Forest Peoples Programme

Description

Forest Peoples Programme is a non-governmental organisation that supports the rights of people who live in and depend on forests.

It advocates an alternative vision of forest management, based on respect for the rights of the people who know the forests best. It works with forest peoples in South America, Africa and Asia, helping them secure their rights, build their own organisations, and negotiate with governments and companies over how development and conservation happen on their lands. Much forest policy still treats forests as empty land open to logging, plantations, dams, mines and agribusiness, which forces forest peoples from their homes; conservation schemes for wilderness reserves can deny their rights too.

The organisation was founded in 1990 in response to a forest crisis, to support indigenous forest peoples defending their lands and livelihoods. It began with a small founding team working mainly in the Guyanas and in South and Southeast Asia, and has since grown into an organisation operating across the tropical forest belt, bridging policy makers and forest peoples. It works through advocacy, practical projects and capacity building, and supports the wider indigenous peoples’ movement. It produces reports, briefings, training manuals, submissions to human rights bodies and other publications.

Forest Peoples Programme is based in Moreton-in-Marsh, England.