“Food is not just something we fill our stomachs with. It is also a resource that incarnates our cultural identities. It connects generations” – Albert Kwokwo Barume, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at recent IFAD's recent Indigenous Peoples’ Forum
For thousands of years, indigenous communities have protected their lands, respected wildlife, produced sustainable foods while using the earth's resources carefully.
Today, they are critical guardians of a majority of the world’s remaining biodiversity which the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat and the health of our environment relies on.
As the world scrambles to reduce the impacts of the climate crisis which has increased food insecurity around the world, we cannot forget this community which uses rich knowledge passed down through generations to help save the earth.
These communities often face discrimination, have been stripped off their ancestral lands, are often denied the opportunity to express their culture causing them to lose their identity and leaving populations facing extinction. We can’t allow this to continue especially as they hold invaluable knowledge for our changing planet.
Take this quiz to find out how much you know about indigenous wisdom on how to live in balance with nature.
**Main image courtesy of IFAD