By Myrna Kay Cunningham Kain

Forests are the lifeline and cultural heritage of at least 100 million indigenous peoples in Asia

The world’s remaining forests, the planet’s biodiversity, and rivers are found in indigenous peoples’ territories. However, rampant large-scale development projects without regard to the environment and the indigenous peoples inhabiting these areas are threatening to wipe out populations and extract resources.

By Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Co-Chair, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change

At the end of September, the global land community met in Bern, Switzerland for the 2nd International Conference on Community Land Rights, to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing those who rely on access to community lands for their livelihoods. Discussions at the conference focused on the perpetual divide between indigenous peoples and governments with regard to land ownership.

Explicit inclusion of secure land rights for local communities and indigenous peoples is key to "leaving no one behind" in global Sustainable Development Goals.

This week in New York, representatives of United Nations member states will meet to discuss an ambitious new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets for countries around the world to achieve by 2030, inspired by the ethos that the world must "leave no one behind".