A new study shows that indigenous land forest health in Panama is nearly twice as strong as in protected parks.
Forests on Indigenous land in Panama are staying healthier and more intact than those in protected government areas, according to a new study. The research shows that cultural practices on Indigenous land support forest health nearly twice as effectively as official conservation zones like national parks.
The study, published in Ecology and Society, focused on the Emberá communities in eastern Panama. By combining satellite images with community mapping over 20 years, researchers found that traditional land use deeply tied to cultural and spiritual values has helped preserve forest cover. The findings highlight how indigenous land forest health can offer valuable lessons for global conservation efforts.
In Panama, many Indigenous territories have held steady forest cover over two decades. Forests on Indigenous land are almost twice as intact as those in government-protected areas. That’s even though both areas are technically set aside for conservation.
What makes the difference? According to the research, it’s how people view and use the land. Indigenous communities often treat forests as more than just land—they see them as sources of food, medicine, sacred meaning, and cultural identity.
To gather their data, researchers from McGill University used two tools: satellite imagery and something called “participatory mapping.” In simple terms, this means they worked directly with community members to mark places on a map that were important to them.
Eight Emberá participants helped identify where they farm, gather materials, hunt, and hold spiritual ceremonies. They also pointed out places they avoid for religious reasons.
This participatory method allowed researchers to understand how cultural values are spread across the land, not just in specific zones, but woven into the entire forest landscape.
The maps showed that sacred areas, traditional gathering spots, and places with medicinal plants were spread throughout the forests. Even farming was typically limited to the edges of forests, with most of the interior left undisturbed.
Instead of harming the forest, these cultural activities helped protect it. When communities value forest areas for more than just resources, they take care of them in a balanced way. This cultural respect helps explain why indigenous land forest health is so strong.
One big issue the study uncovered is that many Indigenous communities don’t have formal legal ownership of their land. Without legal title, it’s harder to protect these forests long-term.
In many Latin American countries, people must show “productive use” of land to claim it. That often means clearing trees or developing the area. Ironically, the law rewards deforestation while ignoring the value of traditional, sustainable land care.
This is a problem for Indigenous groups in remote areas like Panama’s Darién Gap. Their way of living has kept forests intact, yet the law does not recognize it.
The authors of the study urge governments to update their land policies. They argue that cultural and spiritual land use should count as legitimate stewardship, not something that needs to be changed or “improved” with roads, farms, or industry.
By recognizing these traditional practices, governments can support both Indigenous rights and environmental goals.
The researchers also suggest combining conservation with food security and cultural protection. They believe that acknowledging Indigenous worldviews can lead to stronger outcomes for climate, biodiversity, and communities alike.
Forests help regulate the climate, protect biodiversity, and provide clean air and water. When forests thrive, everyone benefits—not just the people who live nearby.
Healthier forests play a powerful role in fighting climate change by acting as carbon sinks. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas driving global warming, from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
In intact forests like those managed by Panama’s Indigenous communities, this carbon stays stored in the trees and soil for decades, even centuries. The study highlights that Indigenous-managed lands maintain stronger, denser tree cover, which means more carbon is captured and kept out of the air.
The idea that indigenous land forest health is stronger than many protected areas challenges current conservation thinking. It suggests that governments and environmental groups should work more closely with Indigenous communities, instead of trying to exclude people from nature.
If this approach spreads, it could improve forest health in many other parts of the world, from the Amazon to Alaska.
