LifeMosaic supports indigenous peoples in the humid tropics to get their voices heard, and to access the information that they need to make informed decisions about their futures.

The issues
Indigenous peoples are the stewards of much of the world's biological, cultural and linguistic diversity. Yet large-scale developments such as logging, dams, mines, fossil fuel extraction, and plantations often deny indigenous communities their lands, livelihoods and basic rights and destroy the ecosystems on which they depend. In many places indigenous peoples are marginalised and there is little accountability for governments and corporate interests that perpetrate abuses against them. They have little or no power or political voice and information about the impacts of these developments is often unavailable.

What we do
LifeMosaic supports indigenous peoples to defend their rights, territories and cultures. We do this by producing popular education resources for indigenous communities, and by facilitating the widespread distribution of these resources. Projects focus on the impacts of large-scale land-use changes, and on self-determined strategies for development. Projects are demand-driven, useful to a wide number of communities, and developed in partnership with communities, indigenous peoples organisations, and other movements for positive social and environmental change. Resources are primarily based on community testimonies; they present complex issues in an accessible and engaging way; and support indigenous peoples right to free, prior and informed consent. Grass-roots dissemination approaches ensure that resources reach thousands of communities, and inform critical conversations, and land-use decisions.

LifeMosaic also develops and disseminates resources for use in international advocacy bringing voices from the grass-roots to decision-makers.

While LifeMosaic is small, one of our strengths lies in working with extensive networks and in strong partnerships to amplify our work.

LifeMosaic was founded on a mandate from indigenous leaders and local, national and international NGOs attending a 2004 World Rainforest Movement meeting on oil palm and pulp and paper plantations in Jakarta, who requested that more NGOs empower communities through their campaigning by:

• Developing ways for community experiences to be shared between communities as well as helping communities to develop greater awareness of national and international issues which affect them.
• Bringing community concerns directly to international audiences (media, governments, companies) and ensuring that community concerns are integrated into international campaigning.

LifeMosaic is a UK-based not-for-profit company limited by guarantee no. SC300597, and registered as a Scottish charity no. SC040573. Back to page top

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