Rainforest Foundation US

Rainforest Foundation US supports Indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and uphold their rights by assisting them in: - Securing and controlling the natural resources necessary for their long term well being and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate their culture or compromise their future; and​ - Developing the means to protect their individual and collective rights and to obtain, shape and control basic services from the state.

The Amazon rainforest and rainforests of Central America–-the regions where Rainforest Foundation US works--thrive under the care of Indigenous peoples. Deforestation is reduced to a negligible amount and biodiversity flourishes, and It is widely recognized that it's a result of communities’ rights being respected and enforced, and their institutions have been adequately financed. Such evidence has prompted the titling of significant new tracts of territories as well as the adoption of a rights-based model across the environmental movement. Indigenous peoples play increasingly influential and determining roles in forest and climate decision-making. The vital ecosystem services provided by healthy rainforests are recognized by governments and society at large, prompting a greater willingness to fulfill Indigenous peoples’ needs and to realize their development aspirations in accordance with their own values and traditions.

Goal One: Assert, secure, and defend Indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands and forests

Goal Two: Protect lands and forests by fortifying Indigenous peoples’ governance and territorial control

Goal Three: Strengthen Indigenous peoples’ organizations’ resilience and capacity to leverage increased financial resources to sustain land and forest management strategies

RFUS has a budget for professional development of all staff, and we encourage training and leadership development within teams and in the organization as a whole. In addition, a huge part of our strategy implementation involved capacity building work with our Indigenous partners. This includes: - Supporting partners at national, regional, and global levels to establish Indigenous peoples-led territorial funds that can deliver financial resources effectively and at scale - Strengthening the holistic strategic, operational, and financial management capacities of subnational Indigenous peoples’ institutions to access and administer increased financial resources - Enhancing Indigenous peoples’ capacity at subnational/national levels to support communities to derive sustainable economic benefits from land and forest management strategies - Advocating towards donor governments and international finance facilities for increased climate and development finance for Indigenous peoples

One of our major accomplishments was the expansion of our innovative territorial monitoring program, Rainforest Alert. This cutting-edge initiative has enabled our Indigenous partners to enhance their ability to safeguard the cherished ecosystems of South and Central America. Through advanced technology and collaborative partnerships, we have been able to support Indigenous communities to detect threats to their territories and address them more effectively. Respecting Indigenous peoples’ rights to free, prior, and informed consent is also paramount to our mission. In Guyana, we proudly supported the development of a national consultation framework for legislative changes. This framework serves as a crucial step toward ensuring Indigenous communities’ voices are heard and their rights are upheld. Additionally, we provided comprehensive training to emerging leaders in Mexico and Central America. We helped equip these future advocates with the skills and knowledge they need to protect their communities and their ancestral lands.