French
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
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
RETHINKING THE JUST TRANSITION IN THE DRC
Focusing on voices from across the DRC, a so-called ‘Solutions Country’, this briefing highlights how current extractive and conservation models often harm communities, and sets out a pathway for a just transition rooted in equity, participation and community-led environmental stewardship.
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
Community Forests in DRC: a solution for a ‘solutions country’
A new Community Forestry briefing from RFUK, Congolese civil society and partners highlights how community forestry can help the DRC realise its ambition to be a true solutions country for climate and biodiversity.
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