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Photo: Fellipe Abreu/ISPN Collection

Follow our studies, research, and publications on biodiversity, indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, and initiatives that strengthen territories and community leadership.

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Human Rights of Rural Peoples

  • Primer/Guide

Territory that Teaches: Knowledge of the Cerrado in School

  • Book

Tourism in Vão de Almas: Kalunga Afro-tourism — what to experience?

  • Primer/Guide

Primer: Local Communities at the UNFCCC

  • Primer/Guide, Technical Note

Traditional School Meals in Indigenous and Traditional Communities

  • Primer/Guide

Technical Note – Family Farming as a Refuge for Traditional Peoples and Communities

  • Technical Note
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🔔 The 47th call for proposals from the Ecos Fund, aimed at Territories Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Traditional and Local Communities (TICCAs), is now open! If you are developing your proposal and need support, participate in our Q&A workshop on Thursday, April 16th, at 4:30 PM. 💬 How to participate: No registration is required. Simply access the live stream and send your questions via the live chat; our team will be available to answer them during the session.
Q&A: Project Development - 47th ICTCAs Call for Proposals - Ecos Fund
Where does the real strength to confront the climate crisis lie? It lies in the hands of those who care for the land and their territories. Indigenous peoples, quilombola communities, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers are the guardians of the biomes. They live and practice more resilient, efficient, and innovative climate, environmental, and social solutions. However, the resources that should strengthen these initiatives often do not reach them adequately due to bureaucracy and a lack of agile mechanisms. To influence the transformation of this scenario, Casa Sul Global was launched, an initiative of the Alianza Socioambiental Fondos del Sur and the Rede Comuá, bringing together socio-environmental justice funds from the Global South with the aim of reconfiguring financial flows and power dynamics in the field of climate and environmental philanthropy. ISPN integrates the Alianza and the Rede Comuá with the Ecos Fund, which promotes eco-social initiatives led by indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, family farmers, and peri-urban communities. ➡️ Check out the open call for proposals, which will invest R$5 million to strengthen community initiatives in the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes! 🟩 Submit your project by November 10th: fundoecos.org.br/editais And for you, how can we continue to overcome these barriers to community empowerment?
Who is transforming the way we finance climate action through community leadership?
The short film series "Cerrado, Heart of the Waters" showcases the connection between Brazil's second-largest biome and its neighboring biomes: the Amazon, Caatinga, Pantanal, and Atlantic Forest. Released by ISPN, the films present powerful stories of traditional peoples and communities who, through their way of life, conserve the Cerrado – while also highlighting the water loss this vital biome has suffered due to deforestation. The films were supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), through IIEB; the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the GSP/UNDP; and the Resilient Cerrado (Ceres) project, implemented in partnership with WWF, with support from the European Union. Those who know the Cerrado, love it! And those who love it, value and protect it! 💙 Learn more: https://cerrado.org.br/
Teaser for the Series "Cerrado, Heart of the Waters"
The video compiles interviews with Indigenous managers and students from seven Brazilian universities that are partners of the Indigenous Program for Permanence and Opportunities in the University (PIPOU), in carrying out projects for the reception and retention of Indigenous people in higher education. The interviews were conducted during the event "Paths to Permanence: Indigenous Universities and Students in Dialogue," held by ISPN in Brasília (DF), between September 30th and October 1st, 2025. The following projects were presented: Indigenous Student Coexistence Space at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG); (Re)existences at the Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará (Unifesspa); Network of Knowledge: Permanence of Indigenous People in Higher Education at the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), and State University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS); and Indigenous Dialogues at the State University of Maranhão (UEMA). The projects were born from a collective effort between ISPN, universities, and indigenous student groups. This is the second strategic line of PIPOU, which, in addition to direct support for students—with scholarships, computers, and training activities—institutionally articulates with partner universities to develop initiatives to welcome indigenous students, whether through the creation or expansion of study and living spaces, holding seminars, meetings, and other events to discuss and implement actions to strengthen retention, gathering data on indigenous students across various campuses, among other actions aimed at indigenous student retention. PIPOU is an ISPN initiative with support from Vale, Double Arrow, and CMH. Video credits: Production: PIPOU Team and Coletivo 105 Direction: Ìmólè Audiovisual Production Editing: Ìmólè Audiovisual Production Production: ISPN
PIPOU meeting with partner universities
After more than 10 years of mobilization, the Gurupi Mosaic has been officially recognized as a group of protected areas by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA). This achievement brings together the Gurupi Biological Reserve and six Indigenous Lands located between Maranhão and Pará — an unprecedented step toward a new model of environmental governance in Brazil. In this video, you will discover the behind-the-scenes of this important victory, celebrated in Brasília during the 25th anniversary of the National System of Nature Conservation Units (SNUC). A milestone marked by Indigenous leadership, legal innovation, and alliances built among territorial leaders, universities, civil society organizations, and public institutions. Video production: Muta Comunicação Produced by: ISPN, through the Indigenous Landscapes project, supported by the Initiative Support: Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) #GurupiMosaic #EasternAmazon #IndigenousLands #EnvironmentalGovernance #SNUC25Years
Gurupi Mosaic: the resilience of the Amazon forest in Maranhão and Pará
[in English below – series with English subtitles available] The Cerrado pumps life into other Brazilian biomes like the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. This four-episode series delves into the stories of those who live in and protect the Cerrado, highlighting the threats and destruction that endanger not only the environment but also the ways of life that sustain nature. In this episode, the Pantanal shows how the misuse of the territory accelerates the disappearance of water. Places that were once flooded are now dry. Despite all the threats, the relationship between indigenous people and nature is the answer to climate crises and to keeping the Cerrado standing. The Cerrado is the Heart of Brazil's Waters. Get to know it, value it, and protect it! To learn more: cerrado.org.br ----- Cerrado, Heart of the Waters: Pantanal Connection The Cerrado pumps life into other Brazilian biomes like the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. This four-episode series delves into the stories of those who live in and protect the Brazilian Savannah, highlighting the threats and destruction that jeopardize not only the environment but also the ways of life that sustain nature. In this episode, the focus is the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland. It shows how the misuse of the land accelerates the disappearance of its waters. Places that were once flooded are now dry. Despite all the threats, the relationship between Indigenous peoples and nature is the answer to the climate crises and the key to keeping the Cerrado standing. The Cerrado is the Heart of the Waters of Brazil. Learn, value, and protect! To learn more: cerrado.org.br
Cerrado, Heart of the Waters: Pantanal Connection
[English version below, and this series has English subtitles available] The Cerrado pumps life into other Brazilian biomes such as the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. This four-episode series delves into the stories of those who live in and protect the Cerrado, highlighting the threats and destruction that endanger not only the environment but also the ways of life that sustain nature. In this episode, we go to the Caatinga and follow the course of the Cerrado's waters that feed the São Francisco River. But the landscape has changed; with deforestation and agribusiness, water has become scarcer. "From 100% of what it was, we are at 3%, but that means a lot to us," says Eldo Barreto, showing that it is still possible to coexist with the Cerrado standing and produce sustainably. The Cerrado is the Heart of Brazil's Waters. Get to know it, value it, and protect it! To learn more: cerrado.org.br ---- Cerrado, Heart of the Waters: Caatinga Connection The Cerrado pumps life into other Brazilian biomes like the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. This four-episode series delves into the stories of those who live in and protect the Brazilian Savannah, highlighting the threats and destruction that jeopardize not only the environment but also the ways of life that sustain nature. In this episode, we travel to the Caatinga and follow the path of the Cerrado's waters that feed the São Francisco River. But the landscape has changed; with deforestation and agribusiness, water has become scarcer. "Of what was 100%, we are now at 3%, but that means a lot to us," says Eldo Barreto, showing that it is still possible to live alongside a healthy Cerrado and produce sustainably. The Cerrado is the Heart of the Waters of Brazil. Learn, value, and protect! To learn more: cerrado.org.br
Cerrado, Heart of the Waters: Caatinga Connection
[English version below, and this series has English subtitles available] The Cerrado pumps life into other Brazilian biomes such as the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. This four-episode series delves into the stories of those who live in and protect the Cerrado, highlighting the threats and destruction that endanger not only the environment but also the ways of life that sustain nature. In this episode, the Amazon reveals its deep connection to the waters that come from the Cerrado. But something has changed. "My grandfather used to say: 'You'll never see the stones at the bottom of the river. If one day you do see the stones at the bottom of the river, it's because the river is dying,'" says extractive worker Lidejane Oliveira. From droughts that hinder navigation to predatory fishing that threatens species like the pirarucu, learn about the struggle to keep the Cerrado standing. The Cerrado is the Heart of Brazil's Waters. Get to know it, value it, and protect it! To learn more: cerrado.org.br ------ Cerrado, Heart of the Waters: Amazon Connection The Cerrado pumps life into other Brazilian biomes like the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. This four-episode series delves into the stories of those who live in and protect the Brazilian Savannah, highlighting the threats and destruction that jeopardize not only the environment but also the ways of life that sustain nature. In this episode, the Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest, reveals its deep connection with the waters that flow from the Cerrado. But something has changed. "My grandfather used to say: 'You will never see the rocks at the bottom of the river. If one day you do see the rocks at the bottom of the river, it's because the river is dying,'" says extractive worker Lidejane Oliveira. From the drought that hinders navigation to the predatory fishing that threatens species like the arapaima, learn about the fight to keep the Cerrado standing. The Cerrado is the Heart of the Waters of Brazil. Learn, value, and protect! To learn more: cerrado.org.br
Cerrado, Heart of the Waters: Amazon Connection

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