We are pleased to publish our 2023 Annual Review. In this latest edition, we reflect on RFUK’s 35 years of promoting a simple yet powerful idea – that we need to entrust the protection of tropical forests to the Indigenous and local communities who depend on them. This year’s review highlights our three-pillar approach to realising this vision. 

The first pillar of our strategy focuses on the strengthening of community land tenure as the foundation of forest protection. In 2023, RFUK made great strides in promoting community forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), both on the ground and through policy work. 

Once tenure is secured, the next step is to assist communities in planning and sustainably managing forests through initiatives like participatory land-use planning and catalyzing vibrant rainforest economies in DRC, Peru and elsewhere. 

The third pillar empowers communities to actively defend forests using simple monitoring technologies to counter illegal activities and through wider campaigns that tackle the root causes of deforestation. Impressive wins include suspended illegal logging concessions in Cameroon, the destruction of millions of dollars of illegal mining equipment in Peru and halting extractive industry expansion in DRC. 

As pressures on forests grow, we underscore this rights-based approach of partnering with local communities and grassroots organisations as a proven global model for fair and effective rainforest protection. The Annual Review captures many of our achievements last year made possible thanks to our loyal supporter generosity. 

We hope you enjoy the read!