Our origins
Starting in Brazil - now providing worldwide support to protect rainforests
The Rainforest Foundation was founded in 1989 by the musician Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, in response to the continued violation of the rights of indigenous peoples’, and the wanton destruction of the rainforests in which they live.
The Foundation’s first major initiative was to campaign globally for the protection of the lands of the Kayapo Indians in Brazilian Amazonia. This resulted in 1993 in the legal recognition and demarcation of an area of more than 17,000 square miles as the Menkragnoti Indigenous Area.
This was followed by projects to help the Kayapo to monitor and protect the reserve’s boundaries, and to develop health, education and income-generating activities within the area and the adjacent Xingu Indigenous Park.
Following this important success, the Foundation expanded and diversified its programme of project support. From 1993 onwards, support was given to projects in other parts of Brazil and Latin America, as well as in Africa and Southeast Asia.
The Foundation’s first major initiative was to campaign globally for the protection of the lands of the Kayapo Indians in Brazilian Amazonia. This resulted in 1993 in the legal recognition and demarcation of an area of more than 17,000 square miles as the Menkragnoti Indigenous Area.
This was followed by projects to help the Kayapo to monitor and protect the reserve’s boundaries, and to develop health, education and income-generating activities within the area and the adjacent Xingu Indigenous Park.
Following this important success, the Foundation expanded and diversified its programme of project support. From 1993 onwards, support was given to projects in other parts of Brazil and Latin America, as well as in Africa and Southeast Asia.
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