Indigenous Land Alliance demands end to green colonialism

Representatives from 26 indigenous peoples across 16 countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the inaugural ‘Our Land Our Nature’ (OLON) summit. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Indigenous Land Alliance and the issuance of the Nairobi Declaration.

Participants denounced the current model of nature conservation, which they characterize as ‘green colonialism’ or ‘fortress conservation.’ They argue that conservation organizations and carbon markets often seize ancestral lands under the guise of environmental protection, creating national parks and wildlife sanctuaries without indigenous consent. These areas are sometimes repurposed for commercial plantations or mineral extraction related to the green energy transition.

The declaration demands the restitution of ancestral lands and issues an ultimatum to conservation organizations to respect indigenous rights and vacate territories where they have caused harm. The alliance advocates for indigenous-led conservation models, asserting that recognizing the rights of these communities is one of the most effective ways to protect biodiversity, forests, and the climate.