Expanding Impact in Protecting Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Rainforests

Our Impact

All of our work in partnership with Indigenous peoples is driven by our vision of a world where the rights of Indigenous peoples are respected and rainforests flourish.

Since our founding, we’ve supported securing over 43 million acres of Indigenous peoples’ land through titling and demarcation — an area comparable to the entire state of Florida.

Though impact can be measured in many ways, here are some highlights of the impact we made in protecting rainforests in 2024:

11 Million

Acres of land rights advanced through mapping of community boundaries and development of land management plans

19.5 Million

Acres of rainforests monitored through Indigenous-led monitoring programs

228

Indigenous and local communities directly supported throughout Central and South America

$8.3 Million

of direct financing to Indigenous-led organizations and communities

Forests protected by Indigenous peoples play a vital role in capturing carbon, as much as or more than national parks. Protecting the rights of those safeguarding these forests is crucial to slowing climate change.

Forests protected by Indigenous peoples play a vital role in capturing carbon, as much as or more than national parks. Protecting the rights of those safeguarding these forests is crucial to slowing climate change.

“Rainforest Foundation US was there at the beginning, when the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) began to build its governance. They continue alongside us as a key player and our fiscal sponsor.”

Juan Carlos Jintiach

A leader from the Shuar people in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Executive Secretary of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC), and shortlisted for a 2023 Nobel Peace Prize

RFUS in the Press

Indigenous women monitor the Peruvian Amazon with the help of technology (Article published in Spanish by Mongabay)

Stories

Paving the Way Towards COP30: “The answer is us—all of us”

Stories

Stories From the Ground: A Visit to Upper Napo Beekeepers and Rainforest Monitors

Reports

Making forest carbon markets work for communities: A case study on benefit sharing in the REDD+ Guatecarbon Project

Stories From the Ground

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THINK YOU KNOW RAINFORESTS?

How much do you know about the world’s rainforests?

In honor of World Rainforest Day, we’ve put together a quiz to test your knowledge about these vital ecosystems. See how much you really know—and learn a few facts along the way.

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