The Forest Guardians Initiative directly empowers Indigenous communities by allocating portions of membership fees and 100% of voluntary donations to training and certifying Indigenous jungle guides. As jungle adventure tourism grows rapidly worldwide, most expeditions take place on Indigenous lands, frequently relying upon local knowledge, resources, and community goodwill. Yet, Indigenous aides and communities often benefit least from this economic activity.

Responding directly to years of dialogue, requests, and collaboration with Indigenous community leaders and local experts, Forest Guardians provides community-driven, culturally appropriate training and certification—always developed and delivered with full consent, consultation, and active participation of local communities. Most importantly, it addresses needs and opportunities carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Requested by Communities:
Overwhelmingly supported by Indigenous leaders and guides who have requested formal training to responsibly develop and lead their own tourism initiatives.

Direct Collaboration:
Training and certification programs are thoughtfully crafted with direct on-the-ground input from Indigenous leaders, ensuring alignment with local culture, priorities, and sustainability goals, to include local economic stability.

Case-by-Case Consideration:
Training and resources are tailored to meet specific community needs, acknowledging each community’s distinct culture, traditions, and objectives.

Community-Led Training:
Training and certification are designed with and led by Indigenous communities, tailored specifically to their expressed needs, priorities, and cultural context.

Transparency and Empowerment:
Clear, detailed reporting ensures transparency—100% of donations and allocated membership fees go directly into supporting Indigenous guide training and certification. IJGA openly shares results to demonstrate accountability and impact.

Respectful Collaboration:
The Forest Guardians Initiative never proceeds without explicit community consent, consultation, and partnership. All projects involve meaningful input from Indigenous leadership, local guides, and experts with deep, firsthand understanding of community and environmental dynamics..

Jungle tourism is growing rapidly and largely occurs on Indigenous lands, often without direct economic benefit or community control. Forest Guardians explicitly aims to correct this imbalance by empowering Indigenous guides and communities with the skills, resources, and internationally recognized credentials needed to shape tourism on their own terms. This ensures long-term economic empowerment, protection of cultural heritage, and sustainable stewardship of their ancestral environments.

By joining JGI, you actively support Indigenous leadership and sustainable empowerment through tourism—not as charity, but as collaborative partners respected for their invaluable expertise and stewardship of their ancestral lands.