Nia Tero Report Maps Global Reach of Indigenous Land Guardianship

The report, titled 2025 – A Year of Braiding, highlights partnerships with over 270 distinct Indigenous groups in Amazonia, the Pacific, North America, and Africa. By shifting from traditional grant-making to direct support, the organization seeks to fortify the territorial protection of lands three times the size of California. CEO 'Aulani Wilhelm emphasizes that braiding hands-on assistance with direct funding creates a more durable framework for land sovereignty.

Despite managing approximately 40% of the world’s remaining intact ecosystems, Indigenous communities currently receive less than 1% of global climate funding. Nia Tero’s latest data reflects a strategic move to address this disparity, having awarded 236 grants to 90 organizations throughout the year. The organization argues that prioritizing Indigenous leadership remains the most effective strategy for mitigating biodiversity loss and climate instability, positioning these ancestral practices as a prerequisite for global planetary health.