Rainforest Foundation UK News
Double the value of your donation today!
The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2010
From 10am today your donation could be doubled and worth twice as much through the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2010 at www.theBigGive.org.uk/donate/rfuk.
Why take part?
A donation made through the Big Give will be worth twice its original value as it unlocks bonus funding from an external sponsor, who will double public donations.
To double your donation please visit www.theBigGive.org.uk/donate/rfuk now!
The Rainforest Foundation is one of the chosen charities for The Big Give Christmas Challenge and we are now aiming to raise £20,000 by 10th December 2010 to support our work in the Congo Basin and Amazon rainforests.
RFUK talking REDD on BBC's Business Daily
RFUK Executive Director Simon Counsell was this morning interviewed on BBC Radio's Business Daily program presented by Ed Butler, discussing REDD, climate change and the general idea of what financial incentives aimed at getting poor countries not to chop down their rainforests, on which the global climate depends, really mean. The program itself discusses a pilot scheme set up by Norway, in which it pays the South American country, Guyana, £30m a year to preserve its forests, even though preliminary indicators suggest that Guyana has chopped down more, not less, during the first year of the project. A Norwegian government adviser defending the scheme also comments.
New report warns of dangers of 'junk' economics for global scheme to reduce deforestation
According to a new report released today by Rainforest Foundation UK, How McKinsey 'cost curves' are distorting REDD, advice given by international consultants McKinsey & Company to governments of forested nations could harm a scheme to stem destruction of the rainforest, known as REDD.
McKinsey has provided services to Brazil, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Guyana in the context of a global plan to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) which may be agreed at the United Nations climate change summit starting next week in Cancun, Mexico. [1] The report says that McKinsey's advice is based on flawed analysis that hides key costs of programmes to reduce deforestation and could lead to greater destruction of natural forests by logging and agribusinesses, further marginalisation of millions of poor farmers and the weakening of environmental regulations.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Agrees to Hear Case of Indigenous Peoples in Raposa Serra do Sol, Brazil
After years of waiting, during which they suffered from violent attacks and the degradation of their ancestral lands, the Ingaricó, Macuxi, Patamona, Taurepang and Wapichana indigenous peoples of Raposa Serra do Sol received a favorable decision by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. During its last session at the end of October, the Commission issued an admissibility decision in their case against the Government of Brazil. In doing so, the Commission signaled not only that the Government's treatment of indigenous peoples in Raposa may constitute a violation of their human rights, but that the Commission is now ready to enter its final stage of review of the case and issue a concluding report.
Protect twice as much rainforest!
The Rainforest Foundation UK has been selected to participate in The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2010. This year over 300 charities have been selected to benefit from this match-funding scheme run by The Big Give charity website.
Our role at the next UN Climate Summit
Our role at the next UN Climate Summit (COP16) - Executive Director Simon Counsell explains all...
Why are RFUK going to participate in COP16?
The climate summit in Cancún, Mexico, could be crucial in determining the fate of many of the remaining areas of tropical rainforest. Following the failure of countries to agree to binding international carbon emissions reductions in Copenhagen last December, hopes are now being pinned on this December's meeting.
We Need Bookkeeping & It Volunteers!
We need two skilled volunteers to help with Bookkeeping and IT on a part-time but regular basis. There will be plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, gain experience and play an important part in the success of a fast-growing charity.
Climate and Communities
Most international and national climate change negotiations have been held between governments and international agencies -including those that have been most responsible for deforestation - whilst local forest communities and indigenous peoples are largely unaware that the future of their environment is being discussed. RFUK's work on climate change focuses on a global scheme to reduce deforestation known as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) that is currently being discussed at international climate negotiations and in ‘rainforest' countries. REDD is a set of steps designed to use financial incentives to reduce deforestation by paying forest-rich countries to ‘conserve' their forests. In return for these ‘conservation' efforts, and instead of receiving benefits from industries such as logging and mining, forest-rich countries will be paid to keep their forest standing.
CAR Appeal Update
Thank you to everyone that supported our International Indigenous Peoples' Day appeal for our work in the Central African Republic.
Since the appeal, RFUK has been able to take important steps forwards establishing community forests in the Central African Republic, and in supporting the recognition of indigenous forest peoples' rights in management of their traditional lands.
