Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) are key allies in the fight against forest and biodiversity loss, but challenges in land tenure are obstructing their guardianship. Full recognition and formalization of their rights is a must for conservation and climate change mitigation globally, as evidenced by multiple research papers on the link between deforestation and land tenure insecurity. This session, hosted by the Ford Foundation, examines key linkages between conflict, ecosystem health and land rights in the Amazon region, and highlights the urgent need for full participation of IPLCs in global climate and conservation agendas moving forwards.