Latest news with #Afro-descendants
Scoop
a day ago
- Science
- Scoop
Deforestation Rates In Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador & Suriname Are As Much As 55% Lower Than The Norm
First-of-its-kind study shows Afro-descendant peoples are key environmental stewards; 56% of their lands are top 5% in global biodiversity. ARLINGTON, Va. (July 22, 2025) – Afro-descendant peoples in four Amazon countries show remarkable achievements in environmental stewardship, according to new research from Conservation International, published today in Nature Communications Earth and Environment. The study assessed Afro-descendant lands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname, finding significantly lower rates of deforestation and larger quantities of both biodiversity and irrecoverable carbon (the carbon that, if lost due to ecosystem conversion, could not be re-sequestered for at least 30 years). The paper is the first peer-reviewed study to combine statistical, spatial and historical data together to quantify the critical role of Afro-descendants in protecting nature. It follows last year's formal recognition by the Convention on Biological Diversity at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) of the vital role Afro-descendant peoples play in biodiversity and supporting global conservation goals – and comes as Brazil prepares to host the UN Climate Summit (COP30) later this year, bringing global attention to the Americas' role in tackling climate change. 'Afro-descendant peoples across the Americas have long served as environmental stewards without recognition or reward—most of their territories are not even formally recognized,' said Martha Cecilia Rosero Peña, Ph.D., Social Inclusion Director at Conservation International. 'The evidence, however, is indisputable; the world has much to learn from their land management practices.' Key Findings The study focused specifically on recognized Afro-descendant lands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. Afro-descendant peoples in these countries hold management rights on 9.9 million ha of land (1% of the total 1 billion ha land area for the four study countries). Afro-descendant lands significantly exceeded the norm for these countries in three prominent indicators of conservation value: Deforestation rates for Afro-descendant lands were… 29% lower when the lands were within Protected Areas 36% lower when the lands were outside Protected Areas 55% lower when the lands sat at the edge of a Protected Area More than half (57%) of Afro-descendant lands are among the top 5% globally in biodiversity, including 99% of all Afro-descendant lands in Ecuador These lands contain high densities of irrecoverable carbon – over 486 million tonnes of it collectively – and its continued protection under Afro-descendant community management is essential to preventing the worst effects of climate change The study's findings highlight a critical gap. While nearly one in four people in Latin America identify as Afro-descendant, Afro-descendant peoples are largely underrepresented in global environmental forums, including UN climate and biodiversity summits, where policies, funding and leadership decisions are shaped. 'For centuries, Afro-descendant communities have managed landscapes in ways that sustain both people and nature, yet their contributions remain largely invisible in mainstream conservation,' said Sushma Shretha, Ph.D., director of Indigenous Science, Research, and Knowledge at Conservation International and the lead author of the paper. 'This research makes clear that their environmental stewardship is not just historical. It is ongoing and it must be recognized, supported and learned from.' Hugo Jabini, a human rights and environmental Maroon leader from Suriname's Saamaka Afro-Descendant Tribe, said: 'This study is very important to us, Saamaka people, as it highlights for the first time how, through our deep cultural and spiritual connection to the land, we have sustained vital forest areas. We hope this raises awareness, so that [political leaders] no longer see us as mere claimants of land.' ''Participation in international forums like COP30 can significantly enhance the visibility, representation and influence of Afro-descendant leadership in global environmental policy, contributing to more equitable and environmental governance,' added Jabini. Conservation Legacy Afro-descendant peoples – and the sustainable land management practices they use today – trace their practices to the ingenuity and experience of their ancestors who were forcibly taken from Africa through the transatlantic slave trade. Some escaped before being enslaved, while others fled slavery and established their own settlements in remote regions throughout the Americas. In dense forests, marshlands and mangroves, they found refuge and, over generations, developed "escape agriculture" – innovative practices that sustained communities while remaining hidden from colonial forces. 'It is important to note that those who remained on plantations also undertook these innovative practices, providing food for settlements,' said Rosero. Many of these practices, such as "food forests," blended traditional African knowledge to new environments and established resilient ecosystems that sustained these communities and became critical strongholds for biodiversity and carbon storage. The study calls for action items similar to those still needed for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose environmental stewardship and land rights are similarly underrecognized despite a large body of scientific evidence: Legal recognition of Afro-descendant territories to ensure their continued protection; Increased research and funding to support Afro-descendants and their conservation work; and Integration of sustainable land management practices used by Afro-descendant peoples into global climate and biodiversity policies. 'Afro-descendant communities protect critical ecosystems. This pioneering study quantifies their impact and shows that justice, secure land tenure, and biodiversity gains align. Global negotiations that seek real impact must place Afro-descendant leadership at the center, and the Permanent Forum stands behind them to secure that seat,' said Amb. Martin Kimani, Chair of the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. "Collective land titling for Afro-descendant communities is a proven effective mechanism for environmental conservation, contributing significantly to the preservation of strategic ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean,' said Angélica Mayolo, former minister of culture for Colombia and an MLK Scholar with MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative, who hails from the Afro-descendant hub of Buenaventura, Colombia. 'To build on this success, it is essential to advance the formal recognition of property rights in countries where this has not yet been achieved, such as Panamá, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. Equally important is the development of innovative financing instruments and economic opportunities for Afro-descendant communities living in biodiverse regions under substantial socioeconomic pressure and vulnerable to climate-related risks.' said Mayolo. From Recognition to Action: Conservation International's Work with Afro-Descendant Communities Conservation International is working alongside Afro-descendant peoples to elevate their leadership in conservation and climate action. Through research and data collection, community engagement initiatives such as the Afro Women Fellowship Program and advocacy efforts on the global stage, the organization is helping to secure recognition, funding and policy support for Afro-descendant land stewardship and ensure these communities have a platform to shape conservation strategies that affect their lands and livelihoods. 'Afro-descendants have been protecting biodiversity and managing ecosystems for centuries using sophisticated conservation practices that the world is only beginning to understand," added Rosero. "Their leadership is not just about preserving the past, it's about shaping the future of climate and conservation policy. By working alongside these Afro-descendant peoples, we are strengthening nature-based solutions that benefit both people and the planet.' The research was conducted by Conservation International (including its field teams in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Suriname) and in collaboration with MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the University of Florida and New York University.
The Star
07-07-2025
- The Star
Heritage lost to the waves
THE salty wind blows across the ruins of Ghana's Fort Prinzenstein, where thick walls once held thousands of enslaved Africans before their journey across the Atlantic. Now, only a shell remains – a crumbling monument teetering at the edge of the sea. For centuries, Ghana's coastline has borne the brunt of history. Today, it is being consumed by nature and neglect as climate change, rising sea levels and unchecked human activity eat away at the 550km shore. Villages are vanishing, and with them, centuries-old heritage. The modern economy is also at risk. A few metres away from the fort, Ernestina Gavor cleans a glass behind a bar. 'I'm hoping it survives a few more years,' she said, noting that the restaurant relies on tourists to keep afloat. Fort Prinzenstein, once a Danish slave fort and now a Unesco World Heritage Site, is among the most threatened sites on Ghana's coast. James Ocloo Akorli, its caretaker for 24 years, has watched the Gulf of Guinea claw away at the structure – and his memories. The coast used to be about 6km from the fort, he recounted. The village he was born in has been swept away, his family packing up and leaving in 1984. Today, only 10% of the original fort survives. The dungeons that once held enslaved women are still visible, but the men's quarters have been swallowed by the waves. 'This fort used to be significant,' said Akorli. 'Now, we are losing everything – our history, our homes and our livelihoods.' Ghana's castles and forts – particularly Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle – attract thousands of visitors each year, mostly African Americans seeking to reconnect with their ancestral past. 'For Afro-descendants, they are sacred places – testimonies of our resilience, our pain and our ingenuity. 'If we lose them, we lose our connection to history,' said Edmond Moukala, Unesco's representative in Ghana. But preserving that history is proving difficult. Chris Gordon, an environmental scientist at the University of Ghana, warned that the scale of intervention required was beyond the country's current means. 'You'd need the kind of coastal defences they have in the Netherlands,' he said. History isn't the only thing at risk. Samuel Yevu, 45, was among those displaced after 'tidal waves', as ocean surges are locally known, swept through nearby Fuvemeh village in March. 'We used to have coconut trees, fishing nets, everything. Now it's all gone,' said Yevu, whose family sleeps in a school classroom. In 2000, Ghana launched a US$100mil sea wall project to protect communities like Keta, home to Fort Prinzenstein. It saved the town, but shifted erosion eastwards, devastating places like Agavedzi and Aflao. Experts warn that short-sighted interventions – like groynes and sea walls – can worsen erosion by redirecting the ocean's energy elsewhere. Meanwhile, human interventions that worsen natural coastal erosion continue unabated. 'Sand mining, river damming, unregulated construction – they all starve the coast of sediment,' said Gordon. A study by the University of Ghana suggests the country could lose key landmarks like Christiansborg Castle and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum within decades if nothing is done. The country's modern economy is also heavily reliant on coastal activities, from ports and fishing to oil and gas. Yet the destruction of Fort Prinzenstein – stone of the prince, in the Danish language – is particularly poignant because of its unique role in the slave trade. Akorli recounted how enslaved people from modern-day Benin, Nigeria and Togo were branded, sorted and shipped from the fort, even after Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807. 'This is the only fort in the Volta region. Togo doesn't have one. Benin doesn't. Nigeria doesn't,' he said. At Cape Coast Castle, a tour guide warned of a similar fate. 'Every day, people from the diaspora come here and cry in these dungeons,' he said, requesting anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media. 'If this castle disappears, it's like losing a graveyard of millions. It's not just Ghana's history – it's world history.' Even so, maintenance remains neglected. Moukala believes the core problem is not erosion, but lack of care. 'If there had been regular maintenance, we wouldn't witness the severe deterioration. These were buildings meant to last centuries. But neglect, urban development and vandalism have destroyed many.' In Keta, Akorli's plea to authorities is urgent. 'They must come as a matter of urgency, restore this fort to boost visitation, so that our brothers in the diaspora will not lose their roots.' — AFP
Eyewitness News
27-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Along Ghana's vanishing coast, climate change swallows history, homes
KETA - The salty wind blows across the ruins of Ghana's Fort Prinzenstein, where thick walls once held thousands of enslaved Africans before their journey across the Atlantic. Now, only a shell remains - a crumbling monument teetering at the edge of the sea. For centuries, Ghana's coastline has borne the brunt of history. Today, it is being consumed by nature and neglect as climate change, rising sea levels and unchecked human activity eat away at the 550-kilometre shore. Villages are vanishing, and with them, centuries-old heritage. The modern economy is also at risk. A few metres away from the fort, Ernestina Gavor cleans a glass behind a bar. "I'm hoping it survives a few more years," she told AFP, noting that the restaurant relies on tourists to keep afloat. Fort Prinzenstein, once a Danish slave fort and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is among the most threatened sites on Ghana's coast. James Ocloo Akorli, its caretaker for 24 years, has watched the Gulf of Guinea claw away at the structure - and his memories. The coast used to be about four miles from the fort, he recounted. The village he was born in has been swept away, his family packing up and leaving in 1984. Today, only 10% of the original fort survives. The dungeons that once held enslaved women are still visible, but the men's quarters have been swallowed by the waves. "This fort used to be significant," Akorli told AFP. "Now, we are losing everything - our history, our homes and our livelihoods." MODERN ECONOMY AT RISK Ghana's castles and forts - particularly Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle - attract thousands of visitors each year, mostly African Americans seeking to reconnect with their ancestral past. "For Afro-descendants, they are sacred places - testimonies of our resilience, our pain and our ingenuity. If we lose them, we lose our connection to history," said Edmond Moukala, UNESCO's representative in Ghana. But preserving that history is proving difficult. Chris Gordon, an environmental scientist at the University of Ghana, warned that the scale of intervention required was beyond the country's current means. "You'd need the kind of coastal defences they have in the Netherlands," he told AFP. History isn't the only thing at risk. Samuel Yevu, 45, was among those displaced after "tidal waves", as ocean surges are locally known, swept through nearby Fuvemeh village in March. "We used to have coconut trees, fishing nets, everything. Now it's all gone," said Yevu, whose family sleeps in a school classroom. In 2000, Ghana launched a $100-million sea wall project to protect communities like Keta, home to Fort Prinzenstein. It saved the town, but shifted erosion eastwards, devastating places like Agavedzi and Aflao. Experts warn that short-sighted interventions - like groynes and sea walls - can worsen erosion by redirecting the ocean's energy elsewhere. Meanwhile, human interventions that worsen natural coastal erosion continue unabated. "Sand mining, river damming, unregulated construction - they all starve the coast of sediment," said Gordon. A study by the University of Ghana suggests the country could lose key landmarks like Christiansborg Castle and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum within decades if nothing is done. The country's modern economy is also heavily reliant on coastal activities, from ports and fishing to oil and gas. Yet the destruction of Fort Prinzenstein - stone of the prince, in the Danish language - is particularly poignant because of its unique role in the slave trade. Akorli recounted how enslaved people from modern-day Benin, Nigeria and Togo were branded, sorted and shipped from the fort, even after Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807. "This is the only fort in the Volta region. Togo doesn't have one. Benin doesn't. Nigeria doesn't," he said. 'LOSING A GRAVEYARD' At Cape Coast Castle, a tour guide warned of a similar fate. "Every day, people from the diaspora come here and cry in these dungeons," he said, requesting anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media. "If this castle disappears, it's like losing a graveyard of millions. It's not just Ghana's history - it's world history." Even so, maintenance remains neglected. Moukala, from UNESCO, believes the core problem is not erosion, but lack of care. "If there had been regular maintenance, we wouldn't witness the severe deterioration. These were buildings meant to last centuries. But neglect, urban development and vandalism have destroyed many." In Keta, Akorli's plea to authorities is urgent. "They must come as a matter of urgency, restore this fort to boost visitation, so that our brothers in the diaspora will not lose their roots."
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
Along Ghana's vanishing coast, climate change swallows history, homes
Ghana's coast vanishes under rising tides (Image credit: AFP) The salty wind blows across the ruins of Ghana's Fort Prinzenstein , where thick walls once held thousands of enslaved Africans before their journey across the Atlantic. Now, only a shell remains -- a crumbling monument teetering at the edge of the sea. For centuries, Ghana's coastline has borne the brunt of history. Today, it is being consumed by nature and neglect as climate change , rising sea levels and unchecked human activity eat away at the 550-kilometre (340-mile) shore. Villages are vanishing, and with them, centuries-old heritage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutor: Manter a massa muscular após os 50 anos depende deste hábito noturno Revista do Homem Saiba Mais Undo The modern economy is also at risk. A few metres (yards) away from the fort, Ernestina Gavor cleans a glass behind a bar. "I'm hoping it survives a few more years," she told AFP, noting that the restaurant relies on tourists to keep afloat. Fort Prinzenstein, once a Danish slave fort and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is among the most threatened sites on Ghana's coast. James Ocloo Akorli, its caretaker for 24 years, has watched the Gulf of Guinea claw away at the structure -- and his memories. The coast used to be about four miles from the fort, he recounted. The village he was born in has been swept away, his family packing up and leaving in 1984. Today, only 10 per cent of the original fort survives. The dungeons that once held enslaved women are still visible, but the men's quarters have been swallowed by the waves. "This fort used to be significant," Akorli told AFP. "Now, we are losing everything -- our history, our homes and our livelihoods." Modern economy at risk: Ghana's castles and forts -- particularly Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle -- attract thousands of visitors each year, mostly African Americans seeking to reconnect with their ancestral past. "For Afro-descendants, they are sacred places -- testimonies of our resilience, our pain and our ingenuity. If we lose them, we lose our connection to history," said Edmond Moukala, Unesco's representative in Ghana. But preserving that history is proving difficult. Chris Gordon, an environmental scientist at the University of Ghana, warned that the scale of intervention required was beyond the country's current means. "You'd need the kind of coastal defences they have in the Netherlands," he told AFP. History isn't the only thing at risk. Samuel Yevu, 45, was among those displaced after "tidal waves", as ocean surges are locally known, swept through nearby Fuvemeh village in March. "We used to have coconut trees, fishing nets, everything. Now it's all gone," said Yevu, whose family sleeps in a school classroom. In 2000, Ghana launched a $100-million sea wall project to protect communities like Keta, home to Fort Prinzenstein. It saved the town, but shifted erosion eastwards, devastating places like Agavedzi and Aflao. Experts warn that short-sighted interventions -- like groynes and sea walls -- can worsen erosion by redirecting the ocean's energy elsewhere. Meanwhile, human interventions that worsen natural coastal erosion continue unabated. "Sand mining, river damming, unregulated construction -- they all starve the coast of sediment," said Gordon. A study by the University of Ghana suggests the country could lose key landmarks like Christiansborg Castle and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum within decades if nothing is done. The country's modern economy is also heavily reliant on coastal activities, from ports and fishing to oil and gas. Yet the destruction of Fort Prinzenstein -- stone of the prince, in the Danish language -- is particularly poignant because of its unique role in the slave trade. Akorli recounted how enslaved people from modern-day Benin, Nigeria and Togo were branded, sorted and shipped from the fort, even after Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807. "This is the only fort in the Volta region. Togo doesn't have one. Benin doesn't. Nigeria doesn't," he said. Losing a graveyard: At Cape Coast Castle, a tour guide warned of a similar fate. "Every day, people from the diaspora come here and cry in these dungeons," he said, requesting anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media. "If this castle disappears, it's like losing a graveyard of millions. It's not just Ghana's history -- it's world history." Even so, maintenance remains neglected. Moukala, from Unesco, believes the core problem is not erosion, but lack of care. "If there had been regular maintenance, we wouldn't witness the severe deterioration. These were buildings meant to last centuries. But neglect, urban development and vandalism have destroyed many." In Keta, Akorli's plea to authorities is urgent. "They must come as a matter of urgency, restore this fort to boost visitation, so that our brothers in the diaspora will not lose their roots."
