Forest communities’ skills and knowledge of forest protection are not recognised and forest peoples are wrongly accused of destroying the rainforest where in fact they have developed ways of protecting their rainforest environments, which they depend on for survival. Logging, agricultural clearances, palmoil plantations, oil and gas exploration, mining, government policies and even nature conservation efforts are evicting the very people from the forest who have been custodians for centuries.

RFUK believes the best way protect rainforests and reduce poverty is to realise the rights of the communities living in those forests. With rights to land and livelihoods, forest peoples can effectively manage forest resources. We tackle the underlying causes of deforestation by locally supporting communities to gain rights, challenge logging companies and governmental regulations – and globally by influencing national and international laws to protect rainforests and their inhabitants.