Equator Initiative

Are we building "with" or just "for" Indigenous communities?

The latest dialogues from the 2026 Nature for Life Hub feature global experts discussing how we can transform our economic systems, policy frameworks, and values to protect the planet’s vital ecosystems.

We are especially proud to highlight the “Indigenous and Local Leadership in Conservation” session. Our own Anna Giulia Medri (Equator Initiative Team Lead) joins Sineia do Vale from Conselho Indígena de Roraima (CIR), a 2019 winner, for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to “build together.”

Key takeaways from their dialogue:
🔵 Moving beyond consultation toward genuine partnership
🔵 The essential role of mutual trust in conservation success
🔵 How local leadership provides a blueprint for global policy

Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/bzAKx4H_xKU?si=l-44xRvzb0cW5sU2

*Note: This dialogue is conducted in Portuguese, with English framing and subtitles.

New Case Study: RED TICCA “Territorios de Vida en Argentina”, Argentina 🇦🇷

What happens when Indigenous Peoples are recognized as the primary guardians of nature’s wisdom?

In Argentina, RED TICCA (Territories of Life in Argentina), a 2022 winner, is making history by reaffirming Indigenous rights over ancestral lands, culture, and natural resources. This groundbreaking network bridges diverse communities nationwide to secure food sovereignty, access to clean water, and intergenerational equity.

As more communities join the network, it grows stronger, helping to influence national environmental policy and ensuring that the protection of Argentina's biodiversity is led by those who have lived in harmony with it for millennia.

📚 Format: Case study
🌍 Languages: English, Spanish
🔗 English:https://www.equatorinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Red-Ticca-Case-Study-En-r5.pdf
🔗 Spanish:https://www.equatorinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Red-Ticca-Case-Study-Es-r2.pdf

New Case Study: Community Fund Zhassyl Azyk, Kazakhstan

Can a single crop revitalize a nation's soil? In Kazakhstan, five farming communities formed the Community Fund ‘Zhasil Azik’ to combat extensive soil degradation through the sustainable cultivation of alfalfa.

By using alfalfa as a natural tool to restore fertility and manage scarce water supplies, this 2017 winner has increased smallholder incomes by 20% and created over 200 jobs. Their success was so significant that the national government has integrated these techniques into the National Program for the Development of the Agro-industrial Complex to scale up their impact nationwide.

📚 Format: Case study
🌍 Language: English
🔗 Read more:https://www.equatorinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Community-Fund-Zhassyl-Azyk-Case-Study-English-FNL.pdf