Afro-Descendant Communities Offer a Living Blueprint for Amazon Conservation

Afro-descendant communities in the Amazon—descendants of enslaved Africans and those who escaped to form remote settlements—have protected some of the planet’s most biodiverse and carbon-rich lands for centuries. These communities have developed sustainable ways of living on the land, combining traditional African knowledge with local ecosystems through agroforestry, rotational farming, and “escape agriculture,” a practice that allowed them to stay hidden from colonial powers while feeding their communities. Their stewardship has created landscapes that store large amounts of carbon, preserve biodiversity, and maintain ecological balance.

The Amazon is home to over 30 million people and a vast array of ecosystems, including dense rainforests, flooded forests, savannas, mangroves, and cloud forests. Afro-descendant territories are among the most biodiverse areas, containing irrecoverable carbon that cannot be replaced if lost. These communities help prevent climate change by conserving forests, wetlands, and mangroves.

Despite their contributions, Afro-descendant peoples face serious challenges. Many of their lands are unrecognized or only partially protected, leaving them vulnerable to industrial agriculture, mining, logging, and land grabs. Their voices are often excluded from national and international decision-making, putting both human rights and environmental protection at risk. Only a small fraction of Afro-descendant lands are legally recognized, even though most fall within biodiversity hotspots.

International recognition is growing. In 2025, more than 35 governments and philanthropic organizations renewed a $1.8 billion pledge to strengthen land rights for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and for the first time, Afro-descendant communities. Research confirms that these lands experience far lower deforestation rates and play a vital role in climate stability.

Afro-descendant communities offer a living blueprint for sustainable development. Protecting their lands, supporting their leadership, and including their voices in policy decisions are both moral and practical steps. When these communities thrive, the Amazon—and the planet—thrives with them.

Read the full article “Afro-Descendant Communities Offer a Living Blueprint for Amazon Conservation” by Reynard Loki

🔭   This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.