In 2025, Mongabay reported stalled progress on direct funding for Indigenous land rights, weak representation at climate talks, and rising mining pressure. Investigations exposed shady carbon deals and minimal impact from crackdowns on illegal miners. But we also covered solutions led by communities: women forest guardians in the Amazon, and micro-hydro in remote Philippine villages. Here are our top 10 Indigenous stories of the year, compiled by Aimee Gabay:
Conservation news
Top 10 Indigenous news stories that marked 2025
2025 saw a mix of news sweep through Indigenous communities around the world, touching on issues both new and old. Efforts to increase direct fundi...
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Nepal’s Indigenous Newa communities in Khokana and Bungamati are resisting the Kathmandu–Terai Fast Track, which would cut through ancestral land and threaten livelihoods and cultural identity. The government calls it a “national pride” project, but locals say it advanced without real consultation and sidelines Indigenous rights. They warn it could trigger more projects — and that this fight is about survival, not compensation. by Bibek Bhandari
Conservation news
A ‘national pride’ highway meets Indigenous resistance in ancient Nepali settlements
KHOKANA — For generations, Manhera Shrestha’s family has cultivated the same ancestral land in Khokana, an ancient settlement perched on the so...
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