The GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) works in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPs and LCs) in their continuing efforts to safeguard Earth’s natural ecosystems, recognizing the historical roles they have played in nature conservation. ICI works inclusively with IPs and LCs, their regional and local organizations, governments, NGOs, civil society, and others to further strengthen their capacity to conserve globally significant biodiversity and ecosystems.
ICI provides site-based investments in 9 geographies to prioritize Indigenous and local community organizations to take the lead in carrying out inclusive, culturally appropriate processes for decision-making and strategy development that they have defined, implementing activities within their respective territories, landscapes and/or seascapes.
The ICI Indigenous-led initiatives will generate a range of governance, tenure, sociocultural, and livelihoods benefits.