Indigenous women from the Amazon, leading global and local movements, issued urgent calls to action at a COP27 press conference. They highlighted ongoing efforts to protect their communities and

Indigenous women from the Amazon, leading global and local movements, issued urgent calls to action at a COP27 press conference. They highlighted ongoing efforts to protect their communities and territories from governments and corporations violating Indigenous and human rights through harmful extractive projects.

Speakers, including Sônia Bone Guajajara (Federal Deputy of Brazil) and Patricia Gualinga (Spokeswoman for Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva), demanded stronger Indigenous rights, forest and water protection, and global climate action.

At a COP27 UN Side Event, "Women for Climate Justice" convened grassroots, frontline, and Indigenous women leaders with international climate justice organizations. They addressed the root causes

At a COP27 UN Side Event, "Women for Climate Justice" convened grassroots, frontline, and Indigenous women leaders with international climate justice organizations. They addressed the root causes of interlocking crises, advocating for solutions rooted in a climate justice framework.

Discussions highlighted crucial areas like forest and biodiversity protection, Indigenous rights, agro-ecology, and fossil fuel resistance. Speakers emphasized safeguarding women land defenders and promoting community-led solutions, showcasing diverse global leadership in climate action.

At COP28 on December 2, 2023, WECAN hosted a press conference featuring Indigenous women leaders from the Amazon. They powerfully advocated for urgent action to protect Indigenous rights,

At COP28 on December 2, 2023, WECAN hosted a press conference featuring Indigenous women leaders from the Amazon. They powerfully advocated for urgent action to protect Indigenous rights, biodiversity, and the global climate.

These women mobilized to safeguard Amazonian forests, water, and communities. Speakers, including Célia Xakriabá and Fany Kuiru Castro, delivered powerful calls for advocacy and immediate protective measures.

On December 5, WECAN hosted a UN Side Event at COP28, titled "Women Implementing Climate Justice Solutions to Mitigate and Adapt to the Climate Crisis." Grassroots, Indigenous, and frontline

On December 5, WECAN hosted a UN Side Event at COP28, titled "Women Implementing Climate Justice Solutions to Mitigate and Adapt to the Climate Crisis." Grassroots, Indigenous, and frontline women, along with global organization representatives, presented diverse climate justice strategies, including forest protection, Indigenous rights, agro-ecology, and a Just Transition.

The event featured powerful testimonies from diverse women leaders. A special appearance by Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister of Indigenous Peoples, underscored the vital role of women's leadership globally. WECAN is honored to continue its long-standing collaboration with Minister Guajajara.

The Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, a 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalist, protects 35 million hectares of forest across 30 Indigenous nations in Peru and Ecuador. Led by Uyunkar Domingo Peas, it

The Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, a 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalist, protects 35 million hectares of forest across 30 Indigenous nations in Peru and Ecuador. Led by Uyunkar Domingo Peas, it champions planetary rights and highlights Indigenous peoples' vital conservation role.

Inspired by "moonshots," Prince William launched The Earthshot Prize to inspire a decade of planetary repair. It celebrates human ingenuity, proving environmental challenges can be overcome.

Watch The Earthshot Report on BBC iPlayer or PBS. More at earthshotprize.org; follow on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Dr. Akira Miyawaki proposes a disaster prevention plan to create authentic, self-sustaining tide embankment forests using native trees. These forests are designed to survive strong tsunamis and

Dr. Akira Miyawaki proposes a disaster prevention plan to create authentic, self-sustaining tide embankment forests using native trees. These forests are designed to survive strong tsunamis and protect lives, contrasting with less effective man-made forests. A video explains this concept through interviews and animations, demonstrating the superior protection offered by native species. The initiative has inspired many volunteers, including Venerable Hioki from Rinnoji Temple, who believes these principles align with Buddhist teachings.

Venerable Hioki, the 44th Abbot of Rinnoji Soto Zen Temple and Association Chairman, was deeply moved by Dr. Miyawaki's proposal. He has since led local residents in planting over 33,000 native trees of more than 50 species around Rinnoji Temple. Committed to global education, he teaches children and adults worldwide about the vital importance of forests through media and public appearances.

The Miyawaki method, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is an accelerated afforestation technique. It creates dense urban forests in 20-30 years, significantly faster than conventional

The Miyawaki method, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is an accelerated afforestation technique. It creates dense urban forests in 20-30 years, significantly faster than conventional methods. By planting diverse native species closely, plants grow upwards, resulting in a forest that is 30 times denser, grows 10 times faster, and becomes maintenance-free within three years.

To implement this method, select a site at least 4 by 3 meters that receives a minimum of eight hours of daily sunlight. The process involves soil preparation, purchasing native plant species, forest design, plantation, tying plants to support sticks, and initial watering and monitoring.

Forests are vital, but current satellite data isn't granular enough for dispersed systems like agroforestry and dryland forests, which comprise over a third of global forests.

WRI, Land &

Forests are vital, but current satellite data isn't granular enough for dispersed systems like agroforestry and dryland forests, which comprise over a third of global forests.

WRI, Land & Carbon Lab, and Meta partnered to develop an AI foundation model, creating the world’s first global 1-meter resolution map of tree canopy height, enabling individual tree detection worldwide.

This map provides a crucial baseline for monitoring individual trees, essential for measuring land use emissions and tracking conservation for climate and nature goals. Learn more: landcarbonlab.org/news-updates/mapping-trees-unprecedented-detail-ai

WRI's Global Restoration Initiative and researchers from Land & Carbon Lab have partnered with Meta to develop a groundbreaking AI foundation model that we've used to produce the world's first

WRI's Global Restoration Initiative and researchers from Land & Carbon Lab have partnered with Meta to develop a groundbreaking AI foundation model that we've used to produce the world's first global map of tree canopy height at a 1-meter resolution, allowing the detection of single trees at a global scale.



This new high-resolution data sets a baseline for remotely monitoring changes at the level of individual trees, making it a critical advancement for measuring land use emissions and tracking progress on conservation and restoration projects, which are essential for achieving the world's goals for climate, nature and people. While this initial data set has limitations, it demonstrates the power of foundation models—a type of AI model that can serve as the foundation for a variety of task—to pave a new path toward AI-driven earth monitoring.



Find out more in our blog: https://www.landcarbonlab.org/news-updates/mapping-trees-unprecedented-detail-ai

While forests have often been viewed as inert resources, Suzanne Simard’s revolutionary research is transforming forest ecology. A Professor of Forestry at the University of British Columbia,

While forests have often been viewed as inert resources, Suzanne Simard’s revolutionary research is transforming forest ecology. A Professor of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, Simard’s groundbreaking work reveals the complex, interconnected nature of forests, particularly the below-ground fungal networks that facilitate interplant communication. Her findings echo the wisdom of First Peoples, offering a new paradigm for sustainable living on Earth.

Learn more about Suzanne Simard’s research on her website. Further insights, including her Bioneers keynote and panel discussions on forest intelligence, are available through related resources. This content is part of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series.