During long trips to the countryside, I always saw rows of shaved mountains and smoke rising from lush, dense forests. As a young girl, these images never crossed my mind as they seemed normal. However, the same scene haunted me as I grew older. A once vibrant land turned into a desolate, sandy plateau, and it was all because of us. The worst part was that real people - indigenous people - took great care of something we ruined in less than a century. 

Even though indigenous people make up to 5% of the world's population, they own ancestral lands responsible for 80% of the planet's biodiversity. For centuries, they have found ways to grow and hunt food while conserving their environment. One such example is terracing, a farming technique Igorot natives in the Philippines discovered in which ridged platforms prevent soil erosion. Throughout the years, their cultures and practices have adapted to their areas. 

This, I believe, is the climate change solution most politicians ignore. Indigenous people know their land best, yet they remain underrepresented in environmental summits and conferences. A research paper in Nature, a prestigious scientific journal, states that indigenous people have long been fighting for a role in combating climate change. Why can't they have their voices heard?

If I had all the resources to solve climate change, I would pour them into strengthening indigenous rights and voices. History has proven their strength, creativity, and love for their land. It's time we let them take the lead in environmental care. As Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe in the United States, said, "We have only one earth. Let's take care of it." 

References:

6 ways indigenous peoples are helping the world achieve #ZeroHunger. (n.d.). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. fao.org/zhc/detail-events/en/c/1028010/

Soken-Huberty, E. (2022, July 3). 15 Inspiring Quotes from Indigenous Peoples. Human Rights Careers. humanrightscareers.com/issues/inspiring-quotes-from-indigenous-peoples/

Etchart, L. (2017, August 22). The role of indigenous peoples in combating climate change. Nature. nature.com/articles/palcomms201785?error=cookies_not_supported&code=4dbba605-ec07-4283-8e3c-7f30a4dd225e