Congo Basin

From forest to fair: community enterprises lead the way in Équateur, DRC

11 July 2025

This is the second story in a five part Forests for the Future impact series on how community forests in the DRC are enabling communities to drive their own development and protect climate-critical forests. As the momentum around community forestry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to grow, the second edition of the … Read more

Civil Society Calls for Urgent Ban on Oil Exploration in Congo’s Conkouati-Douli National Park

23 May 2025

As global attention turns to the Republic of Congo for the upcoming First Global Congress of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities of Forest Basins, Congolese and international civil society organisations have issued a statement demanding an immediate ban on oil and mining activities in the Conkouati-Douli National Park. The coalition has denounced the Congolese government’s … Read more

Carbon Markets and Our Rights: A Guide for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

15 May 2025

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. To support Indigenous communities and local communities to better understand carbon markets, our sister organisation Rainforest Foundation US has launched a six-part animated series to demystify … Read more

DRC government opens 52 oil blocks in the Cuvette Centrale peatlands, undermining green commitments

6 May 2025

In a move that has sparked outrage among environmental and human rights campaigners, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has approved the opening of 52 new oil blocks in the Cuvette Centrale peatlands – the world’s largest terrestrial carbon sink and a critical ecosystem for biodiversity. The decision, announced during the Council of Ministers meeting … Read more

UK NGOs urge government to keep Forests Standing in Foreign Aid Budget

1 May 2025

RFUK has come together with seven prominent UK-based environmental and human rights organisations in calling on the UK government to protect tropical forests from the recently announced foreign aid budget cuts. In a joint letter with Global Witness, Global Canopy, Earthsight, Forest Peoples Programme, Friends of the Earth, Fern and Mighty Earth, we appeal to … Read more

BRIEFING: SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

27 November 2024

To find out more about RFUK’s Sustainable Conversation and Human Rights campaign, this briefing explains why conventional conservation models need to change, what needs to be done to effect this change and how RFUK and our local and Indigenous partners work on this issue.  

RIGHTING WRONGS: HOW TO ENSURE GRIEVANCE MECHANISMS EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONGO BASIN

27 November 2024

A new RFUK report highlights the continuing lack of protected area accountability in the Congo Basin.

Reflecting on ‘Lands in the Right Hands’

18 September 2024

This September, to mark our 35th anniversary, Rainforest Foundation UK had the immense pleasure of hosting ‘Lands in the Right Hands,’ an immersive rainforest event that brought the magic of the Congo Basin to the heart of London. As we reflect on the evening, we are filled with gratitude for the great turnout and enthusiastic … Read more

Introducing ForestEye, a cutting-edge tool for local deforestation analysis

16 September 2024

RFUK is thrilled to announce the beta launch of ForestEye, an innovative web-based tool designed to provide precise, local analysis of deforestation. Developed by RFUK’s Mapping and Development team, ForestEye is set to transform the way deforestation is monitored, understood and addressed at the grassroots level. ForestEye was conceived in response to increasing demands for … Read more

RFUK publishes new guidelines for Indigenous Peoples and local communities faced with carbon market projects

18 June 2024

Amid a surge in demand for forest land in the Congo Basin for carbon offset projects, RFUK has launched a new set of guidelines to help impacted local communities to better understand these projects and how to exercise their rights in relation to them. Carbon offset projects are often marketed as a win-win solution to … Read more