News

The Indonesian palm oil company Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) is notorious for deforestation and human rights violations. A new report reveals that AAL, in collaboration with the military police, is threatening local communities.

‘If one partner leaves the alliance, it would feel like the amputation of a leg.’ A conversation with Diana Nabiruma and Richard Ssemmanda of the Green Livelihoods Alliance, about their fight against deforestation for fossil fuel extraction in Uganda and their support for local communities – ‘and they protect us from intelligence agents’.

Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) partners are actively participating at the CBD COP 16 in Colombia, from October 21st to November 1st, 2024. Access the full event schedule of GLA partners here.

Traditional knowledge transmission for the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. Join us for a youth-led conversation about how traditional knowledge strengthens youth's connection to their territories and safeguards biodiversity at CDB COP16 on October, 24th.

Tropical forests play a critical role in the stable provisioning of clean, fresh water and related ecosystem services. The challenge of water scarcity is exacerbated by climate change, with roughly half of the world’s population experiencing severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. At IUCN NL, we work towards sustained water supply for healthy ecosystems, productive landscapes and fair access to good quality water for local communities. Our distinctive approach to water and forests focuses on a bottom-up strategy, prioritising local CSOs and communities. We integrate the agendas of climate, water, biodiversity, and the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs). 

After dedicated effort and persistence, nine local communities in Bafwasende, DR Congo have secured their rights to more than 320,000 hectares in the form of local community forest concessions (CFCLs). This was the result of more than three years of advocacy, lobbying and collaboration with various stakeholders, including our partner Tropenbos DR Congo as well as provincial and national authorities.

In West and Central Africa, companies are seizing forests for logging. In doing so, they are violating the rights of indigenous communities. Local and Western governments must help to address this issue.

This year’s forest fires in Bolivia have reached devastating levels, threatening unique ecosystems, including the Chiquitano Dry Forest. Despite the scale of destruction —burning over 4 million hectares, displacing entire communities, and endangering biodiversity —these fires have received far less global attention compared to the Amazon fires of 2019. Thousands of people have been forced to relocate as their homes and livelihoods go up in flames, and the widespread loss of crops has triggered food and water shortages.

To our great dismay, we have learned that Romel (‘Mel’) Cardenas de Vera passed away unexpectedly last week. Mel was a well-known and respected human rights defender in the Philippines.