LocationsEarth Day 2025: Harnessing Community Power to Protect Our Planet’s Future
April 22, 2025
Taman Nasional Way Kambas, Lampung
Every year on April 22, Earth Day reminds us of the incredible beauty and diversity of life that surrounds us, and the urgent need to protect it. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” feels especially timely. With climate change accelerating and ecosystems under pressure, the question is: how do we, as individuals and communities, step up to safeguard the natural world?
The Guardians of Nature: Communities on the Frontline
In many parts of the world, it’s the local and customary communities who have been quietly protecting forests, rivers, and wildlife for generations. These communities don’t just live alongside nature, they are deeply connected to it. Their traditional knowledge and ways of life have sustained some of the planet’s richest biodiversity hotspots. Yet, despite their crucial role, these stewards have often been left out of decisions about how their lands and resources are managed. This exclusion has sometimes led to conflict, loss of culture, and even environmental degradation.
KALFOR Project/UNDP
Imagine a place where local people are not just bystanders but active partners in conservation. Where their voices shape how protected areas are managed, and where the benefits of preserving nature flow directly back to them. This is not just an ideal, it’s happening in many parts of the world, with remarkable results.
A shining example is UNDP’s collaboration with the Government of Indonesia through the Wildlife Ecotourism project funded by Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). Targeting five iconic national parks—Tanjung Puting, Way Kambas, Baluran, Alas Purwo, and Wakatobi—this initiative transforms over 1.9 million hectares of conservation areas into engines of both biodiversity protection and local prosperity. More than 6,000 people, including 30% women, directly benefit from this approach.
At its core, the project positions Customary Peoples and Local Communities (CPLCs) as co-managers of ecotourism ventures. By investing in environmentally friendly infrastructure and ensuring that ecotourism revenues are reinvested into conservation and livelihoods, the project exemplifies how inclusive development can safeguard nature while elevating communities.
Aligning Local Action with Global Ambitions
Around the world, governments and organizations are recognizing that conservation can’t succeed without community involvement. National strategies increasingly emphasize protecting ecosystems while ensuring local people share in the benefits. This approach aligns with global goals to halt biodiversity loss and fight climate change.
Taman Nasional Alas Purwo, Jawa Timur
The Wildlife Ecotourism project also aligns with Indonesia’s national biodiversity strategy (IBSAP 2025–2045) and Presidential Instruction No. 1/2023. From protecting ecosystems and iconic species to enhancing ecosystem services and empowering communities, it is a powerful model of how conservation can be both people-centered and planet-positive.
One of the most exciting ways communities are turning conservation into opportunity is through ecotourism. When done thoughtfully, ecotourism showcases nature’s wonders and creates jobs, especially for women and young people. It encourages visitors to appreciate and respect wildlife, while generating funds that can be reinvested into protecting habitats and supporting local development.
But ecotourism only works when it’s inclusive and community-led. That’s why projects like Wildlife Ecotourism are so critical, they promote a gender-responsive, participatory approach, where monitoring and evaluation are shared responsibilities, and every stakeholder has a voice.
Our Shared Responsibility This Earth Day
As we mark Earth Day 2025, the message is clear: the power to protect our planet lies in our hands, and especially in the hands of those who live closest to the land. Supporting community-led conservation is not just a moral imperative, it’s the smartest path forward for a sustainable future.
This Earth Day, let’s celebrate the strength of communities as guardians of our natural heritage. Let’s champion solutions that respect people and nature equally. Because when communities thrive, ecosystems flourish, and that benefits us all.
Happy Earth Day 2025! Together, our power can shape a healthier, more resilient planet for generations to come.
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Written by: Iwan Kurniawan, Programme Manager for NRM Cluster, UNDP Indonesia and Nabilla Rahmani, Head of Communication, UNDP Indonesia