A Rapid Evidence Assessment on Engagement with Indigenous People and Local Communities in Sustainable Peatland Management Initiatives.

Peatlands are critical for climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and water management, yet they face growing threats from unsustainable and extractive land use practices. Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) are increasingly recognised as essential actors in peatland restoration, but the effectiveness of different engagement strategies remains poorly understood. This Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) synthesises empirical evidence on IPLC engagement in peatland conservation, restoration, and sustainable management. Our final dataset included 48 studies, predominantly journal articles. Engagement methods identified include participatory decision-making and co-design, community-based monitoring, awareness campaigns and capacity building, integration of traditional knowledge, and financial incentives. Multi-method, bottom-up approaches were generally more effective than single interventions. Key challenges include structural constraints, method-related issues (e.g., limited participation, knowledge gaps), and poorly aligned incentives. Our findings highlight the need to promote community-led governance, integrate local knowledge, align incentives with livelihoods, secure land and resource rights, invest in education and capacity building, embed adaptive management, and link local initiatives with national strategies. Evidence gaps remain in evaluating effectiveness, documenting non-tropical peatlands, and assessing locally led initiatives in local languages.