Michael Painter put Indigenous land rights at the center of conservation
The late Michael Painter is remembered for his work as an ecological anthropologist who helped Indigenous communities in Bolivia secure land rights through conservation partnerships. His efforts led to the creation of Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park and established precedents for Indigenous land titling.
Why it matters
Painter's work represents a shift in conservation strategy, moving from exclusionary practices to collaborative models that empower local Indigenous populations.
In the Bolivian Chaco, the Isoceño Guaraní did not need conservationists to tell them that their land was under pressure. Agricultural settlement was pushing into the region, and their organization, the Capitanía de Alto y Bajo Izozog (CABI), had its own territorial aims. What outsiders could provide was scientific expertise, legal support, money, and access to institutions that could help turn those claims into recognized rights.
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