Indigneous-led GeoStory Camps

What makes your solution innovative?

The GeoStory Camps represent an innovative approach to environmental conservation and Indigenous rights, focusing on the fusion of film and geospatial mapping technology, along with participatory litigation pathways co-designed with Indigenous knowledge at the core. By collaborating directly with impacted communities, this collective impact project revolutionizes the traditional concept of conservation by placing the tools and knowledge directly in the hands of frontline communities themselves, and bringing together modern and ancestral technologies in the fight for climate justice.

At the heart of the GeoStory Camps is the belief in the power of evidence-based storytelling. This innovative approach combines the use of film and geospatial mapping data as potent tools when wielded by trained Indigenous communities. Not only do these methods serve as powerful mediums for documenting delicate ecosystems, but they also serve as crucial evidence in legal cases, amplifying Indigenous voices in decision-making spaces where they have historically been marginalized.

What sets this project apart is its co-design with Indigenous groups, ensuring that the solutions are tailored to the unique contextual needs of each community. This co-design process allows for the accommodation of both preventative and reactive measures. On one hand, the camps aim to prevent further destruction of land and sea by empowering communities to protect their territories. On the other hand, they seek community-led paths to justice, ensuring the preservation of Indigenous rights and subsistence.

The innovative combination of approaches—collective impact, co-design, and evidence-based methodologies—makes the GeoStory Camps adaptive and responsive to the dynamic challenges faced by Indigenous peoples. By acknowledging the effectiveness of frontline Indigenous communities as environmental stewards, with deforestation rates up to 50% lower in their territories, this project challenges the status quo of excluding Indigenous voices from climate action and forest preservation solutions.

This project represents a paradigm shift in environmental conservation efforts, recognizing that Indigenous communities are not just passive beneficiaries but active agents of change. By equipping these communities with the necessary tools and knowledge, the GeoStory Camps empower them to reclaim their rightful place as custodians of the land. This innovative approach not only fosters environmental sustainability but also promotes social justice and Indigenous sovereignty.

Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.

Legal cases fought by Indigenous communities can be strengthened with the combination of evidence-based storytelling tools, using film and geospatial mapping created by communities themselves, by supporting frontline impacted communities to collate and present the evidence of environmental destruction.

Through drone footage and images, community members are able to capture and expose invasive industry actions within their ancestral territories. Through mapping tools and databases, Indigenous communities are able to gather spatial data on tree cover loss, fires, and large-scale deforestation.

This data provides the trained communities with the geolocation of unsustainable practices and can be used as scientific evidence to back film footage showing the infringement of Indigenous and environmental rights. This combination of storytelling has a great potential to be used as powerful legal evidence to halt deforestation, uphold environmental laws, and preserve Indigenous land.

Our more detailed theory of change can be found here: https://www.peoplesplanetproje...

More detailed breakdown of our long-term GeoStory Camp program here: https://www.peoplesplanetproje...

People’s Planet Project is contributing to a decolonised way of working that does not reflect the status quo, ensuring that the modes of documentation, witnessing, monitoring, litigation and storytelling are in the hands of those at the frontlines so that they not only have the agency to document their own experiences, but also the platform to have these experiences told in court. 

Film and geospatial mapping are taught in the Phase I skills-based GeoStory Camps, and then connected to legal mechanisms and knowledge via Stage II evidence-based GeoStory Camps. Once the foundational skills are learnt, participants then connect these skills to the local and national legal context regarding Indigenous and environmental rights. They collaborate with each other and legal experts to determine the best pathways to pursue legal victories protecting their land, using their own Indigenous-created content as legal evidence.

PPP is working together with an earth observation agency to develop predictive GIS models that will enable frontline communities to detect first signs of potential deforestation, such as the first signs of road-building for trucks. Partner Indigenous communities can receive deforestation alerts to locate new concessions, document them, and stop destruction at an early or preventative stage through local legal mechanisms.

All these activities are organized through an Indigenous-led working group consisting of multiple stakeholders and experts within the realm of filmmaking, geospatial mapping, environmental and criminal law and Indigenous leaders working together on an even footing in seeking climate justice pathways. This continued support from People’s Planet Project is important to our communities, sustaining the work and activism and building collective impact through networks.

The combination is exceptional as it dismantles the dependence of Indigenous communities on external third-party filmmakers or reporters, NGOs, and experts - instead, the witness testimonies, maps, cultural knowledge, and frontline experiences are captured by the people best-placed to tell it: those experiencing it themselves.

What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?

The impact goals of the GeoStory Camps for Indigenous communities are structured around a series of outputs, outcomes, and expected impacts. These elements collectively outline the project's objectives and provide a framework for measuring progress and assessing success.

Outputs:

1. Community Co-Creation: Active involvement of Indigenous community members in designing the program and developing essential resources like the GeoStory Camp curriculum and Human Rights Toolkit.
2. Workshops: Conducting four GeoStory Camp workshops, two focusing on foundational skills in film and GIS mapping, and two on participatory litigation and evidence gathering for legal advocacy.
3. Technology and Skills: Equipping the entire Indigenous community with technology and skills necessary for creating evidence-based stories usable in court, advocacy, or education.
4. Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitating connections between Indigenous community members and local/international stakeholders through a working group and collective impact network.
5. Capacity Building: Training over 30 community leaders per community collaboration to independently create evidence-based storytelling projects and transfer GIS mapping and film skills to others.
6. Land Mapping: Mapping and delineating Indigenous ancestral land according to local customs and medicinal plant knowledge.
7. Medicinal Plant and Sacred Spaces Documentation: Documenting and mapping medicinal plants and sacred spaces within relevant areas.
8. Toolkit Development: Creating tailored Human Rights Toolkit and GeoStory Camp curriculum for Indigenous communities, with broader relevance for social justice advocacy.
9. Feedback Mechanism: Establishing a feedback cycle between community members and stakeholders to reflect on and improve the program.
10. Monitoring and Evaluation: Reporting on lessons learned and impact measured through monitoring and evaluation activities.

Outcomes:

1. Legal Evidence: Using legally-strong film and mapping data as evidence in court cases and advocacy campaigns.
2. Prevention of Displacement: Preventing further displacement of Indigenous communities and ensuring their rights within their territories.
3. Territorial Protection: Gaining support from relevant authorities to protect Indigenous ancestral areas and prevent encroachment by external forces.
4. Recognition of Land Rights: Securing acknowledgment and protection of Indigenous land management rights within designated territories.
5. Cultural Preservation: Legal support for the use of ancestral practices by Indigenous communities.
6. Organizational Strengthening: Strengthening Indigenous organizations as legal entities representing their communities, facilitating collaboration with other stakeholders.
7. Skills Enhancement: Equipping Indigenous community members with advanced skills in evidence-based storytelling and mapping for rights protection.
8. Scale-Up Opportunities: Providing insights from monitoring and evaluation to scale-up human rights and Indigenous self-determination projects.

Expected Impact:

1. Capacity Enhancement: Empowering Indigenous communities to advocate for their environmental, land, and cultural rights through evidence-based storytelling.
2. Self-Determination: Fostering self-determination within Indigenous communities within their territories.
3. Biodiversity Protection: Safeguarding the biodiversity of relevant areas and surrounding territories from external threats.
4. Collaborative Conservation: Promoting collaborative efforts between Indigenous communities and relevant authorities for biodiversity preservation.
5. Organizational Empowerment: Enabling Indigenous communities and organizations to independently conduct advocacy work and collaborate with other stakeholders.
6. Female Empowerment: Empowering female activists within Indigenous communities and organizations.

By focusing on these outputs, outcomes, and expected impacts, the GeoStory Camps aim to effect tangible positive changes for Indigenous communities, their environments, and their rights, while providing a framework for ongoing evaluation and improvement.

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

The combination of technologies is strategic, addressing multiple challenges faced by Indigenous peoples while amplifying agency in decision-making processes.

GIS:

GIS technology enables the visualization, analysis, and interpretation of spatial data, making it a valuable tool for mapping and understanding land use and environmental changes. GIS is utilized to map Indigenous territories, delineate boundaries, document land features, and track environmental changes over time. 

Film:

Film serves as a powerful medium for storytelling, allowing Indigenous communities to document their experiences, cultural heritage, and struggles for land rights. Through the GeoStory Camps, Indigenous participants learn how to use film equipment, capture footage, conduct interviews, and edit videos. These skills empower them to share their narratives with the worldand mobilize support for their causes. By combining GIS mapping with film, Indigenous communities can visually represent their stories, linking personal experiences with spatial data to create compelling evidence to use in court.

Participatory Litigation:

Participatory litigation involves the active involvement of affected communities in legal proceedings related to their rights and interests. In the context of the GeoStory Camps, Indigenous communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in legal advocacy, including evidence gathering, case preparation, and courtroom representation. By partnering with legal experts and organizations, Indigenous participants learn strategies for challenging injustices through litigation.

Combining Technologies:

By combining these technologies, enable Indigenous communities can:

1. Document Evidence: Indigenous participants use GIS mapping to spatially document land use, environmental changes, and resource exploitation, while film captures personal narratives, testimonies, and community perspectives. Together, these forms of evidence provide a comprehensive picture of the challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

2. Build Advocacy Campaigns: Armed with GIS maps and compelling video footage, Indigenous communities can launch advocacy campaigns to raise awareness about threats to their territories. Film screenings, social media campaigns, and community events serve as platforms for sharing stories, and mobilizing support for collective action.

3. Support Legal Cases: GIS mapping data and film evidence serve as critical tools in legal cases related to land rights, environmental protection, and Indigenous sovereignty. Indigenous communities can use GIS maps to demonstrate historical land use, traditional territories, and customary land management practices, while film footage provides firsthand accounts of injustices and human rights violations. In courtrooms, these forms of evidence strengthen legal arguments, and support community testimonies.

Why the Combination Works:

The combination of GIS mapping, film, and participatory litigation is effective because it addresses the multifaceted nature of Indigenous struggles for land rights and environmental justice. While GIS provides spatial context and data-driven insights, film fostering understanding among diverse audiences including national authorities. It can also be powerful to use in court as oral testimony and evidence. Participatory litigation empowers Indigenous communities to seek legal remedies for injustices and assert their rights within formal legal systems.

Together, these technologies amplify Indigenous voices, enhance advocacy efforts, and contribute to meaningful change at all levels. All while centering Indigenous communities as active agents in their fight for climate justice.

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new application of an existing technology

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

• Ancestral Technology & Practices
• Audiovisual Media
• GIS and Geospatial Technology
• Software and Mobile Applications

If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:

www.peoplesplanetproject.org

In which countries do you currently operate?

• Brazil
• Honduras
• Indonesia
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru

Which, if any, additional countries will you be operating in within the next year?

• Congo, Rep.
• Suriname

How many people work on your solution team?

We currently operate with a dedicated team of 5 part-time or un-paid staff members who are deeply committed to the organization's mission. We currently do not have core funding.

People’s Planet Project also maintains a network of experts in GIS, film, and law who are contracted as needed when program funds allow.

The network of experts is mobilized for particular components of the Geostory Camp, where their expertise is most needed and project funds are available. As program funds allow, additional experts can be brought in to address emerging issues or provide specialized training and support to communities.

How long have you been working on your solution?

Over five years, People’s Planet Project has prioritized empowering Indigenous communities through innovative evidence-based storytelling and participatory litigation. Notably, 39 community members from diverse Indigenous groups have undergone advanced training in filmmaking and geospatial mapping, laying the groundwork for advocacy and legal actions. Looking ahead to 2025, plans include expanding training initiatives to include more individuals from various communities, with the aim of protecting up to 5,242,000 hectares of Indigenous forest and territory. Through the creation of legally strong evidence in films and maps, communities are preparing to safeguard their rights and territories against environmental and human rights abuse

Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.

People’s Planet Project is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that values diversity and promotes collective impact. As an organization that operates globally and engages with Indigenous communities from various regions, it recognizes the importance of inclusivity in its approach to staff recruitment, training, and collaboration.

One of the core principles guiding People’s Planet Project is the belief that diversity enriches the organization and strengthens its ability to create positive change. From the outset, the organization prioritizes inclusivity in its recruitment process, actively seeking staff members from diverse religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. By bringing together individuals with different perspectives and lived experiences, People’s Planet Project cultivates a dynamic and inclusive team that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

Moreover, the organization is committed to providing a supportive environment where staff members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique talents and insights. Through training programs, workshops, and ongoing professional development opportunities, People’s Planet Project invests in the growth and well-being of its staff, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to thrive in their roles.

In addition to fostering inclusivity within its own team, People’s Planet Project embraces a collective impact approach to its work, recognizing that meaningful change requires collaboration and partnership across diverse stakeholders. By engaging with Indigenous communities, local organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders, the organization seeks to build alliances and leverage collective expertise to address complex environmental and social challenges.

The collective impact approach emphasizes the importance of shared goals, open communication, and mutual respect among all stakeholders. People’s Planet Project facilitates collaborative decision-making processes that honor the perspectives and priorities of each participant, ensuring that initiatives are co-designed and implemented in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner.

We recognize the importance of building trust and fostering authentic relationships with Indigenous communities and other partners. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and mutual respect in its interactions, People’s Planet Project cultivates long-term partnerships based on shared values and common goals.

What is your business model?

People’s Planet Project operates on social impact as a non-profit. Rather than focusing on financial gains, we seek to enhance human capacity by developing expert greenbelts in biodiversity hotspots, comprised of Indigenous communities equipped with the skills and tools to map and film changes to their land.

The scalability of this model lies in its ability to be replicated as training programs and capacity-building initiatives across diverse Indigenous communities worldwide, doubling as an employment pathway. By investing in training and empowering local community members, People’s Planet Project creates a network of skilled individuals capable of documenting environmental changes, advocating for their rights, and initiating legal actions to protect their territories.

At the core of the organization's approach is the combination of technology and human skill. By providing training in filmmaking and geospatial mapping, People’s Planet Project equips Indigenous communities with the tools needed to collect and analyze data effectively. These skills enable community members to create compelling visual narratives that highlight environmental challenges and human rights abuses, serving as powerful advocacy tools.

By fostering partnerships with local environmental lawyers and other stakeholders, People’s Planet Project ensures that the evidence collected by Indigenous communities is legally robust and can withstand scrutiny in court. This collaborative approach strengthens the capacity of Indigenous communities to assert their rights and seek justice for violations committed against them - it also enhances the ability for Indigenous communities to use knowledge and expertise wisely at the bargaining table, whether this be with national authorities or industries.

The impact of People’s Planet Project's business model extends beyond individual communities to influence governments and advocacy organizations. By demonstrating the effectiveness of community-led initiatives in documenting and addressing environmental threats, the organization sets a precedent for more inclusive and participatory approaches to conservation and land management.

By building the capacity of Indigenous communities to monitor and protect their territories, People’s Planet Project contributes to broader efforts to conserve biodiversity and combat climate change. The data collected by trained community members can inform policy decisions, guide conservation efforts, and support international initiatives aimed at preserving fragile ecosystems.

People’s Planet Project's model prioritizes social impact and environmental sustainability. By empowering Indigenous communities with the skills and tools needed to document and protect their territories, the organization fosters a more inclusive and equitable approach to conservation. Through collective action and collaboration, People’s Planet Project aims to create lasting change that benefits both people and the planet.

Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?

What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?

People’s Planet Project, in its pursuit of empowering Indigenous communities and preserving biodiversity, has devised a sustainable business model that leverages evidence-based storytelling to drive social impact and fund future initiatives. At the heart of this model lies the creation of compelling narratives through film and geospatial mapping, which serve as powerful tools for advocacy and awareness.

These evidence-based stories, developed by trained Indigenous community members, encapsulate the environmental challenges and human rights abuses faced by Indigenous peoples across the globe. By documenting their struggles and the threats to their territories, these stories not only amplify Indigenous voices but also serve as catalysts for change.

To ensure the broad dissemination and accessibility of these stories, People’s Planet Project plans to establish a subscription-based database. This database will serve as a centralized platform for storing, sharing, and accessing evidence-based narratives created by Indigenous communities. Through a subscription model, individuals, organizations, and institutions will gain access to a wealth of information, insights, and perspectives on environmental issues and Indigenous rights.

The profits generated from subscriptions to the database will be reinvested into funding the program over the next 3-5 years. Rather than seeking external funding or relying solely on donations, this self-sustaining model enables People’s Planet Project to maintain its operations and expand its reach without compromising its mission or values.

By channeling profits back into the program, People’s Planet Project can continue to train and empower Indigenous community members, support advocacy efforts, and initiate legal actions to protect Indigenous territories. This cyclical process ensures the long-term viability and impact of the program, fostering a self-reliant and resilient ecosystem of change-makers.

Moreover, the subscription-based database serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, activists, and other stakeholders invested in environmental conservation and social justice. By providing access to firsthand accounts, data, and visual evidence, the database facilitates informed decision-making, drives policy change, and fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

In essence, the establishment of a subscription-based database not only generates revenue to sustain the program but also democratizes access to information and empowers communities to tell their own stories. By harnessing the power of evidence-based storytelling, People’s Planet Project catalyzes positive change, fosters greater awareness and empathy, and builds a more equitable and sustainable future for all.