A growing movement shows that protecting the world’s forests — and the people who have safeguarded them for centuries — is one of the most powerful, and overlooked, tools in the fight against climate change.

At COP30, Indigenous leaders came with a message the world can’t ignore: 5% of the global population is safeguarding 80% of Earth’s biodiversity. A $1.8B pledge was made to support their land rights — but will the money follow their lead?