By Linda Raavolatsara (CS Intern)
Every year on March 21, people all over the world celebrate the International Day of Forests. It’s a day to pause and remember why forests matter. They give us clean air, keep the weather steady, protect animals and plants and provide for millions of people, including communities whose lives are tied closely to the land.
The Serankwa community, located in the rural area of Aracataca within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, has faced severe attacks since March 6, 2026, due to clashes between outlaw groups vying for territorial control. These clashes have brought high levels of violence to the area, resulting in injuries to 13 people—2 of whom sustained serious injuries. Direct attacks by these armed groups against the communities have also been reported, including the burning of homes and livestock pens, as well as the killing of animals.
By Phoebe Farris (Powhatan-Pamunkey)
On March 9-19, 2026, women from around the world participated in this year’s UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and at nearby off-site UN-affiliated offices to address global inequities facing women and girls.
By Kuela Kiema (Dcui Bushman)
The Kalahari Bushmen are Indigenous to southern Africa, where they lived for time immemorial, depending on hunting various species of wild animals and gathering plant roots and fruits. Today, the San are found in southern African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.
