Ten Indigenous communities of the Torna Lickana Network have achieved international recognition of their territory as a «Territory of Life» on a global platform—an acknowledgment of their vital role in conserving nature through the stewardship of high Andean wetlands.
On June 27, the first territory in Argentina was added to the ICCA Registry: the Territory of Life inhabited by the communities of the Torna Lickana Network, located in the Salinas Grandes and Laguna de Guayatayoc basin, in the province of Salta.
ICCAs —Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas— are areas where Indigenous peoples or local communities have a deep and longstanding connection with their environment, rooted in history, cultural identity, spirituality, and ways of life that ensure both material and spiritual well-being. Through their systems of governance and environmental management, these communities contribute meaningfully to the conservation of nature.
ICCAs are distinguished by autonomous governance and stewardship led by the communities themselves, who set the rules for the use and care of their land based on traditional knowledge and self-determined governance systems. They play a crucial role in nature conservation by preserving and sustainably managing ecosystems, habitats, species, and landscapes.
Within the Torna Lickana Territory of Life, a network of ten Indigenous communities safeguards high Andean wetlands, including salt flats, lagoons, marshes, and peatlands. These ecosystems are deeply significant: they are sacred spaces, sources of sustenance, and key to cultural continuity. The communities maintain respectful and ancestral ties with these landscapes, which also host unique biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and are essential for climate change adaptation. Conserving them is vital not only for securing the rights of the communities who inhabit and care for them but also for maintaining ecological balance and supporting all life forms that thrive there.
According to a global analysis published by the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the ICCA Consortium in the Territories of Life report, territories and areas conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities account for over 20% of the Earth’s land surface and make significant contributions to global conservation efforts. However, data remain scarce. The TICCA Registry seeks to document these territories and currently includes 313 reported cases worldwide. Until now, none were from Argentina.
The inclusion of the Torna Lickana territory as a TICCA—Territory of Life—is a milestone for the recognition of Indigenous territorial rights in Argentina and for highlighting their critical contributions to biodiversity conservation and the protection of nature. It is also a model for strengthening autonomous governance rooted in respect, reciprocity, and a deep connection with the land that has sustained them for generations.
Where is the ICCA located, and which communities are part of it?
The Torna Lickana Network—meaning «Our Land»—is made up of 10 Indigenous communities belonging to the Atacama people: Casa Colorada, Cerro Negro, Cobres, Corralito, Esquina de Guardia, Incahuasi, Matancillas, Raíces Andinas, Rangel, and Tipan.
This Territory of Life is located in northern Argentina, in the province of Salta, within the high plateau region known as the Puna. It spans the departments of La Poma and Los Andes and forms part of the Salinas Grandes and Laguna de Guayatayoc basin, which stretches across the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, at an elevation of over 3,500 meters above sea level.
Source: https://www.iccaregistry.org/?locale=es
How did the registration process unfold?
The ICCA Registry is managed by UNEP-WCMC and governed by a steering committee with representatives from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the ICCA Consortium, IUCN, the Forest Peoples Programme, Kenono Foundation (Nagaland, India), the Snowchange Cooperative (Finland), and Amazon Frontlines.
The inclusion of the Torna Lickana territory was the result of sustained community-driven efforts and collective coordination. Beyond gaining international visibility, the process had profound internal significance. Since 2022, the Indigenous communities of the network have held workshops and meetings to advance the initiative, engaging in collective reflection on the meaning of territory, biodiversity, memory, history, identity, and the historical and ongoing threats to the continuity of life in theirTICCA.
The data required for registration was compiled by the Torna Lickana Network, with support from the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN), the Conserving High Andean Wetlands program of Fundación Humedales/Wetlands International, and Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt). Through this documentation, the communities reaffirmed their role as custodians of the territory and shared, from their own perspective, their knowledge, practices, and governance systems rooted in their history and worldview.
What potential does this hold for the network and beyond?
Being part of the ICCA Registry is a powerful tool to make visible the relationship between the Torna Lickana Network and their land, identity, and governance systems. It not only establishes their ancestral presence on an international platform but also places them within a global network of Indigenous peoples and local communities conserving nature through deeply rooted cultural, spiritual, and social practices. It opens opportunities for alliance-building and knowledge exchange, and for asserting their key role in protecting and sustaining Pachamama (Mother Earth), including lands, wetlands, and biodiversity.
In a context of increasing pressures on territories—such as the growing expansion of lithium extraction in the region—this recognition strengthens their legitimacy in the face of external actors. It helps to affirm and uplift their ways of life, traditional knowledge, territorial practices, and spiritual connection to the land.
In short, registering their territory as a ICCA—Territory of Life—is not merely symbolic. It is a concrete strategy to assert their territorial presence, consolidate their self-determination, and continue defending their community ways of life from their own worldview.
Community and expert reflections on the registration process
Indigenous communities of the Torna Lickana Network, Salta:
“We, the communities of the Torna Lickana Network, decided to move forward with the TICCA registration process to preserve our cultural and spiritual values, protect our history, encourage young people to remain in the area, and strengthen our defense of territorial rights and community life.”
Laura Castillo, High Andean Program Coordinator, Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN):
“Registering the Torna Lickana Territory of Life makes visible the central role of communities in protecting the Andean wetlands, which are threatened by the global demand for minerals for the energy transition. This recognition reflects their deep connection with the land and the vital importance of their knowledge in protecting nature—aligned with multiple international biodiversity frameworks. The recent Advisory Opinion 32/25 by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights also underscored the value of Indigenous knowledge and worldviews in responding to the climate and ecological crisis in a just and rights-respecting way.”
Román Baigún, Coordinator of the Conserving High Andean Wetlands for People and Nature Program, Wetlands International:
“We believe that the recognition of the Torna Lickana Network as a ‘Territory of Life’ contributes meaningfully to the conservation of high Andean wetlands. Protected areas alone are not enough to safeguard these fragile ecosystems—communities with deep-rooted connections to nature make conservation truly effective.”
Christof Wünsch, Head of South America Department, Brot für die Welt:
“We are very pleased that the Indigenous communities of the Torna Lickana Network are now registered as a TICCA. We hope this leads to broader recognition and respect for their rights and their contributions to protecting the region’s fragile environment and cultural diversity.”