The Rainforest Foundation Family
RFUS’s 2030 Plan for Forests, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, and Climate Action
Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) envisions a world where the rights of Indigenous peoples are respected and rainforests flourish. Our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan is a blueprint for achieving that vision, scaling Indigenous-led forest protection across Central and South America so that people, forests, and the climate can thrive together, now and for generations to come. Our […]
In 2024, Amazon fires scorched an area equivalent to the entire state of California—in Brazil alone.
In 2024, fires devastated the Amazon at an unprecedented scale. For the first time on record, fires were the leading cause of forest loss in the Amazon. More than 44.2 million acres of rainforest burned, an area larger than the entire state of California.
A Call for Strengthened Rights Protections in the REDD+ Carbon Market Standard TREES
The jurisdictional REDD+ carbon credit certifier ART published the draft of its standard TREES 3.0 for public comment. Indigenous Peoples as well as Local Communities submitted an input, specifying changes that needed to be made to align the standard with minimum internationally recognized protections for their communities’ rights.
Drought Is Pushing the Amazon Rainforest to the Brink
How Climate Finance Can Reach Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: Practical Lessons from Four Regional Case Studies
Indigenous peoples and local communities protect 36% of the world’s intact tropical forests, yet receive less than 1% of international climate funding. If you are familiar with this work, you know this contradiction intimately. But closing the gap requires more than good intentions—it demands practical strategies that navigate entrenched systems while building genuine autonomy. Four […]
Making forest carbon markets work for communities: A case study on benefit sharing in the REDD+ Guatecarbon Project
Benefit sharing is a critical component of REDD+ forest carbon projects, particularly where Indigenous peoples and local communities are central to forest stewardship. As REDD+ evolves into market-based mechanisms, with carbon credits generating revenue in international carbon markets, ensuring that benefits are distributed fairly is essential for the long term success of the initiative. However, […]
New Report Confirms Climate Impact of Rainforest Foundation US & Indigenous Peoples Collaboration
Indigenous peoples’ territories across four countries sequester more than 9.8 Million Metric Tons of CO2e—equivalent to the annual emission of more than 2 million gas vehicles or 1.3 million homes.
Leaders of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Weigh in on Carbon Market Standard Revision
The jurisdictional REDD+ voluntary carbon market standard TREES 2.0 is up for review, creating a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as those of Local Communities and social integrity throughout the forest carbon market. To that end, a group of significant representative organizations of Indigenous Peoples as well as Local Communities from across Latin America came together to submit their recommendations.
2024 A Year In Review
A Message From Our Executive Director Dear Friends and Supporters, As we look back on this year, we are both humbled and inspired by the progress made alongside Indigenous communities across the Amazon and Central America. Together, we have witnessed historic wins: from securing legal titles for 20 Indigenous communities in Peru’s Amazon to training […]
