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Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities United for Our Collective Future

We legitimately represent the needs of the world’s richest territories through democratic processes that connect us to these regions.

Who We Are

The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) is a political platform of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities united to defend Mother Earth for all humanity’s present and future benefit. We guarantee our legitimacy and representativeness thanks to democratic processes, ranging from the community to the plurinational level.

Our alliance represents 35 million people living in forest territories from 24 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We are defenders of over 958 million hectares of land.

The five organizations that make us are the Indonesian Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipielago (AMAN); the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB); the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB); the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA); and the Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Central African Forest Ecosystems (REPALEAC).

Indigenous and local community leaders from member organizations of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities in a group photo against an orange background

Our Mission

To be a single voice to fight for the collective rights of our peoples and communities, for the legal recognition of our territories, for protecting Mother Earth and all human beings, and to combat the causes of climate change.

We increase the capacities of our member organizations to better protect our territories and ensure the full exercise of our cultures and livelihoods.

Our Vision

indigenous feathered headpiece illustration

We work for a world where Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are recognized in all countries as essential actors in the fight against climate change, the protection of biodiversity, and the sustainable management of territories.

two hands about to touch illustrated

We want to participate – through our representative organizations – in all economic, political, and social definitions influencing our territories to reach a sustainable global way of life.

canoe and paddles illustration

We want to develop our lives freely, according to our autonomy, promoting that human beings live in harmony with Mother Earth.

Protecting Mother Earth for Today and Tomorrow

Our network represents 35 million people in forest territories, spanning 24 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and defending 958 million hectares of land. 

Click on each of the sections to learn more about the member organizations.

AMAN logo: Indonesian Indigenous People’s Alliance of the Archipelago

AMAN

Indonesian Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipielago
AMPB logo: Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests

AMPB

Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests
APIB logo: Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil

APIB

Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil
COICA logo: Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin

COICA

Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin
REPALEAC logo: Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa

REPALEAC

Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Central African Forest Ecosystems

Forging Solidarity
Our 5 Demands

two hands holding a map with tree roots

We, the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, maintain profound spiritual, cultural, social, and economic bonds with our lands, territories, and resources. These connections form the very foundation of our identity. We demand access to our territories to protect them and live according to our self-determination. 

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six small human figures circle around two speech bubbles - one larger, one smaller

We demand our right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as a means for our fundamental right to self-determination. FPIC empowers us when it comes to projects that affect our lives and territories. We demand our full and active participation so nothing about us can happen without us.

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two hands cupping floating seeds, cradled in the center of the palms

We demand for adequate, direct  accessible financing be made available to support our self-determined climate actions on the ground. Investing in our territories is crucial to combat climate change, desertification, and biodiversity loss for the whole of humanity.

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silhouette of person holding a shield and quiver of arrows

We demand an end to the violence and unjust criminalization we endure while safeguarding our territories. It is our collective voice that calls for the respect of our rights.

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two female silhouettes looking to the horizon, one larger than the other

The core of our cultural identities and livelihoods lies in our shared traditional knowledge and innovation. We demand for our knowledge to be accorded respect and protection, and that all policies formulated within our territories proactively integrate them.

Learn More

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Rainforest Foundations US is our fiscal sponsor. For any letters and parcels, please direct to:

Rainforest Foundation US
P.O. Box 26908
Brooklyn, NY 11202

AMAN

Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara

The Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) was established on 17 March, 1999. AMAN is composed of 2,449 member communities, a population of 20+ million, 21 regional chapters, 115 local chapters, 3 wing organizations, 2 autonomous bodies, and 2 economic institutions. Additionally, we represent non-member IPs—over 60 million Indonesians who manage over 60 million hectares of forests and other natural resources in Indonesia. AMAN is a leading organization that fights for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Indonesia. Nationally and globally AMAN was the recipient of the Elinor Ostrom Award on Collective Governance of the Commons Council, Culture Award from the Indonesian Minister of Culture and Education, and “The Best Mass Organization Award” from the Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs. At the international level, AMAN has been involved in the initiation of various global initiatives including: the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC), The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change/IPFCC, and is a member of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). 

aman.or.id

photo: If Not Us Then Who?

AMPB

Alianza Mesoamericana de Pueblos Y Bosques

The Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB) is a space for coordination and exchange of territorial authorities that manage or influence the main forest areas of Mesoamerica. Indigenous governments and community forestry organizations that in the Alliance seek to strengthen their own dialogue, focused on conservation and community management of their territories, while jointly seeking to influence governments and international stakeholders to ensure that strategies for the conservation of biodiversity and for climate change mitigation, appropriately integrate the rights and benefits of Indigenous Peoples and Forest Communities. AMPB works on two clear advocacy routes: the Community Forest Management agenda and the Territorial Rights agenda. Both are based on the global climate change agenda. Members of AMPB include: MOCAF Network, ACOFOP, National Forestry Alliance, Utz Che’, FEPROAH, MASTA, Mayangna Nation, YATAMA, RIBCA, Guna General Congress, and Embera Region-Wounaan. 

alianzamesoamericana.org

APIB

Articulação Dos Povos Indígenas Do Brasil

The Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), was created by indigenous movement at Terra Livre Camp (ATL) 2005. It is an instance of national reference of the indigenous movement in Brazil, bringing together indigenous organizations at the regional level, created from the bottom up. APIB’s purpose is to strengthen the unity of Indigenous Peoples, the articulation between different indigenous regions and organizations; mobilizing Indigenous Peoples and organizations against threats and aggressions. 

apiboficial.org

COICA

Coordinadora de Las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica

The Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) is an indigenous organization of international convergence that acts on behalf of 511 Indigenous Peoples, of which approximately 66 are Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI); articulated through organizations with a political-organizational base, present in the 9 Amazonian countries: AIDESEP (Peru), COIAB (Brazil), ORPIA (Venezuela), CIDOB (Bolivia), CONFENIAE (Ecuador), APA (Guyana), OPIAC (Colombia), OIS (Suriname), and FOAG (French Guiana). As Amazonian indigenous peoples, our efforts are oriented towards the promotion, protection, and security of our territories, through our ways of life, principles, and social, spiritual, and cultural values. COICA was born on March 14th, 1984, during the First Congress of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin.

coicamazonia.org

REPALEAC

The Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Central African Forest Ecosystems

The Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC) is a sub-regional civil society organization and a specialized network of the Conference on Dense and Humid Ecosystems in Central Africa (CEFDHAC), a platform that brings together civil society organizations (CSOs) working for good governance and sustainable management of forests in Central Africa with the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC). Since its creation in 2003 in Kigali, Rwanda, REPALEAC and its active national networks in Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Chad and Rwanda are taking action to defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs) as well as the sustainability of the ecosystems to which they are intimately linked and on which their survival depends.

repaleac.org