Eleven Indigenous Peoples and local communities from eight countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean are the winners of the Equator Prize 2024, announced by the United Nations Development Programme.
The winners were selected from over 600 nominations spanning 102 countries, all exemplifying the transformative power of nature-based solutions in combating the climate crisis.
THEME: ‘NATURE FOR CLIMATE ACTION’
The 2024 Equator Prize focused on the theme of ‘Nature for Climate Action,’ highlighting initiatives that integrate nature into climate planning, preserve cultural heritage, enhance resilience, and promote a circular green economy. These projects not only protect and restore ecosystems but also serve as models for sustainable and inclusive development.
Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, emphasized the importance of Indigenous and local communities in leading effective climate solutions. Their wisdom and leadership pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future for both people and the planet.
MEET THE EQUATOR PRIZE 2024 WINNERS
1. Reserva Natural La Planada – Resguardo Indígena Awá Pialapí Pueblo Viejo, Colombia
This initiative by the Awá Indigenous People involves scientific tourism to foster knowledge exchange while preserving biodiversity and cultural heritage. Their efforts ensure the protection of ancestral lands and the promotion of environmental conservation.
2. Federación Mesa Nacional del Café FEMNCAFÉ, Colombia
FEMNCAFÉ unites 28 coffee associations in a mission to promote peace through sustainable coffee production, addressing environmental and social justice while reducing agrarian disparity and supporting climate-resilient agriculture.
3. Asociación de Productores del Pueblo Arhuaco de La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – ASOARHUACO, Colombia
The Arhuaco Indigenous People of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta focus on preserving their sacred lands through agroforestry and a payment for ecosystem services model, ensuring restoration, reforestation, and cultural preservation.
4. União dos Povos Indígenas do Vale do Javari – UNIVAJA, Brazil
Representing Brazil’s second-largest Indigenous territory, UNIVAJA defends the rights and traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities, particularly those in voluntary isolation. Their ethno-environmental protection project uses digital technology to monitor and safeguard their territory.
5. Réserve Naturelle Communautaire de Dindéfélo, Senegal
This community-led nature reserve balances human habitation, agriculture, and wildlife conservation, successfully preserving biodiversity, protecting chimpanzees, and promoting sustainable environmental practices.
6. Coletivo Ambientalista Indígena de Ação para Natureza, Agroecologia e Sustentabilidade – CAIANAS, Brazil
CAIANAS empowers Indigenous families in Brazil’s Cerrado and Pantanal regions through ethno-agro ecological practices, focusing on traditional seed recovery, agro forestry, and environmental restoration.
7. Miras Parishan Kazeroon, Iran
Miras Parishan Kazeroon leads efforts to protect and restore Iran’s largest freshwater wetland, promoting ecosystem conservation and climate resilience through a participatory approach and the establishment of an education and research centre.
8. Sundarbans Eco Village, Bangladesh
Led by the Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS), this initiative restores mangrove forests, provides renewable energy, and promotes ecotourism in a disaster-prone region, enhancing local resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
9. CredorSave Loans, Zambia
This fintech enterprise supports Indigenous small-scale farmers with affordable climate finance for climate-smart agriculture and household biogas energy, contributing to forest regeneration and resilient livelihoods.
10. Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association (MBLA), Morocco
MBLA works to preserve agro-biodiversity and climate resilience in the High Atlas Mountains, promoting community-based conservation and traditional seed management.
11. Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA), Kenya
ILEPA focuses on environmental conservation and sustainable development for the Maasai community, advocating for land rights, promoting women’s beekeeping, and protecting natural heritage.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Each Equator Prize 2024 winner will receive $15,000 and participate in special events linked to the UN General Assembly, Summit of the Future, 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 16), and 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29). These opportunities allow the winners to share their innovative approaches on global platforms, fostering wider adoption and support for their initiatives.
