Every day, trees are felled to produce paper, high-end furniture, police batons and various other products, to make way for industrial agriculture and to provide space for monoculture plantations.

Many countries have policy frameworks in place to manage “forest resources” as the logging industry like to call it; but even so, the mass clearing of the earth’s forests continues to drive ahead. So much so in fact, we’re starting to see then end of the road.

The consequences of deforestation are wide reaching. As environmental organizations are quick to point out, it removes critical habitat for millions of species, destroys healthy soil, undermines local water cycles and helps facilitate climate change.

It also obliterates forest economies. Indeed, while urban centres rely on local markets for essentials like food, medicine and clothing, millions of Indigenous Peoples rely directly on the forests themselves.

This assault is mobilizing indigenous Peoples around the world to defend their direct economies and preserve the forests they rely on and care for as a matter of faith, good will and necessity–even when they’re told to leave or die.