As global demand for some of the most popular agricultural commodities continues to grow, the pressure to access forest land mounts around the world. The unchecked expansion of commercial agriculture is by far the single largest driver of tropical deforestation, and it's often a major threat to the existence of traditional communities.
Indigenous peoples guard a third of remaining intact forests, but this is only when property rights over their territories are granted and fully protected.
Elisângela Mendonça's project seeks to identify common actors and power dynamics in the global food industry that are harmful to forests and their people, outlining Indigenous people's rights as a critical pillar of climate action.