News
Payment for non-performance: Gabon receives $17 million in REDD payments despite increasing deforestation
The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) has just awarded an initial payment of $17 million to Gabon, hailing its achievement in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in 2016-17 from the baseline levels of the previous decade. However this claim is contradicted by data from the FAO and Global Forest Watch which shows primary … Read more
NBS: New Era or False Dawn? – Webinar Q&A
How could a local community be helpful in preserving the flora especially of endangered species? Numerous research demonstrates how indigenous peoples and local communities are the best stewards of tropical forests. Their participation is crucial to preserving biodiversity. See for example:5 Maps Show How Important Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Are to the Environment – … Read more
New RFUK Research Shows Link Between ‘Sustainable Forest Management’ and Deforestation in DRC
A new study published by RFUK establishes a clear link between selective logging and deforestation in the world’s second largest tropical forest. Despite being synonymous with high-level corruption, illegal practices and poor relations with local communities, selective logging of timber from tropical rainforests has long been promoted in the Congo Basin as a form of … Read more
Upcoming: Webinar Series debating Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change
Rainforest Foundation UK and World Resources Institute are hosting a two-part webinar series and debate exploring the political ecology of Nature-Based Solutions Webinar series Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change: Reconciling the Good, the Bad and the Ugly May 10 and May 17, 2021 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EDT / 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM … Read more
First-ever Baka chief officially recognised in southern Cameroon—his majesty Martin Abila of the village Assok
For the first time in Southern Cameroon, an Indigenous Baka village has been officially recognised and their chief formally installed by the Cameroonian state. This marks a significant milestone in a country where Indigenous Peoples face extreme social, political and economic marginalisation. The installation of his Majesty Martin Abila as official chief of the village … Read more
Civil Society in the Congo Basin Sets Out Vision for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption
Civil society organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo (RoC) are calling for much greater inclusion of forest communities and forest governance reforms in their governments’ plans to address the climate crisis. In the run up to this year’s crucial climate summit in Glasgow this November, countries around the … Read more
The Bamasobha community gains legal rights over their forest in North-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Women in Bamasobha participating in discussions which led their community to apply for a community forest. When the villages of the Bamasobha community sought legal recognition of their traditional forests, a village chief, M. Sweli Maliani, declared: “We asked for a Community Forest because this is how we can secure our land, and prevent poachers … Read more
Celebrating women in leadership: experiences of women in the fight to protect the world’s rainforests
RFUK has long understood that women have a central role to play in protecting and managing the world’s rainforests. They are the main providers of food, water and medicine to their families, who depend greatly on rainforests for their livelihoods. They hold vast traditional knowledge of their forests and their biodiversity. This understanding informs our … Read more
RFUK supports civil society call for the immediate cancellation of three million hectares of illegal logging concessions in DRC
RFUK, Greenpeace and Congolese civil society groups are calling on the DRC Government to revoke three million hectares of illegal logging concessions or risk wrecking its image on the international climate stage. Last week it emerged that in June 2020 the Environment Minister Claude Nyamugabo had reallocated four logging titles covering 770,000 hectares to Groups … Read more