INDIGENOUS &
TRADITIONAL BELIEFS

OVERVIEW

Indigenous peoples have been stewards of their land and wildlife for time immemorial. Indigenous Peoples' land, while only 22 per cent of the Earth's land surface, contains 80 per cent of the world's biodiversity, and at least 40 per cent of protected areas worldwide.

In many of the countries where biodiversity is threatened, mainstream religion and traditional and Indigenous belief systems often intersect. Traditional religions, also called Indigenous religions, refer to beliefs practiced by people native to that particular geographic area. In many settings, traditional belief systems are often syncretised and integrated with mainstream religion.

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Working with faith groups

'As Indigenous Peoples, we say we are not different than the rest of the species,
we are only one species of nature.'
– Hindou Ibrahim, SDG Advocate and Indigenous Rights Activist, 2022

There exists an abundance of information on traditional/Indigenous belief systems. Indigenous Peoples have been stewards of their land and wildlife for time immemorial. Indigenous peoples' land, while only 22% of the Earth's land surface, contains 80% of the world's biodiversity, and at least 40% of protected areas worldwide.

While there is a huge diversity in Indigenous and traditional beliefs and approaches to interpreting life and the world across geographies, one shared characteristic is the belief that more-than humans (including spirits and ancestors) permeate and animate nature.

Find out more about WWF’s work with Indigenous Peoples.

TRADITIONAL & INDIGENOUS BELIEF SYSTEMS

MESSAGE FROM THE AMAZON

How the Ashaninka are healing the rainforest

Message from the Amazon is a 2025 documentary by Al Jazeera English's earthrise programme which examines how the Ashaninka of Apiwtxa are celebrating the 1992 demarcation of their ancestral lands in Brazilian Amazon. For decades, they have fiercely protected the rainforest, driven by a deep spiritual bond with nature.

During her time with this powerful Indigenous community, earthrise presenter, Amanda Burrell, joins an ayahuasca ceremony and visits Institute Yorenka Tasorentsi, where founder Benki Piyako is reforesting former pastureland by planting millions of trees. His mission: To inspire people everywhere to live in harmony with nature.

COMMON GROUND

Indigenous beliefs & values share much common ground with conservation.

While there is a huge diversity in Indigenous and traditional beliefs and approaches to interpreting life and the world across geographies, among the shared characteristics are the belief that more-than humans (including spirits and ancestors) permeate and animate nature, and that humans and the natural world are deeply interconnected, and as such, there is a responsibility to care for nature.

For information on WWF’s work with Indigenous Peoples please see:

EXPLORE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' ACTION IN CONSERVATION

There are over 476 million Indigenous People living in 90 countries across the world

Indigenous Peoples account for just over six per cent of the global population, and comprise more than 5,000 distinct groups. Indigenous Peoples and local communities are custodians of more than a third of the world’s most important areas for biodiversity.