Deep within the forest of Sira Village, West Papua, nearly 100 young Indigenous Leaders gathered this September for the Forest Defenders Camp. They came from across the region as well as the Brazilian Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Borneo. Organized by the Knasaimos Indigenous Youth Community, Bentara Papua, and Greenpeace Indonesia, the four-day camp was a seminal moment for the growing solidarity among Indigenous youth from the world’s largest tropical forests.
At the opening ceremony, Nabot Sreklefat of the Knasaimos Indigenous Youth Community found the presence of representatives from across major rainforest regions deeply inspiring.
Shamefully, the voices of young people, especially Indigenous Peoples, are routinely marginalised in decision-making. My hope is that from this camp of forest defenders, our voices will reach the national and international stage.
“Without a doubt, it is a truly incredible experience. To travel halfway across the world, directly from the Brazilian Amazon, and be here, witnessing all of this up close, is a great privilege for me. Regardless of where we are, the struggle of Indigenous Peoples continues. We continue to defend the forest, defend our home, and seek recognition that we are the defenders of the forest.
It takes a village
Months in the making, the camp was held in Sira Village, on the Indigenous Forest Territory of the Tehit Knasaimos people. The Tehit Knasaimos community has been a beacon of resistance and survival for decades—successfully chasing illegal loggers from their lands, rejecting proposed industrial oil palm plantations and more. However, like much of West Papua and tropical forests around the world, this community faces a relentless push from government settlement schemes, loggers and agribusiness.
It’s no wonder that members of Sira Village were invested in not only hosting but celebrating the momentous gathering of young activists. On the morning of its start, Sira Village welcomed the participants with traditional song and dance performances, as well as refreshments. It was a joyful and auspicious event, full of hope and a sense of kinship among new friends.
What’s more, the camp was built by the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of the village using traditional materials from the forest like bamboo, thatch, bark, wood and rattan. During the course of the gathering, the village prepared delicious meals made with native foods like sago, yams, plantains and more for the youth participants. In these ways, the camp epitomised the values of care, sustainability and living in harmony with the forest.
Building a bridge
For Indigenous Peoples from the world’s major tropical forest regions, the Forest Defender Camp was the latest in a series of important gatherings this year. In May, Indigenous Leaders held the First Global Congress of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (The Congress) from the Forest Basins in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
The gathering delivered the Brazzaville Declaration, a unified call for forest-protection across Africa, Asia, Mesoamerica, and South America. Together, these four regions are home to over two-thirds of remaining tropical forests, and are vital carbon sinks that we must preserve to prevent runaway climate change.
Now it was the young people’s turn. For four days, the activists shared and learned from one another—using interpreters to translate their thoughts and feelings across French, Indonesian, English, Portuguese and Malay, as well as many Indigenous languages. Surrounded by the echoing calls of insects and birds of paradise, the young leaders spoke passionately about their community’s struggles and hardships, and expressed dreams of a future where their forest homes and civilisations could thrive. There were also sessions on storytelling for movements, grassroots organising, traditional medicine and more.
Lerys Nyangono, president of the Association of Young Indigenous People of Cameroon spoke of the bond among the group:
As Indigenous People, we all share the same realities, same struggles and same challenges across our communities. That is why we must work together in solidarity to obtain what we want. It is time for us to act as one and make our voices heard for the preservation of our forest, our home.
– Lerys Nyangono
The Sira Declaration
Following days of intense dialogue, the youth representatives came to a shared message of demands. Named after the village which hosted its creation, the Sira Declaration calls for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, bringing particular focus on the inclusion of the youth and women. Calling for the protection of tropical forests, the declaration also points out the many grave injustices and rising threats faced by Indigenous and environmental defenders, and seeks security and direct financing to impacted communities so they can effectively protect themselves and their homes.
The declaration also champions a hopeful vision. While the world seeks answers to the climate and biodiversity crises through shiny techno-fixes, these Indigenous youth assert that the solutions already exist—among their peoples. Solving humanity’s crisis with the Earth requires us to change how we live, what we value, and who we listen to. In all these senses, Indigenous communities have a great deal to teach the rest of us.
Celine Lim, Managing Director of SAVE Rivers, and member of the Kayan community from Long Pilah, Sarawak, shared her reflections after the gathering:
The way Indigenous Peoples and the rest of the world look at forests is very different. The world sees forests as commodities—but for us, they are life itself. Indigenous Peoples have been the custodians of forests and natural landscapes for generations—doing a much better job than any outside actor. We will not budge. The duty to care for the planet is in our blood, and we will continue to protect our forests, our territories and our land. When we defend our territories, we defend the planet.
– Celine Lim
It’s time for us all to heed the wisdom of Indigenous communities that have not lost their connection with the Earth. Hearing, respecting and standing with Indigenous communities today is central to healing both the world and humanity. Our collective future depends on this change.
Tsering Lama is a Story Manager with Greenpeace International
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Discussion
Apoyo totalmente las nuevas generaciones que cuidan los bosques y las selvas siempre he apoyado a greenpeace en estas peticiones así que aquí estoy con ustedes Gracias
full support
Stop destroying our beautiful, fragile, precious planet!!!
Jeder gefällte Baum im Amazonasgebiet ist ein Baum zu viel! Wir können uns keine Sorglosigkeit mehr leisten, denn unsere Zeit läuft ab …
Best luck my Livingstone thoughts are with you
Save our beautiful planet before it's too late!!!🌏🐳🐬🦍🦒🐘🌴❤️🌸
There is no right for us to destroy this wonderful earth !
It's time we start to reclaim rights of the indigenous people all over the world.
We are looking forward to the tribals of India rising for their rights.
Save our forests.
We must protect the rainforests of the world which are home to countless fauna & flora species. These forests are their homes and they have just as much right to have a home as we do. We are not above nature, we are part of it, and this planet is our only home just as it is for every other species that exists on it.
Being alive tells the right to live.
COP30!!! Ich bitte ganz dringend darum die Stimmen der indigenen Jugendlichen anzuhören, ernst zu nehmen und in diesem Sinne umzusetzen, damit die Regenwälder unserer Erde auch weiterhin ihren großen Aufgaben für uns erfüllen können!!!!!
Please share asap to show support for Indigenous Peoples before COP30 Our hopes of saving the forests depend on them.
Precisamos criar órgão e conselhos para arrecadarmos fundos de investimento em biotecnologia para a recuperação dos ecossistemas em perigo. Precisamos cobrar impostos de industriais para investimento de tecnologias no descarte de seus resíduos. Medidas globais precisam ser tomadas urgente no combate ao aquecimento global e no combate a escassez hídrica e acidez oceânica. Com tanta tecnologia medidas globais precisam ser tomadas pelas nações.
Should save nature
I wish the Indigenous Forest peoples of the world the success that they deserve. At the same time I fear for them when they are faced by the extreme power and ruthlessness of those who seek only profit from destroying their forest homes - the world's lungs. It is an uneven fight that requires intervention by all people of good will.
The indigenous people 's voices must be heard and supported with positive action
My sincere and grateful thanks to all indiginous peoples for taking such action to protect their lives, wildlife,environment and our planet. If only others would do the same and have the same courage and tenacity so speak up and out. bright blessings to you all.
Der Schutz des Amazonas-Regenwaldes und der Wälder weltweit ist eben auch für mich persönlich von hoher Bedeutung. Weil das auch meine Zukunft und die der künftigen Generationen betrifft.
The people who live in the vital forest area's that are being destroyed are the ones we need to listen to, not corporate industry's who just don't care about killing the planet and the human race.
Mit Liebe Dankbarkeit Achtsamkeit Mitgefühl miteinander füreinander für die Schöpfung von Mutter Erde und dem Universum miteinander füreinander verbunden zu sein mit ein erliches herzliches Bewusstsein für die Zukunft Weltweit ist der Anfang der Evolution der reinen Liebe
The world must urgently listen to indiginous tribes, they have first hand experience of the situation and generational knowledge of living with, protecting and respecting nature.
I am filled with admiration and respect for the Youth Representatives of the Indigenous People of the Earth's magnificent forests. I hope they know there are millions of us throughout the world who feel the same. We may not have direct power, but we have our voices. Speak out in support of the world's indigenous people who defend the Earth's forests.
The indiginous people of the tropical forests must be listened to. It is vital that the forests are protected from the short term interests of big business so that future generations have a good environment in which to live
It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the welfare and habitats of Indigenous Peoples of the World and wildlife are maintained and protected from the widespread destruction caused by deforestation and logging, one of the reasons for which is the creeping spread of palm plantations for the production of Palm Oil. Industry and food producers should be encouraged to find sustainable alternatives to the use of palm oil in foods, which is also contributing to the destruction of Orangutan habitats.
I can only agree 100% with the rightful and goodhearted activists!
All our forests and woodland areas must be protected. We have too many huge areas of desert on our planet, many of which were the homes of indigenous peoples, long since driven off by new settlers. Sometime, hopefully soon, we shall all realise just how important these areas and their peoples are for our planet.
It is imperative that the world leaders and all communities come together to support the brave indigenous people to protect the rain forests for the sake of all of us, to save the survival of our shared planet!!
Das ist sehr hoffnungsvoll und die schönste Nachricht heute. Wir Europäer müssen alles dafür tun, dass diese Bewegung in unser Gedächtnis und Handeln einfließt.
Leave our trees alone we are humans we need to breathe and live our lives stop destroying our planet. We don't want only robots walking around whilst we somehow try to survive. LET HUMANS LIVE
We have lived with environment for thousands of years. Not knowing what is going on can be bad. Earth was with us all the time. It gives us this for all reasons to respect, preserve and give resilience for eternity. Nature should carry on with people for many more.
It is good to see the young people meeting each other and gaining strength from shared concerns and problem solving.
Hey , I am always supported Greenpeace and I am glad to be their member and now I am here to support and concern about COP30 act for climate 🌍🐠🌿
That's amazing! The Forest Defenders Camp in Sira Village, West Papua, brought together nearly 100 young Indigenous Leaders from across the region, including the Brazilian Amazon, Congo Basin, and Borneo. The camp was a powerful symbol of solidarity among Indigenous youth, aiming to protect their forests and lands. The gathering resulted in the Sira Declaration, calling for recognition of Indigenous Peoples' rights and protection of tropical forests .
I guess it is that easy being green 💚