English
In Search of Land Laws that Protect the Rights of Forest Peoples in the Democratic Republic of Congo
This study makes concrete proposals for the ongoing land reform process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to ensure that sufficient consideration is given to the rights to land and resources of populations living in forest areas.
NY TIMES ARTICLE: A Battle to Protect Forests Unfolds in Central Africa
BY JACK LOSH, NEW YORK TIMES, 29 JANUARY 2020 MOLOUKOU, Central African Republic – Beneath the forest canopy, Lucien Maka steps out of a clearing and into his element. He darts over the shaded undergrowth and finds a cluster of mushrooms, deftly wrapping them in a bundle of leaves. His friend hacks apart a thick … Read more
RFUK Annual Report 2012/13
This special 25th anniversary edition summarises our projects and campaigns in 2012/2013 and offers highlights of the Rainforest Foundation UK’s work around the world.
Climate Change Adaptation by Indigenous People in the Republic of Congo
As part of a regional study on indigenous peoples and climate change adaptation in Africa, the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) coordinated desk and field research for the Republic of Congo, in collaboration with Congolese NGO Forum pour la Gouvernance et les Droits de l’Homme (FGDH) and local indigenous peoples’ organisations. The study recommends ways forward … Read more
Ndima: Mapping our Future – A story of the Congo Basin people’s fight to save the rainforest
Maps of the Congo Basin often make it appear empty of human settlement, giving rise to the erroneous belief that these lands are an unoccupied ‘wilderness’ available for others to use. But a technique called ‘participatory mapping’, a tool which combines the traditional knowledge of forest dwellers with sophisticated modern technology, is a means of … Read more
The story of REDD: a real solution to deforestation?
REDD, or reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, is one of the most controversial issues in the climate change debate. The basic concept is simple: governments, companies or forest owners in the South should be rewarded for keeping their forests instead of cutting them down. The devil, as always, is in the details. ‘The … Read more
Is REDD-readiness Taking Us in the Right Direction? Case Studies from the Accra Caucus
The Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change is a network of around 100 southern and northern civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations from 38 countries. Despite the diversity of experience, there seems to be one common aspect: the REDD+ readiness process is focused much more strongly on attracting carbon income than on protecting the … Read more
Realising Rights, Protecting Forests: An Alternative Vision for Reducing Deforestation
This report is intended primarily for opinion-formers and decision-makers with a role in making and influencing national policy and legislation on REDD. The case studies show that respecting the rights and realities of indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities is the only way to ensure that the forests remain standing.
Community Forest Tenure Mapping in Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo Case Study
This paper examines the mapping and zoning initiatives that are underway in the DRC and the few attempts that are being made to document and understand the nuances of community rights to lands and resources.
The Situation of the Forest Peoples of the Central African Republic
This study is the product of several field missions to meet indigenous forest peoples in different areas of south-western CAR, including Bagandou, Bimbo, Mongoumba, Mbata and Bilolo in the prefectures of Lobaye, Ombella Mpoko and Sangha-Mbaéré.