Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Africa continue to face systemic challenges driven by historical marginalization, land dispossession, and the erosion of cultural systems, all of which undermine their self-determination and livelihoods. These challenges are exacerbated by large-scale development and conservation interventions, often implemented through exclusionary models, that fail to recognize Indigenous land rights, knowledge systems, and governance institutions, hence perpetuating historical injustices. In the context of global biodiversity commitments such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, there is an urgent need to shift toward inclusive, rights-based approaches that centre IPs as custodians and stewards of their territories.

Often, practitioners in the space lack the know-how to engage and ensure inclusive and rights-based approaches in conservation and development. Addressing these issues requires a shift towards inclusive and rights-based conservation approaches that respect and integrate the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. This includes recognizing land rights, ensuring that IPs have secure land tenure, recognizing their knowledge and technological systems as equal to that of mainstream science and technology, and centring them in policy and practice.

Since 2022, IMPACT Kenya has been advancing this vision through the GEF7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) in the Mid-Ewaso Ng’iro River Basin. The initiative, locally known as “Uhifadhi wa Kiasili / Ramat ang’ / Ayuokor / Horsa Bulcha”, which roughly translates to “Our Conservation” and reflects “Indigenous-led conservation” in the cultural diversity and

ethnic languages in the basin. This initiative seeks to empower pastoralist communities to manage and conserve their territories according to their knowledge and aspirations.

This presentation will highlight experiences working with communities in co-defining an inclusive model of conservation anchored on Biocultural data and knowledge systems. These are locally governed data and knowledge frameworks that integrate ecological, cultural, spiritual, and territorial data; into management, conservation, governance, intergenerational equity and policy influencing.

Through this initiative, we have worked with communities to develop a robust biocultural data and knowledge systems that is informed by biocultural maps (BCMs) and calendars, Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs), Biocultural Resource Management Plans (BRMPs) and Community-Based Management and Information Systems (CBMIS); through guided, community-led and participatory documentation and research.

Beyond this, we have expanded the scope into a holistic movement, strategy, and framework; one that can be integrated, replicated, and upscaled across diverse ecosystems, embedded within mainstream conservation approaches, and leveraged to shape and influence policy. For instance, through multi-stakeholder dialogues, communities have led the process in co-developing a “Manifesto for Inclusive Conservation” that articulates five core principles of inclusive conservation: territorial autonomy, governance leadership, fair benefit sharing and direct financing, respect for Indigenous knowledge, and recognition of customary institutions; in which they are taking the frontline in advocating for adoption among landscape actors.

Central to this discussion, is a key initiative where we have been partnering with the Institute of Development Studies – University of Nairobi (IDS-UON), to co-design a short course curriculum in named, “Inclusive and Rights-Based Approaches to Conservation and Development; Indigenous Peoples in the African Context”. The course responds to the critical capacity gap among practitioners by equipping them with practical tools, ethical frameworks, and grounded methodologies to integrate Indigenous Biocultural Knowledge into conservation and development practice. Learners will experience a blend of traditional learning model and immersive fieldworks interacting with communities and traditional knowledge holders; learning from our experiences in co-defining an inclusive model of conservation anchored on Biocultural data and knowledge systems in the Mid-Ewaso River Basin.

By bridging grassroots experiences with policy and education systems, the session will contribute to ongoing global and regional dialogues, offering scalable, replicable approaches that challenge dominant conservation paradigms and advance Indigenous-led solutions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.