Rainforest Fund

Home
United States
New York, NY
Rainforest Fund

RFUND, started by Sting, Trudie Styler, and Dr. Franca Sciuto, is determined to protect indigenous livelihoods throughout the world's rainforests.

The Rainforest Fund has supported approximately 300 programs that cover a range of issues from protection of civil and political rights of Indigenous and tribal peoples, to the promotion and defense of their social, economic, and cultural rights; including the protection of rights to their land and against the destructiveness of resource exploitation. To donate, please go to https://www.rainforestfund.org/donate/ .

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!

On Earth Day, we recognize the vital role Indigenous communities play in protecting the rainforest. For generations, they have protected biodiversity, preserved ecosystems, and maintained a balance that supports life far beyond the forest.

Today, these lands face increasing threats from deforestation and climate change. Supporting Indigenous land rights is one of the most effective ways to protect the rainforest, because when Indigenous communities are empowered, deforestation decreases and ecosystems thrive.

These photos reflect our work in Palawan, Philippines, where mining activities are expanding and young people in Brooke’s Point are leading protests to protect their forests.

Protecting the rainforest is essential to protecting the planet.

Photo Credit: CALG

04/04/2026

We’re deeply concerned about what’s happening in Southern Palawan.

Mining activity appears to be expanding despite the province’s moratorium putting forests, wildlife, and local communities at risk. Reports of new permits and ongoing projects raise serious questions about how these protections are being enforced.

Through our partners, Coalition Against Land Grabbing (CALG), we’ve supported Indigenous communities in Palawan for years, helping secure land rights and protect livelihoods. What’s happening now could undo that progress.

To learn more about this situation and how you can help, please visit:

https://icmagazine.org/nickel-mining-threatens-palawan-forests-and-livelihoods-despite-moratorium/

https://icmagazine.org/new-barricade-against-mining-aggression-in-a-unesco-biosphere-reserve/

Photo Credit: CALG (community meeting)

04/01/2026

We’re excited to share our 2026 projects, supporting Indigenous-led efforts to protect forests, defend land rights, and strengthen sustainable livelihoods worldwide.

Across Southeast Asia, our partners in Indonesia and the Philippines are supporting Indigenous communities to protect their ancestral lands while expanding sustainable livelihoods. From mangrove shrimp harvesting in West Papua and forest protection efforts in Kalimantan, to community advocacy around geothermal development on Flores and land titling efforts in Palawan, these initiatives help communities strengthen governance, defend their territories, and support sustainable livelihoods while protecting their lands and natural resources.

In Central Africa, our projects in the Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon are strengthening Indigenous governance, supporting education and creating economic opportunities for women, while protecting forest communities’ rights and traditional livelihoods. These initiatives help Indigenous and forest-dependent communities manage forests sustainably, preserve cultural knowledge, and expand opportunities for youth and women while defending their lands from increasing pressures.

In Latin America, Indigenous communities in Brazil and Peru continue working to defend their territories through land titling, legal advocacy, and Indigenous-led monitoring. Indigenous guardian teams play a vital role in protecting forests from illegal invasions and deforestation, while legal training and land recognition efforts strengthen long-term protection of ancestral lands and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Together, these partnerships reflect the vital role Indigenous communities play in protecting the world’s forests and biodiversity. When communities have the tools, recognition, and support they need, they are the most effective stewards of their lands and ecosystems.

We are deeply grateful to our supporters whose generosity makes these projects possible. Your support helps Indigenous communities protect their lands, strengthen their livelihoods, and safeguard some of the world’s most important forests for generations to come.

02/16/2026

These photos come from our project in Papua, Indonesia, carried out with our partners at EcoNusa. The project supports Indigenous communities in developing sustainable wild-caught shrimp production in mangrove ecosystems, which play a vital role in local livelihoods and the health of the environment. By strengthening these local practices, the project helps communities maintain a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.

Through hands-on training, access to basic production tools, and ongoing support at the community level, the project helps improve how shrimp are handled after harvest, processed, and brought to market. It also helps connect the community with buyers, supporting steady income for families and fostering long-term economic stability.

The photos show community-run shrimp stations, everyday post-harvest work, and the tools and shared spaces that make this work possible. They capture the dedication of local families and the collaborative efforts that sustain both livelihoods and the mangrove ecosystems they depend on.

We thank you for your support, which makes projects like this possible

01/28/2026

These photos come from our partner ANPAC in the DRC. The project supports Indigenous communities in Walikale (North Kivu), Kiri (Mai-Ndombe), and Mweka (Central Kasai) in protecting their lands, cultures, and livelihoods.

The images were taken during ANPAC’s annual cultural forum, traditionally held in the Indigenous village of Kisimbosa in Walikale territory. The forum brings together elders, youth, community leaders, and local authorities to share cultural practices, discuss Indigenous land rights, and reinforce intergenerational exchange. Despite ongoing conflict and displacement, the gathering remains an important space for sustaining cultural identity and community resilience.

We are deeply grateful to our supporters, whose solidarity and generosity make this work possible and help ensure that Indigenous knowledge, rights, and cultures continue to thrive even in the face of conflict and uncertainty.

12/28/2025

Happy Holidays from the Rainforest Fund!

As the year comes to a close, we want to thank our incredible supporters for standing with Indigenous Peoples around the world. Your generosity is helping communities protect their lands, defend their rights, and safeguard some of the planet’s most vital rainforests.

Because of you, Indigenous partners in Brazil are monitoring and defending their territories against illegal invasions, strengthening legal networks for Indigenous rights, equipping Indigenous fire brigades to combat devastating wildfires, and building sustainable forest-based livelihoods like cumaru (tonka nut) harvesting. These efforts protect forests while creating economic alternatives rooted in Indigenous knowledge and stewardship.

Your support is also making a global impact. Across Latin America, communities are securing land titles, empowering Indigenous women, and addressing environmental pollution caused by mining. In Africa Indigenous Peoples are strengthening governance, protecting forests, revitalizing cultural knowledge, and advancing land and livelihood rights. And thanks to your help, in Asia Indigenous communities are mapping ancestral lands, rebuilding rights-based livelihoods, protecting mangrove forests, and defending ancestral domains against land grabbing.

This work is only possible because of you. Together, we are supporting Indigenous people who are without a doubt, the best protectors of the Rainforest.

From all of us at the Rainforest Fund, thank you and Happy Holidays!

To donate, please go to https://www.rainforestfund.org/donate-now/

12/02/2025

Whilst this year's COP left much to be desired regarding fossil fuel extraction and the ways and means of achieving a reduction in carbon emissions there was some definite progress in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The fact that so many Indigenous People could and did take part, adding their voices in discussions and demonstrating their concerns, was a major plus to this COP.

Indigenous leaders , like our friend Chief Raoni, spoke powerfully about the threats to their lands and the solutions they have championed for generations. Some of our partners, including Rainforest Foundation UK, were there to share strategies for community-led forest protection and push for more Congo Basin initiatives.

Brazil’s Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) is potentially a significant step forward for long-term forest protection in that it seeks to compensate countries for preserving tropical forests, with 20% of funds reserved for Indigenous Peoples.

While these commitments are encouraging, action speaks louder than words. We will continue to stand with Indigenous communities and advocate for accountability so that promises made at COP30 translate into meaningful change.

1st photo – Belém – Chief Raoni Metuktire at the People’s Summit Audience, UFPA, COP30. Photo: Antonio Scorza/COP30
2nd photo – Belém – Chief Raoni meets Brazil’s Indigenous Minister Sonia Guajajara and officials at COP30 Blue Zone. Photo: Antonio Scorza/COP30
3rd photo – Belém – Sonia Guajajara talks with Chief Raoni at COP30 Blue Zone. Photo: Antonio Scorza/COP30

10/19/2025

This week, we reunited with our dear friend, Chief Raoni Metuktire of the Kayapo, while he was in London being honored at the Liberatum Cultural Honour Gala. Raoni was accompanied by his family members Yabuti, Paxton, and Beptuk Hokrit Metuktire.

It’s been 37 years since Trudie Styler and Sting first met Chief Raoni in the Amazon. His words back then — a call to protect the forest and his people — inspired the creation of the Rainforest Fund.

At the ceremony, Chief Raoni gifted Trudie a copy of his new biography, Raoni: Memories of the Chief, a moving account of his extraordinary life and leadership. Sting also joined by video to send his love and admiration.

At 93, Chief Raoni continues to travel the world, sharing the same urgent message he gave all those years ago: the forest is life — and it needs all of us.

Thank you to for honoring Chief Raoni and bringing together so many friends who continue to believe in his vision

10/13/2025

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!

Today we honor the Indigenous Peoples who have cared for the world’s rainforests for generations. Their knowledge, stewardship, and connection to the land are essential to the health of our planet.

When Indigenous Peoples are supported, the world’s forests stand stronger. For 35 years, we’ve stood alongside Indigenous leaders defending their ancestral territories, protecting biodiversity, and preserving traditional knowledge. Together, we’ve supported over 300 projects and raised more than $45 million for Indigenous-led initiatives worldwide.

As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, Indigenous voices must be at the center of global climate discussions. They are not just participants—they are the stewards of the planet’s most vital ecosystems.

This photo shows a community meeting with the Ogiek Peoples of Kenya. They are protecting their ancestral lands through sustainable land management, legal advocacy, and economic development. Our project supports them in securing land and forest rights, promoting livelihoods like beekeeping and livestock, and strengthening education and community health services.

Thank you to all our supporters for standing with Indigenous Peoples and helping protect the world’s rainforests. We reaffirm our commitment to amplifying Indigenous leadership, securing land rights, and protecting the forests that sustain all life. We stand with Indigenous communities today and every day.

10/02/2025

We at Rainforest Fund are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, a pioneer whose life’s work transformed our understanding of the natural world and inspired global action to protect it. Her groundbreaking research with chimpanzees in Tanzania revealed not only the intelligence and emotional lives of our closest relatives, and the critical role of the forests they call home.

Dr. Goodall understood that conservation cannot succeed without people. Through initiatives like TACARE, she worked directly with local and Indigenous communities, ensuring that their rights, knowledge, and well-being were central to protecting forests. Her work helped restore landscapes, strengthened community-led stewardship, and empowered countless Indigenous youth through education and advocacy.

Her passing is a great loss, but her vision lives on. At the Rainforest Fund, we honor her legacy by continuing to stand with Indigenous Peoples and forest communities on the frontlines of protecting the planet. Dr. Goodall showed the world that hope and action are inseparable. Her life’s work will continue to inspire our efforts to defend the rainforests she cared for so deeply.

09/30/2025

During Climate Week, we were honored to join three powerful events led by our partners, each showcasing Indigenous leadership and new pathways for climate action.

The Forest Peoples Programme (FPP)stpeoplesprogramme hosted “Enabling a win-win-win for rights, climate and nature: What does good allyship with Indigenous Peoples look like?” The event explored how allyship can strengthen Indigenous movements and made a strong case for direct, unrestricted funding to grassroots Indigenous Peoples and forest communities. A highlight was a video message from our partner Peter Kitelo of CIPDP, who spoke about the vital role of FPP’s support.

The Rainforest Foundation USnorway hosted “Protecting Papua’s Forests – Youth-led approaches to climate, livelihoods and land rights.” This session showcased youth empowerment in Papua, emphasizing how young people are driving innovative solutions to protect forests, strengthen land rights, and build sustainable futures.

The Regnskogfondet - Rainforest Foundation Norwayus held “Contributing to a more resilient direct funding ecosystem for Indigenous peoples and local communities: Case studies on intermediary support.” This discussion unpacked the role of intermediaries in climate and rights funding, highlighting both the benefits of partnerships and the challenges they can create.

Each event carried the same message: protecting our planet starts with Indigenous Peoples and forest communities. The presentations were insightful and powerful, and they reinforced the urgency of this work.

09/03/2025

These photos relate to our project with CECD in the Republic of Congo. The project works with the Baka and Bakwélé communities across 16 villages in the Messok Dja massif to strengthen community governance and promote sustainable natural resource management. By building local capacity to manage land and forests, the initiative enhances governance structures while ensuring that communities can protect their environment and sustain their way of life for generations to come.

CECD supports sustainable forest management in a couple of key ways. They run workshops to help the Baka take the lead in caring for their lands and forests, and they carry out field visits to raise awareness about protecting these resources.Together, these efforts help preserve food, medicine, and cultural traditions, ensuring their way of life can continue.

These photos were taken during a workshop to share traditional knowledge. The workshop was organized by CECD as part of the Rainforest Fund financed project.

Address

New York, NY

Telephone

+12126776045

Website

https://www.rainforestfund.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rainforest Fund posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Rainforest Fund:

Shortcuts

Featured

Heart River Center for Intuitive Healing

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in New York?