Nonette Royo

The Tenure Facility

Big Idea: 

Tropical Forests controlled by Indigenous Peoples sequester a quarter of all carbon emissions. However in most parts of the world they don’t have ownership of their forests, land, and natural resources, despite existing laws that could secure their rights. The Tenure Facility is a new venture established to advance recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ tenure rights. They provide money and advice at the speed and scale required to secure tenure and sustainably manage millions of hectares at risk today.

Nonette is a lawyer, activist, and author. She is the first executive director of the Tenure Facility. Prior to that, she led the Samdhana Institute in Southeast Asia. For decades, she has pioneered environmental and social justice across Southeast Asia: a journey that continues at The Tenure Facility.

Henry Arnhold Fellows