Evidence on Community-Led Conservation

In 2025, RRI published a study on Enabling Pathways for Rights-based Community-led Conservation, assessing legal frameworks and biodiversity strategies in 30 countries. Developed with the ICCA Consortium and Forest Peoples Programme, the analysis found that while legal pathways for recognized community conservation exist, they remain underused and insufficient.

Presented at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, the findings broadened debate around structural barriers to achieving a rights-based approach to the 30×30 target, strengthening the case for community governance in global biodiversity strategies. Going forward, RRI will use the findings to support IUCN’s International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.