News
COP30: key talking points for forests and peoples and what RFUK will be doing in Belém
As global leaders, Indigenous Peoples, lobbyists and other stakeholders converge on Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon River, for the 30th Conference of the Parties (‘COP30’), there is much is at stake. The world remains far off track to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and this “Rainforest COP” comes with expectations of major funding commitments for forests, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. Against this backdrop, RFUK will … Read more
Community Forests in DRC: A Proven Solution for a ‘Solutions Country’
As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) delegation heads to COP30 in Belém – the so-called “Rainforest COP” – RFUK and a coalition of 21 Congolese civil society and Indigenous organisations is urging policymakers to recognise the country’s community forestry model as a cornerstone of climate and biodiversity action. Holding 60% of the world’s second-largest rainforest and its … Read more
Nature, People and Carbon Markets: Rethinking Article 6 at COP30
As COP30 opens its door in Belém, much of the negotiations will focus on Article 6 of the Paris Climate Agreement, which provides a framework for countries to cooperate on implementing their climate targets (NDCs). In anticipation of these discussions that could trigger a global boom in voluntary carbon markets (VCM), Sustainable Development Strategies Group … Read more
Reflecting on the National Community Forestry Week in Mbandaka
Community Forestry is increasingly recognised as a key driver of sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It provides local communities and Indigenous Peoples with secure land tenure, enabling them to invest in their futures and build autonomous, forest-friendly rural economies through responsible investment. From 18-22 August 2025, community forest representatives, supporting NGOs, … Read more
National meeting lays foundation for shared and inclusive governance of the Green Corridor
Between 7-9 October 2025, Congolese civil society hosted the first nationwide gathering on the Green Corridor Kivu-Kinshasa (CVKK), the world’s largest ‘community’ reserve created in January 2025. The three-day meeting was organised by the Congolese civil society coalition Reseau pour l’Environnement et les Droits Humains (R-EDH), in partnership with the Virunga Foundation and the Institut … Read more
New Report Exposes ‘Carbon Land Grab’ Sweeping Across the Congo Basin
A new investigation by RFUK reveals how vast areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are being carved up for carbon offset projects, raising alarm over the legality, transparency and human rights impacts of a rapidly expanding carbon market. The report, ‘The Great Green Rush: The Exponential Rise and Social Impacts of Forest Carbon … Read more
DRC civil society urges government to draft a National Forest Policy that protects communities’ rights
As the DRC government conducts provincial-level consultations on the development of its first-ever National Forest Policy (NFP), civil society organisations have called on the Ministry of Environment to uphold the rights of Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples in a process that could shape the management of the country’s vast forests for decades to come. This … Read more
Official launch of the Oshwe community forest project marks a new chapter for people and forests in Mai-Ndombe, DRC
On Wednesday, 24 September 2025, the Appui à la Sécurisation et au Développement Local (ASFD) – Support for Local Security and Development – project was officially launched in Oshwe, Mai-Ndombe province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This initiative opens a new front in our efforts to put the management of forests directly in the hands … Read more
Strengthening Women’s Leadership and Cocoa Value Chains in the Peruvian Amazon
Our Peru Coordinator, Daniela Velit, recently visited the field in Satipo, connecting with RFUK partners CARE and Kemito Ene. The trip began with the II Asháninka Women’s Congress in Pamakiari. Organised by CARE with RFUK’s support, the Congress created a unique space for reflection, exchange and advocacy. Women discussed what it means to be Asháninka … Read more
II Congress Ama Ene Strengthens Asháninka Women’s Leadership in the Ene River Basin
Pamakiari, Ene River Basin, Peru – August 2025 The II Congress Ama Ene has brought together more than 150 Asháninka women from 19 communities along the Ene River, marking an important milestone in advancing Indigenous women’s leadership and gender rights in the region. On 14 August, CARE boats travelled upriver, stopping at each community to … Read more