Indigenous People and Nature: Chapter 1 - Indigenous people activities on ecosystems and sustainable development- a paradigm shift

Indigenous peoples, in particular, are associated with nature and natural resources, hence community development is considered as a critical aspect in achieving sustainable development and vice versa. However, indigenous peoples have historically been exploited, resulting in their underachievement over the world indigenous peoples and local communities own, administer, use, or occupy at least a quarter of the world’s land area. While the environment in some places is deteriorating at a slower rate than in others, climate and ecosystem change has a direct influence on local lives. Following a succession of international accords and agreements that focused light on indigenous peoples’ rebirth, the concept of sustainable development became widespread. Indigenous peoples have lived sustainably for many generations, accumulating knowledge of how to live in balance with the environment. It provides a comprehensive strategy to assess ecological systems’ involvement in indigenous wellbeing, signifying how natural systems are intertwined with people’s communal, economic, and cultural environments, along with their skills.