Founded in May 1992 at the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples on Territories, Environment and Development Land Is Life is an international network of indigenous communities and organizations.
Since its inception, Land Is Life has strengthened indigenous participation in international policy making processes, promoted dialogue between indigenous leaders and international development institutions, worked within the United Nations system to promote and protect indigenous peoples' rights and assisted communities to secure rights at the local and national levels.
Land Is Life collaborates on projects and campaigns to advance the strategic goals of over twenty indigenous peoples in sixteen countries. Land Is Life believes that keeping land in the hands of indigenous peoples is the best way to confront climate change, protect biological diversity and guarantee sustainable development.

Land Is Life

• monitors countries compliance with international human rights agreements and campaigns to hold accountable those who are responsible when people's rights are violated
• advocates for free prior and informed consent on all issues where indigenous people's lives and rights are at stake
• provides training and financial support for indigenous activists to participate in the annual UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and other international conferences
• provides technical assistance and small grants at the local level to support the work of indigenous communities and organizations

Communities and organizations around the world - from the heart of the Amazon to the plains and forests of Africa and the islands of the Pacific – depend on the strategic, financial and moral support that Land Is Life provides

Land Is Life helps preserve threatened ecosystems by working with indigenous communities that inhabit some of the world's most pristine and threatened ecosystems. Indigenous peoples have managed these lands and preserved their biodiversity for centuries using traditional knowledge and respect for the earth. Land Is Life supports efforts to prevent degradation and exploitation of these lands.

Land Is Life improves indigenous people's access to international policy making by promoting and arranging for dialogue between indigenous peoples and governments, corporations and NGOs. Land Is Life provides training, strategic advice and travel funds to indigenous leaders to ensure their participation in international policy making processes where decisions are made that affect their lives, lands and cultures.

Land Is Life helps coordinate local campaigns by collaborating to address threats to indigenous territories at the local and national level. Working on four continents, Land Is Life supports and helps organize marches, legal action, regional conferences, dialogues with officials, and challenges to unacceptable development plans.

Land Is Life builds capacity of indigenous organizations by offering training and strategic support for indigenous leaders to help build effective, representative indigenous organizations. Land Is Life offers a Small Grants Program, providing $150,000 over the last three years to indigenous organizations implementing locally-controlled strategies and programs in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Central and South America.

Land Is Life supports sustainable development by finding funding and providing guidance in support of local projects designed by indigenous communities to develop sustainable livelihoods. Land Is Life has helped establish womens cooperatives with the El-Molo in Kenya, the Guarani in Bolivia and the Zapara in Ecuador.

Land Is Life protects the human rights of indigenous peoples. With monitoring and critical analysis of the policies and practices of international bodies, Land Is Life makes certain they respect the human, cultural, religious, economic, political and territorial rights of indigenous peoples. Land Is Life believes in peaceful means to fight the widespread marginalization, discrimination and systematic human rights abuses of indigenous peoples.