Land-use planning identifies the best land-use options by considering environmental, economic, and social factors. Different theoretical land-use plan models can be found in the literature; however, few studies focus on its practical application and particular challenges in different contexts, especially in the Global South. We use expert surveys to explore the feasibility and relevance of integrated land-use planning and data acquisition in developing countries using Paraguay as an example. We identify the challenges of developing land-use plans and strategies to navigate these barriers to speed up its implementation. The results show that it might be difficult to develop an integrated land-use plan in the context of developing countries, mainly due to data availability, lack of political will, lack of stakeholder engagement, and insufficient financial and human resources. We also highlight examples of creative ways in which previous land-use planning projects and studies navigated these challenges, including stakeholder consultations, use of simpler models that required less data, prioritization of data collection, and engagement of decision makers throughout the process. We provide crucial information to improve land-use planning processes in Paraguay and across the Global South in areas with similar contexts and challenges that aim to develop in a more sustainable way.

Natural resource management intertwines with cultural practices and health outcomes for Indigenous peoples. Indigenous communities have managed and contributed to knowledge on ecosystems and sustainability since time immemorial. However, Indigenous communities in California face significant institutional constraints when implementing practices such as cultural burning. Indigenous-led research projects, programs, and political action are crucial to overcoming such constraints. It is important for non-Indigenous researchers to support Indigenous research agendas. This article helps to meet this need by identifying research procedures that respect Indigenous sovereignty and by using methods informed by Indigenous knowledge systems. The authors, representing the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, present a collaborative approach that integrates Native American and Indigenous Studies scholarship, participatory research methods, and engagement in the sovereign research protocols established by the Karuk Tribe. We share a process of effective collaborative research that respects Karuk research sovereignty. This process resulted in the Intentional Fire podcast series, a co-produced data set that documents Karuk stories on fire suppression, social impacts of fire exclusion, and Karuk determinants of healthy, resilient homeland ecosystems. The authors did not analyze the data further because Indigenous people do not need outside academics to speak on their behalf. The process also developed relationships, amplified knowledge, and strengthened capacities. We share our process and lessons learned to provide a model that can inform other collaborations that aim to support Indigenous research sovereignty.