APEM

New U.S. legislative bill could pave the way for greater protection of human rights in international biodiversity conservation

11 March 2022

In a significant development, the chair and ranking minority member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources has introduced a bill that aims to ensure that U.S. international biodiversity funding is not used to contribute to human rights abuses in and around protected areas. This comes off the back of a U.S. … Read more

Just launched: FORESTLINK.ORG

24 February 2022

RFUK’s Real-Time Monitoring project has created a new, dedicated digital hub for their ForestLink technology, with all the latest developments, resources and stories on how communities are protecting their forests with this innovative system. On the new site, you’ll find out how the tech system works, why it uniquely supports grassroots independent forest monitoring, the different ways it’s being deployed across … Read more

Community Forestry in DRC is a solution to tackle both poverty and climate change: that’s why it needs to be in focus at COP26

28 October 2021

On 14 October at the 8th annual Multi-actor Roundtable on Community Forestry in Kinshasa, the Congolese government, as well as representatives from donor countries, community leaders and a large contingent of national and international civil society organisations, affirmed that local forest communities and indigenous peoples should be at the centre of climate action. As expressed by Mr. Athanasse Lingodja, a community leader from the province of Maniema,  … Read more

44 Congolese and international NGOs join call to stop lifting of the DRC logging moratorium

23 September 2021

The DRC government has announced imminent plans to lift a near 20-year ban on new logging concessions operations in its Congo Basin rainforest – one of the last intact rainforests in the world. With less than six weeks to go before the crucial climate negotiations at COP26, Environmental and Human Rights NGOs are calling on … Read more

Just launched: “Forests for the Future” a 5-year community forestry project in DRC

7 July 2021

With the support of USAID and Norad, the Rainforest Foundation UK and a consortium of Congolese organisations are launching “Forests for the Future,” a 5-year project supporting community forests and sustainable livelihoods in DRC. Kinshasa, July 7, 2021 – Senior representatives of the government (from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development), the United States … Read more

NBS: New Era or False Dawn? – Webinar Q&A

24 May 2021

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

NBS: New era or false dawn? Webinar presentations

18 May 2021

Part 2 of an RFUK & WRI joint webinar series exploring and debating Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change. Presentations from RFUK, APEM, CARE & RRI explore the real-world challenges of implementing NbS on the ground.

Civil Society in the Congo Basin Sets Out Vision for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption

31 March 2021

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

Celebrating women in leadership: experiences of women in the fight to protect the world’s rainforests

8 March 2021

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

Huge leap in fight against impunity for conservation-related abuses in DRC as park rangers are sentenced for rape and torture

13 January 2021

On 28 December 2020, five park rangers accused of raping and torturing four women in DRC’s Salonga National Park were convicted by the Military Court in Mbandaka, following a long battle for justice supported by the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) and its local partner Actions pour la Promotion et Protection des Peuples et Espèces Menacés … Read more