To support Indigenous communities and local communities to better understand carbon markets, Rainforest Foundation US has launched a six-part animated series to demystify the market and provide communities with the essential information to protect their rights.
The voluntary carbon market is quickly evolving and being introduced in new territories, making it challenging to sort out who’s who and what the implications are for impacted communities. These new mechanisms for forest protection come with complex standards, rules, and requirements. For Indigenous peoples and local communities, it is crucial to understand and navigate this landscape in order to protect their rights, whether they choose to engage or not.
Video 1: What is Carbon?
How are carbon and other gasses in the atmosphere accelerating climate change? How is the global community responding to reduce global warming? And why is carbon relevant to our communities?
Video 2: The Forest Carbon Market
What is a carbon credit? Why do companies and governments want to buy them? And who profits from their sale? Can anybody sell carbon credits?
Video 3: Community Rights & Consultation
What are the rights of our communities in the carbon market? What does “free, prior, and informed consent” mean, and why is it important? How can we ensure fair and long-term benefits for our communities?
Video 4: Certification & Safeguards
What is the process by which carbon credits are certified? Who is involved in this process? What are environmental and social safeguards, and why do they matter?
Video 5: What are the Risks to our Rights?
What risks do our communities face when engaging in carbon market projects? What steps can we take to reduce these risks?
Video 6: What to do When Things go Wrong
What can we do if carbon projects cause problems for our community? How do we file a formal complaint if our rights are violated? What steps can we take if our complaint isn’t resolved?
Want to share these videos with your communities and organizations? Here’s a convenient guide to help you distribute them effectively.
- Click the link below each video to download small versions for easy sharing on WhatsApp and social media.
- Videos are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Links at the top of this page will guide you to access videos in your preferred language.
- If you’re interested in having these videos translated into another language, please be in touch! Email us at [email protected] for more information.
Produced by Rainforest Foundation US and Cuíca Filmes, with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
With special thanks to
- Levi Sucre and Maribel Arango Giraldo of the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests, as well as Déborah Sánchez, now at CLARIFI
- Sérgio Guzmán of the Association of Forest Communities of Petén (ACOFOP)
- Gustavo Sánchez of the Mexican Network of Forest and Farmland Organizations (Red MOCAF)
- Mariah Lall, Nicholas Peters, and Lakhram Bhagirat of the Amerindian Peoples Association
- Sinéia do Vale of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR)
- Elvira Garcés Vega of the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (ONIC)
- Patricia Zuppi of the Network for Amazonian Cooperation (RCA)
- Gabriela Soto of Rights, Environment and Natural Resources (DAR)
- Igor Richwin Ferreira, Torbjørn Gjefsen, Borghild Tønnessen-Krokan, and Julia Naime of Rainforest Foundation Norway
- Daniela Rey Christen of Climate Law and Policy (CLP)
