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DRC’s Forest Reforms: What progress for Indigenous Peoples and local communities?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has adopted its first-ever National Forest Policy, setting out the government’s vision for forest governance over the next decade and introducing several important measures to strengthen the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The challenge is now to translate these and other gains into effectives laws, policies … Read more
DRC Adopts First National Forest Policy with New Protections for Community Rights
Kinshasa, 9 September 2026 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has adopted its first-ever National Forest Policy, setting out the government’s vision for forest governance over the next decade and introducing several important measures to strengthen the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The challenge is now to translate these and other … Read more
RFUK and partners launch new phase of community forest monitoring in the DRC
RFUK and our partners have officially launched a new phase of community-led forest monitoring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking the start of an ambitious new three-year programme to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ ability to protect their forests. The launch took place during a ten-day workshop in Kinshasa, bringing together … Read more
DRC Environment Minister commits to uphold logging moratorium, as CSOs call for lasting protection of the Congo Basin
Our organisations, members of a coalition of 70 Congolese and international organisations working to protect human rights and the environment, welcome the public statement by Marie Nyange Ndambo, Minister of the Environment, Development and New Climate Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reaffirming that the moratorium on the allocation of new industrial … Read more
ANNUAL REVIEW 2025
We are delighted to present our 2025 Annual Review, which highlights the key achievements and impact of RFUK’s projects and campaigns over the past year in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and forest communities around the world.
LOGGING OFF: PLANS TO LIFT THE DRC LOGGING MORATORIUM THREATEN FOREST PROTECTION EFFORTS IN THE CONGO BASIN
A new briefing warns that plans to lift the DRC’s logging moratorium could open vast areas of Congo Basin rainforest to industrial logging, threatening forests, community rights and climate goals. It calls on the government to maintain the moratorium and prioritise community-led, sustainable forest management. This briefing was elaborated by by Actions pour la promotion … Read more
Coalition warns of plan to open tens of millions of hectares of DRC’s forests to timber industry
Kinshasa, 6 July 2026 – A coalition of more than 70 environmental and human rights organisations are calling on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to maintain the national moratorium on the allocation of new industrial logging concessions. Through an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister [1], the coalition urges … Read more
NGOs welcome UK progress on urgently needed deforestation rules
The UK government has announced its intention to publish regulations on ending the UK’s consumption of commodities grown on illegally deforested land. A consultation on the regulations will be launched shortly. The government and has also signalled its longer-term intention to require products to be produced free from any deforestation, as the EU has done. … Read more
Community Forest Success in North Kivu, Against All the Odds
In the forests of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a region that has endured years of insecurity and uncertainty, an incredible story of community resilience is unfolding. On 2 June 2026, the Masombea community in Lubero Territory, North Kivu, officially secured legal recognition of its community forest (Concession Forestière des Communautés Locales, … Read more
A 2033 vision for a new era of rainforest protection
RFUK’s 2033 Vision: A New Era of Rainforest Protection sets out our roadmap for the next decade of rainforest conservation. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience working alongside Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the vision outlines how combining community-led action with systemic change, innovative technology and stronger partnerships can drive action at the scale … Read more