News
Investing in local governance: a proven pathway to resilient forest communities in the Congo Basin
Insights from RFUK’s recent field mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. RFUK’s recent field mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reaffirmed a critical lesson for conservation and development partners: strong local governance drives some of the most effective and sustainable outcomes for building resilient forest communities. Across Kinshasa and the Equateur province, … Read more
Protecting those who protect the forest: RFUK publishes new guidance to support community defenders in the Congo Basin
Deep in the forests of the Congo Basin, documenting illegal logging, or other illegal extractive activities, can come at a cost. Community observers, many of them volunteers, set out to monitor forest activity to protect their lands, defend their rights and ensure that forest laws are respected, knowing they may face intimidation, threats or even … Read more
Indigenous forest observers drive action against illegal mining in the Peruvian Amazon
New results from the Madre de Dios region in southeastern Peru’s Amazon Basin show how Indigenous-led monitoring is protecting forests, influencing policy and confronting rising threats. RFUK’s Peru Coordinator, Daniela Velit, recently visited Puerto Maldonado, the capital city of the Madre de Dios region, and saw first-hand how RFUK’s project alongside Indigenous rights organisation FENAMAD is … Read more
RFUK shares findings of gender study highlighting opportunities and barriers for women in forest governance in the Republic of Congo
RFUK is sharing findings from a new gender study examining women’s participation in forest governance and community-based monitoring in the Republic of Congo. The study was conducted as part of the FISONG project, “Legal capacities and participation of environmental defenders in the Republic of Congo“, a programme implemented since 2022 by a consortium led by … Read more
Haki Ardhi: transforming how women in Kenya claim their land rights
Kakamega County, Kenya – A pioneering initiative is transforming how women in Kenya report and seek justice for their rights and access to land. Haki Ardhi, a monitoring and reporting tool co-developed by Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK), TMG Think Tank for Sustainability, Shibuye Community Health Workers (SCHW) and the Kenya Land Alliance (KLA), and funded … Read more
From the Ene River in Peru to the global stage: the journey of Nilda Chávez
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the leadership of Indigenous women by sharing the story of Nilda Chávez whose journey from the Ene River to the global stage shows the power of community, determination and women’s leadership. At RFUK, we are proud to work alongside our partners and communities in Peru to help build the … Read more
Peru’s Supreme Court sets landmark precedent against intimidation lawsuits targeting Indigenous defenders
In a landmark ruling, Peru’s Supreme Court has overturned a defamation judgment against the Indigenous rights organisation FENAMAD, recognising that a powerful timber company misused the justice system to silence public interest advocacy. The decision marks a major step forward in protecting freedom of expression and Indigenous rights, and sets an important precedent against so-called SLAPPs, Strategic … Read more
Intelligence Report on Ecosystem Collapse Highlights Urgent Need For UK Action on Forests
This is NGO Forest Coalition’s response to the UK government’s Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security. The UK government’s national security assessment released on 20 January 2026 underscores a stark reality: accelerating nature loss is not just an environmental issue, it is a foundational threat to global stability and UK security. … Read more
COP30 in Belém: A Mixed Bag for Climate, Forests and People
In the sweltering conference halls of Belém, COP30, dubbed the ‘rainforest COP’, proved to be a mixed bag. While it failed to deliver concrete plans to end deforestation or phase out fossil fuels, there was some better news for Indigenous Peoples, local communities and the Congo Basin. Here are some brief takeaways from a breathless … Read more
COP30: Congolese Civil Society Calls for a Truly Just Transition in the DRC
Belém, As global climate negotiations at COP30 focus on phasing out fossil fuels, the Congolese citizen movement Notre Terre Sans Pétrole (NTSP) has launched a policy brief outlining how the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can achieve a genuinely just energy transition. The brief was unveiled during the side event in Belém “Solutions Country: Protecting Forests and Securing … Read more