In the lush mountains of Palawan, Philippines, where trees whisper stories from the ancient past, where rivers carry the island’s history of extraction in its veins, and where the land holds memories of indigenous protection, a gathering unlike any other transpired. From May 5 to 9, 2025, over 35 Indigenous delegates from across Colombia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines came together for a South-South learning exchange co-organized by Gaia Amazonas and NTFP-EP (Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Programme), under the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) partnership.

With the theme Roots of Change: Indigenous and Local Youth Leading Resilient and Inclusive Forest Landscapes, YEEHA! 2025 focused on practical, hands-on sessions exploring inclusive forest governance, sustainable landscapes, and youth-led strategies for the crises our planet face today. The program emphasized capacity-building in mapping, research, documentation, and the transmission of Indigenous Knowledge, Systems, and Practices (IKSPs) to generations to come. More than just training, the camp fostered deep reflection, creativity, and solidarity; grounded in the realities of the participants’ own communities and territories.

After nearly three years, NTFP-EP is bringing back Voices from the Forest with a fresh edition-not just as a newsletter, but as a platform to amplify stories from the ground up. More than updates, Voices from the Forest now brings you firsthand narratives of the resilience, innovations, and enduring efforts of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPs&LCs) across the NTFP-EP network.