SIWI: Indigenous Lands Moisture Tracking Project

A new report commissioned by the International Centre for Water Cooperation (ICWC) — a UNESCO Category II Centre hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) — and developed by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) provides one of the first global assessments of how Indigenous Peoples’ lands contribute to rainfall generation and atmospheric moisture flows.

Using advanced moisture-tracking modelling, the analysis shows that ecosystems stewarded by Indigenous communities sustain rainfall patterns within and across borders. It finds that these lands contribute nearly a quarter of global terrestrial precipitation, supporting agriculture, ecosystems and water availability for millions of people.

The report highlights that this contribution is particularly important during dry periods, helping to stabilise rainfall and reduce the impacts of water scarcity. In regions such as West Africa and Southeast Asia, reliance on moisture originating from Indigenous lands is especially high.

Explore the report siwi.org — Indigenous Lands Moisture Tracking Project A Global Analysis Of Terrestrial Moisture Recy.

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