“Indigenous women from the Shahsevan tribal Confederacy camped in their tents (Alachiq) in their summering grounds. They display a two-humped Bactrian camel. The Shahsevan have an age-old relationship with these camels, which have served as transport on their migratory routes for centuries. The Shahshevan believe that the camels bring blessings to their lands, which are an important habitat of the Bactrian camel.”

A new photoessay put together by international organizations Cenesta and Global Forest Colition showcases Indigenous Peoples and local communities in Iran acting as stewards of natural resources and nature through participartory and counter mapping procedures of their own lands, made possible in part by Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs).

To view the entire photo collection and to learn more about this empowering and visually beautiful process documented by Cenestna, click here.