9 August marked the International Day of the World's Indigenous People.
Indigenous peoples live in all regions of the world. The total area they own, live on or use is about 22% of the Earth's total land surface. Indigenous peoples number at least 370 to 500 million people, which is the largest proportion of the world's cultural diversity. Indigenous peoples have also created and speak most of the world's approximately 7,000 languages.
Through partnerships with indigenous peoples, UNESCO seeks to support them in addressing multiple challenges, while recognizing the important role of these peoples in preserving the diversity of the world's cultural and biological landscape. UNESCO stresses the importance of preserving natural treasures that are closely linked to the history and culture of the world's indigenous peoples.