Community Leaders Network of Southern Africa

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought | 17th June 2026

On this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, CLN stands in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities across Southern Africa under the theme: ’Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.’

Across our region’s vast arid and semi-arid landscapes, rangelands are far more than ecosystems, they are the foundation of culture, identity, livelihoods, and community resilience. For generations, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities have sustained these lands through traditional knowledge, collective stewardship, and adaptive land-use practices.

Today, increasing land degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, and prolonged droughts threaten the health of rangelands and the well-being of millions who depend on them. Restoring these vital ecosystems requires recognizing the rights of local communities, respecting Indigenous knowledge systems, and supporting community-led approaches to sustainable land management.

Healthy rangelands strengthen food security, protect biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and build resilience for future generations.

Together, we must invest in restoring degraded lands and empowering the communities who have cared for them for centuries.

Jamma Conservation & Communities Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations - NACSO UN Global Climate Action Awards NCONGO Friends of the Earth - Sierra Leone AICA San Youth Network BWgovernment Natiora Defenders

12/06/2026

'The proposed UK trophy hunting import ban, though framed as a compassionate morality play, risks doing far more harm than good by substituting Western emotion for African evidence. Across Southern Africa, wildlife is not an abstract ideal but a lived reality requiring active management. Implementing a blanket import ban exposes a deep-seated ‘white savior’ complex and neocolonial undertones in London-based policymaking, where critical decisions are made without consulting those most affected.

When international policies strip away the economic value of wildlife, they do not preserve it. Instead, they dismantle the funding that drives successful conservation and supports rural economies. This high-stakes legislative move threatens the livelihoods of millions of rural Africans, abandoning local communities to bear the heavy costs of conservation entirely alone. Ultimately, understanding these complex dynamics highlights the 7 Reasons a UK Trophy Hunting Import Ban Is a Bad Idea'

The proposed UK trophy hunting import ban, though framed as a compassionate morality play, risks doing far more harm than good by substituting Western emotion for African evidence. Across Southern

05/06/2026

World Environment Day | 5 June 2026

CLN celebrates World Environment Day 2026 with solidarity and a renewed commitment to community-led climate action across Southern Africa.

Under the urgent global theme of 'Climate Action', we honor our vibrant landscapes and the enduring wisdom of our people. The climate solution is not only global, it starts in our communities, with those living closest to nature.

Honouring Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities as traditional eco-stewards, we call for systems linked to community economies that treasure forests and wildlife.

By supporting grassroots rights, we mend our relationship with the Earth and build an equitable future for all.

Inspired by Nature, For Climate, For our future.


Friends of the Earth - Sierra Leone Jamma Conservation & Communities AICA

28/05/2026

The inaugural Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA) General Assembly, Yaoundé, Cameroon, marked a historic turning point for African conservation.

Bringing together delegates from all five socio-cultural regions, the assembly unified a continent-wide movement to center IPLCs in the preservation of biodiversity.

As the stewards of Africa’s most vital ecosystems, IPLCs are not merely stakeholders but are the frontline defenders maintaining natural resources against escalating climate and socio-economic pressures.

The message of AICA is a profound return to the philosophy of interconnectedness: 'Nature is us, and we are nature'.

This solidarity transcends borders, emphasizing that conservation is inseparable from human rights and ancestral wisdom.

As part of the organizing Secretariat, and as CLN, we remain committed to amplifying these voices, ensuring that those who live closest to the land lead the global agenda for its protection.

28/05/2026

27/05/2026

Yaoundé welcomes Africa’s young leaders committed to nature and communities!

Today marks the official launch of the AICA Youth Fellowship Programme, bringing together young leaders from across Africa as part of the AICA General Assembly and the Strategic Advocacy Workshop.

Through intergenerational dialogue, discussions on youth leadership, the Kigali Declaration, and the role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in conservation, this gathering represents an important opportunity to strengthen capacities and amplify community voices across the continent.

Together, we are building an Africa where young people are at the center of solutions for biodiversity, community resilience, and a sustainable future.

“We are Nature, and Nature is Us.”

27/05/2026

26/05/2026

We are entering a pivotal 48 hours for the future of conservation in Africa.

We are officially on the ground at the Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA) youth fellowship gathering.

Our mission is clear: WE ARE HERE TO MENTOR AND SHAPE THE NEXT GENERATION OF AFRICAN YOUTH IPLC LEADERS.

Conservation is not a distant concept, but a reality of the lands we call home. By empowering African youth to take their seat at the table, we ensure that the global conservation conversation is driven by those who live alongside wildlife and protect our sacred landscapes.

It is time to bring these high-level dialogues back to the grassroots. When youth lead, community-led stewardship becomes the standard, not the exception.

Stay tuned as we amplify the voices of our future guardians over the next two days!
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