Territories and areas that Indigenous peoples and local communities govern, manage and conserve
(hereafter territories of life) are increasingly recognized by scientists, international agencies, nongovernmental
and grassroots organizations, as central to the future of a healthy and sustainable
planet. Hundreds of thousands of such social-ecological systems exist worldwide, covering
millions of square kilometers of land and seascapes on all five continents, contributing to the
conservation and sustainable use of a significant proportion of the world’s biodiversity.
Nevertheless, these systems are facing many threats and often have little to no formal recognition
or support from nation-state governments. In order to address this growing need, this review
provides the most complete, recent and updated global overview of territories of life. The review
advocates for a holistic approach of territories of life and identifies key opportunities for
researchers to favor action- and policy-oriented research in support of such vital systems for global
sustainability.