Submission Update: one ICCA has been added from Madagascar!

March 2026

We are pleased to announce the addition of one ICCA to the ICCA Registry from Madagascar: Vorehe

Vorehe in the Atsimo-Andrefana region of Madagascar is a community-governed territory where local residents collectively manage forests, farmland and natural resources through customary practices. Through agriculture, resource stewardship and traditional governance, the community works to sustain biodiversity, livelihoods and cultural values while strengthening local resilience and conservation efforts.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 326 ICCAs in the Registry.

Submission Update: four ICCAs have been added from Madagascar!

February 2026

We are pleased to announce the addition of four ICCAs to the ICCA Registry from Madagascar:

1. Amby

The Amby ICCA in the Itasy region of Madagascar is a 966 ha community-governed tapia forest territory where about 1,444 people sustainably manage biodiversity and livelihoods through traditional collective governance. They farm, raise livestock and protect endemic species like wild silkworms while strengthening social cohesion and planning for improved conservation and infrastructure.

2. Anjà

Anjà in the Haute Matsiatra region of Madagascar is a community-managed territory of mountains, forests and rivers governed by about 985 people. Through sustainable tourism, agriculture and traditional practices, they conserve biodiversity—including over 600 ring-tailed lemurs—while protecting local rights, cultural traditions and community well-being.

3. Andranobe

The Andranobe ICCA in the Vakinankaratra Region of Madagascar covers about 1,500 ha of lakes, forests and farmland managed by around 1,200 people. Through customary governance, the community sustains fishing, farming and biodiversity conservation while maintaining ecological health, social cohesion and cultural knowledge.

4. Soanavelandrazana

Soanavelandrazana in the Itasy region of Madagascar is an Indigenous community-governed territory where about 405 people manage tapia forests, farmland and rivers. They sustain silk production and farming while conserving endemic species and cultural practices through participatory governance and strengthened conservation efforts.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 325 ICCAs in the Registry as of 02/2026.

Submission Update: two ICCAs have been added from the Philippines and Malaysia!

January 2026

We are pleased to announce the addition of two ICCAs to the ICCA Registry:

1. Pyanada, the Philippines

Known as Pyanada, this ICCA encompasses the Ancestral Domain of the Mandaya people in Maragusan, Philippines. It is a sacred and living territory that includes the mountains of Mt. Kandalaga, Mt. Kampalili, and Mt. Pangapugan, which are revered as the dwelling places of ancestral and nature spirits. The Mandaya people safeguard these landscapes through cultural laws that guide respectful human interaction, preserving cultural heritage, spiritual harmony, and unity and resilience of its people.

2. Kawasan Jagaan Komuniti Melanta Silawa, Malaysia

The name reflects its meaning as a “beautiful and scenic area or island”. Ancestral knowledge continues to guide daily life, particularly in fishing and navigation through the use of wind patterns and stars, and the village holds historical remnants that attest to its long-standing presence. The community’s deep connection to the land and sea is also expressed through traditional customs and ceremonies still practiced by some families. Today, villagers continue to rely on fishing and farming for food, making the protection of this area essential for sustaining their livelihoods and resources.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 321 ICCAs in the Registry as of 01/2026.

Submission Update: three new ICCAs have been added from Malaysia and Myanmar!

December 2025

We are pleased to announce the addition of three ICCAs to the ICCA Registry:

1. Berungus Marine Managed Area, Malaysia

Since the early 2000s, Berungus fishermen, supported by government and NGOs, have worked to stop illegal fishing, leading to the establishment of the Berungus Marine Managed Area in 2007. This effort culminated in the Protocol Laut Berungus, recognized in 2023 as Sabah’s first community-led coastal-marine governance framework. The area was recently announced as Malaysia’s first coastal and marine OECM, pending formal recognition.

2. Kekal Asli Tigabu, Malaysia

Pulau Tigabu, in Sabah’s Tun Mustapha Park, is home to a predominantly Ubian Indigenous community whose livelihoods depend on the surrounding marine environment. For generations, residents have relied on artisanal fishing and local ecological knowledge, and in 2018 established Persatuan Kekal Asli Pulau Tigabu to protect their marine environment, natural heritage, and cultural traditions.

3. Hkolo Tamutaku K’rer (Salween Peace Park), Myanmar

Founded in December 2018 in Mutraw District, the Salween Peace Park is the first formally recognized Karen Indigenous Community Conserved Territory, comprising ancestral Kaw territories, reserve forests, community forests, and wildlife sanctuaries. Communities collaborate to promote food sovereignty through rice banks and fish conservation zones, while leading progress on customary tenure rights under the Kawthoolei Land Policy.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 319 ICCAs in the Registry as of 12/2025.

Submission Update: two new ICCAs and one updated ICCA in Nigeria!

September 2025

We are pleased to announce the addition of two ICCAs to the ICCA Registry: Gbanraun and Kokoloama Community Conservation Areas. Spatial data has also been added to the ICCA Registry for an existing ICCA: Apoi Community Conservation Area.

These three ICCAs are located in a remote part of Niger River Delta. The primary goal of establishing the conservation areas is to promote habitat expansion that will support the long-term preservation of one of the remaining significant populations of the endemic and critically endangered Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey. The species, named after its local Ijaw name, is found only in about 1,500 km² of central Niger Delta marsh forest, due to its specific habitat requirements and limited food sources. The communities need support so their protection efforts can be sustained and remain effective overtime.

The case study for the Gbanraun and Kokoloama Community Conservation Areas is now available on the ICCA Registry website. You can find it here.

The three ICCAs are reported as protected areas in the World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 316 ICCAs in the Registry as of 09/2025.

Submission Update: one new ICCA in Argentina!

June 2025

We are pleased to announce the addition of ICCA Torna Lickana to the ICCA Registry. Located in the province of Salta in northern Argentina, the Torna Lickana Network is made up of 10 indigenous communities that are part of the ICCA. Among them are the communities of: Incahuasi, Raíces Andinas, Corralito, Matancillas, Casa Colorada, Esquina de Guardia, Tipan, Cobres, Rangel and Cerro Negro.

Within the Territory of Life are the high Andean wetlands, formed by salt flats, lakes, lagoons, wetlands; ecosystems with an immeasurable biological, cultural, social, and economic value, and with which the people maintain different ways of life harmonious and deeply rooted since time immemorial.

Read the case study here.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 314 ICCAs in the Registry as of 06/2025.

Submission Update: update to one ICCA in Spain!

May 2025

We are pleased to announce that the Comunidade de Montes Veciñais en Man Común de Teis in Spain have added spatial data to their existing ICCA Registry submission. This will give greater visibility to the boundaries of the ICCA and enable it to be better considered in area-based conservation.

Submission Update: one new ICCA in The Philippines!

April 2025

We are pleased to announce the addition of ICCA Pina daw Bahaw-bahaw to the ICCA Registry. Located in northern Mindanao, Philippines, the ancestral domain of Mat-I Man-ibay Civoleg Langguyod (MAMACILA) includes two types of ICCAs: Pina, a strict protection zone, and Bahaw-bahaw, a buffer zone for sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products.

The area holds significant carbon storage potential and is vital for biodiversity, with habitats for endemic species and ecological connectivity.

Case study coming soon!

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 313 ICCAs in the Registry as of 04/2025.

Submission Update: one new ICCA in Colombia!

October 2024

We are pleased to announce the addition of ICCA Villa Catalina de Puerto Rosario to the ICCA Registry. Located in southeast Colombia, this ICCA represents a significant milestone for the Inga community and recognises their achievements in preserving their biodiversity and culture in the municipality of Puerto Guzmán, department of Putumayo.

The Inga community of Villa Catalina de Puerto Rosario has taken important steps to safeguard their natural resources and traditional practices, ensuring the long-term protection of their environment. Their commitment to conservation and cultural resilience is now documented through the case study on the ICCA Registry.

Read the case study here.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 312 ICCAs in the Registry as of 10/2024.

Submission Update: two new ICCAs in Finland!

May 2024

We are happy to announce the addition of two new ICCAs in Finland to the ICCA Registry: Onkamot and Áldujohka Sámi.

Located in south Finland, the Onkamot lakes are a historic center for cultural fisheries, with traditions dating back to the 1600s. The lakes are part of Finland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO and contain sacred stones, reflecting a rich biocultural landscape.

Read the full case study for Onkamot here.

Located in north Finland, the Áldujohka Sámi ICCA covers 70 hectares in the northern boreal forest along the Ivalo River in Sápmi, Finland. It serves as a traditional fishing and reindeer herding area for the Sámi Reindeer Community of Huuhkaja, led by the Magga family, and is deeply rooted in Sámi culture and conservation.

Read the full case study for Áldujohka Sámi here.

Count of reported ICCAs worldwide:

There are now 311 ICCAs in the Registry as of 05/2024.