Afro-descendant communities prove to be amazon’s most effective forest guardians, major study finds

A groundbreaking study across four Amazon nations has revealed that Afro-descendant communities are among the most effective forest protectors in Latin America, outperforming even official protected areas in preventing deforestation and preserving biodiversity.

The research, published in Communications Earth & Environment and funded by Conservation International, analyzed forest conservation data from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Suriname. The findings show that Afro-descendant territories experienced dramatically lower deforestation rates compared to other protected lands—29% lower when located within protected areas, 36% lower when outside them, and a remarkable 55% lower when situated on the edges of protected zones.

These communities, whose ancestors were brought to Latin America as slaves and later established free settlements in remote forest areas, have been practicing sustainable land management for over 400 years. “It confirms that we are the guardians of these Amazonian lands; we have been doing this sustainably for over 400 years,” said Hugo Jabini, a Saramaka Maroon leader from Suriname and 2009 Goldman Prize winner.

Beyond forest protection, these territories serve as crucial biodiversity hotspots, providing habitat for more than 4,000 species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The study represents the first comprehensive statistical analysis using georeferenced data and historical context to quantify the conservation contributions of Afro-descendant populations. The research underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting Indigenous and traditional communities as key allies in global conservation efforts and climate change mitigation.