invaluable in understanding the deep connections within ecosystems. For example, during a recent visit to the Goud, an Indigenous Peoples’ community in Odisha, India, FAO witnessed how these communities utilize the forest not just for food, but for healing, personal care, and more. One member of the community shared how, after a fall, he was advised by a doctor to get stitches. However, his community suggested using a medicinal plant, had dilli, to heal the wound—a solution that worked without the need for stitches.

The community also demonstrated how they use a plant, called ganga siuli, that, when utilized, can prevent malaria for up to three years. These examples show that Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge is not just about survival—it is a holistic understanding of how nature can provide everything humanity needs, from health remedies to everyday resources. Yet, this knowledge and the ecosystems it depends on are under threat. The ongoing deforestation and ecosystem collapse mean that communities are losing access to the plants, animals, and ecosystems they rely on. Without healthy forests, they cannot heal, sustain themselves, or thrive.

The Symbiosis of Nature and the Need for Restoration

The loss of biodiversity is not just an environmental issue—it is a cultural and social crisis for Indigenous Peoples. As forests disappear, so do the ecosystems that sustain them, including the mushrooms, plants, and animals that Indigenous Peoples have depended on for food, medicine, and livelihood. Ecosystems function in symbiosis: the loss of one species or ecosystem service has cascading effects on the rest of the system.

As an Indigenous elder woman explained, “There is a new food crisis that Indigenous Peoples’ communities are living, and it is leading us to reforest.” The disappearance of the forest has directly impacted on their food security, health, and cultural practices. Elders, who are the stewards of traditional knowledge, are sounding the alarm about the need for urgent action. The knowledge they hold about the land, plants, and ecosystems is irreplaceable. Once lost, it will be gone forever.

Recovering the Lost Memory of the Territory: now or never 

One of the most profound teachings of Indigenous Peoples' Biocentric Restoration is the idea that restoration is about recovering the lost memory of the territories. It is about honoring the wisdom of elders and ensuring that future generations inherit the knowledge necessary to rebuild sustainable ecosystems. In this initiative, the knowledge passed down through generations is not merely theoretical—it is applied, tested through lived experience.

If Indigenous Youth do not learn from their grandparents and elders now, this knowledge will be lost forever. That is why it is so important to start Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration now. 

We are facing a crisis exacerbated by climate change, biodiversity loss, and the ongoing degradation of ecosystems. But there is hope. Indigenous Peoples’ communities hold the key to solving these problems. Their knowledge, their leadership, and their commitment to restoring the land are not just invaluable—they are essential to the future of humanity.

It’s time for the world to listen. We must ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems are integrated into global restoration efforts. In the words of one Indigenous leader: “The forest is life. When the forest regenerates, we regenerate.” It’s time to act.