Indigenous People and Local Communities play a crucial role in conservation. However, most conservation initiatives have adopted strategies that prioritize the inviolable integrity of ‘protected’ areas at the expense of IPLCs who have been consistently marginalized. The 2003 Durban Accord paradigm recognizes the importance of just and inclusive conservation contributions of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and calls for incorporation of their rights, values, aspirations and support for community conservation areas. Unlocking this potential requires not only including IPLC voices in conservation but also recognizing that they have the right to decide how to manage their natural resources and land- as well as when, how and if to involve others.

As IPLCs seek to correct narratives on IPLCs and conservation through documenting lived experiences of IPLCs in conserving nature; documenting of traditional/indigenous conservation knowledge and practices while mapping out organizations/institutions working on conservation in IPLC territories in Africa. This will allow IPLC’s to proactively engage to ensure inclusive and just conservation is actually realized and not just promised. In addition, IPLCs favor conservation approaches that align with their livelihood systems and broader self-determination goals.