Satoyama Mace Initiative: Indigenous Partnership Invitation
For Indigenous Communities Around the World
For generations, Indigenous peoples have been the stewards of forests, wetlands, rivers, mountains, and other traditional landscapes. Your knowledge, culture, and care have preserved biodiversity, ecosystem health, and the resilience of the land.
The Satoyama Mace Initiative (SMI) invites Indigenous communities to explore partnerships that strengthen local stewardship, community well-being, and ecological conservation, while enabling communities to access nature-based carbon programs.
This invitation is designed to support Indigenous-led initiatives, not replace community governance.
Carbon revenue should strengthen Indigenous stewardship, not replace it.
🔹 Partnership Principles
1. Recommendation by UN Organizations and Local Governments
To ensure legitimacy and transparency, partnerships are only explored when recommended or supported by:
Relevant United Nations organizations (e.g., UNDP, UNU-IAS) and Local or national government authorities
This ensures that your community’s rights, knowledge, and land governance are respected.
2. Carbon Credit Support
SMI can assist participating communities with:
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Carbon baseline assessment
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Ecological monitoring
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Project design and guidance
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Connection to international carbon markets
These efforts can provide long-term sustainable income for your community while maintaining ecological integrity.
The Satoyama Mace Initiative platform assists Indigenous communities in developing nature-based carbon projects and connecting these efforts to international carbon markets.
Carbon credits issued under the Satoyama Mace Initiative framework is able to be listed and traded on international carbon trading platforms such as:
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AirCarbon Exchange
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Climate Impact X
These mechanisms can help transform long-term ecosystem stewardship into sustainable financial flows for communities.
3. Deferred Costs for Participation
To reduce upfront financial barriers, certain costs can be deferred until the community receives revenue from carbon credits:
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Carbon credit issuance fees – repayment deferred to the first carbon revenue cycle
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MRV technical services (satellite monitoring, AI assessment, baseline evaluation) – repayment deferred to the first carbon revenue cycle
This allows communities to join without large upfront payments.
🌱 Respect for Indigenous Governance
All participation follows the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Your community remains the primary steward and decision-maker over your land and landscapes. Participation strengthens your role as guardians of ecosystems, not diminishes it.
📝 Who Can Express Interest
Indigenous communities managing lands such as:
Forests, Mangroves, Wetlands, Grasslands, Traditional agricultural systems
Communities must have governance structures capable of collective decision-making.
📬 How to Begin Dialogue
Communities interested in exploring collaboration may submit:
A brief description of your community
Approximate land area and landscape type
Overview of traditional land management practices
The SMI team will follow up with a dialogue together with recommended UN and government partners.
How to Express Interest
Communities may submit an Indigenous Partnership Application Form including:
Community background, Landscape description, Governance structure, and recommendations.
Indigenous peoples are among the most effective stewards of Earth’s ecosystems. By joining the Satoyama Mace Initiative, communities can protect biodiversity, strengthen traditional knowledge, and create sustainable income, while contributing to global climate and ecosystem resilience. SMI warmly welcomes dialogue with Indigenous communities interested in exploring these opportunities.
Indigenous Partnership Application Form, including:
One-Page Indigenous Application Form, Additional Partnership Consent, Indigenous Carbon Rights and Safeguards, and Indigenous Carbon Benefit Sharing Model.
Please submit the complete application to: z10909116@ncku.edu.tw
10 Questions Indigenous Communities Often Ask About Carbon Projects
Indigenous communities around the world often have important questions about carbon projects. The following answers aim to provide clear and transparent information.
1. Will we lose ownership of our land?
No.
Participation in this initiative does not transfer land ownership.
Indigenous land rights remain with the community.
The initiative only supports ecosystem protection and carbon credit development based on community stewardship.
2. Who owns the carbon credits?
Carbon credits are generated from ecosystem protection activities carried out by the community.
Ownership and benefit arrangements are developed in consultation with the community, respecting local governance systems.
3. What if our community decides not to participate?
Participation is voluntary.
All partnerships follow Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles. Communities may decide whether to participate after receiving full information.
4. Do communities have to pay upfront costs?
No upfront payments are required.
To reduce financial barriers:
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carbon credit issuance fees may be deferred
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MRV technical costs may also be deferred
Both costs can be paid after the first carbon revenue is generated.
5. What is MRV and why is it needed?
MRV stands for: Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification
It is required to ensure that carbon credits are credible.
The initiative may use:
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satellite monitoring
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remote sensing
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AI-supported data analysis
These tools help measure ecosystem protection and carbon benefits.
6. Where are the carbon credits sold?
Carbon credits may be traded on international carbon markets.
Examples include:
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AirCarbon Exchange
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Climate Impact X
These platforms connect climate projects with global buyers.
7. How does the community benefit?
Revenue from carbon credits may support:
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ecosystem protection
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community development
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traditional livelihoods
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education and cultural programs
Benefit-sharing arrangements are designed transparently with the community.
8. What safeguards exist to protect Indigenous rights?
The initiative follows key safeguards:
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respect for Indigenous governance
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FPIC principles
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transparent benefit-sharing
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collaboration with UN organizations and government authorities
These safeguards help ensure accountability.
9. Can our traditional knowledge be respected?
Yes.
Traditional ecological knowledge is recognized as essential for ecosystem stewardship.
Projects aim to support and strengthen Indigenous knowledge systems.
10. How can our community apply?
Communities interested in exploring partnership opportunities may submit an Indigenous Partnership Application Form through the initiative.
Applications typically include:
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community information
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landscape description
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governance structure
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institutional recommendations
The Satoyama Mace Initiative believes that Indigenous communities are among the most important stewards of the Earth's ecosystems. Partnerships aim to support Indigenous leadership in protecting nature while enabling fair participation in global climate solutions.