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The report by Friends of the Earth International argues that community forest management (CFM) is most effective when supported by the recognition of inherent collective rights to territory, self-determination, and cultural preservation. It identifies systemic threats—such as the 'financialization of nature' and industrial extractivism—that undermine these rights. The document details 'internal conditions' (inclusive community organization and gender justice) and 'external conditions' (state-guaranteed land titles and free, prior, and informed consent) required for sustainable forest governance. It emphasizes that collective rights should prevail over individual rights to ensure the survival of communities and the biodiversity of their territories.

The proposal seeks USD 800,000 over 24 months to enable Panama to access GCF climate finance for the forestry sector. It focuses on completing the four pillars of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, updating Forest Reference Emission Levels (FREL), and finalizing the National REDD+ Strategy. Key activities include establishing a coordination mechanism for Measuring, Reporting, and Verifying (MRV) systems, developing a summary of safeguards, and creating two project concept notes for GCF funding. The project will be implemented by the FAO under the leadership of Panama's Ministry of Environment.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to forest sector law reform, emphasizing the necessity of a clear forest policy, inclusive stakeholder participation, and a structured, iterative process. It provides technical guidance on drafting clear, coherent laws that comply with legal hierarchies and avoid contradictions with other sectoral legislation. Through case studies from Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire, the guide demonstrates how civil society engagement and targeted advocacy can lead to improved forest governance, including the recognition of community land rights and the implementation of sustainable management principles.

The document identifies three typologies of rights-based claims in the extractive sector of South and Southeast Asia: environmental justice, Indigenous rights and land claims, and the right to conduct artisanal and small-scale mining. It highlights that while international law provides a framework for these rights, local actors face significant institutional, financial, and informational barriers. The brief recommends strengthening the rule of law, formalizing artisanal mining, and incorporating free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) into domestic legal frameworks.

The paper identifies three main categories of rights-based claims: environmental justice, Indigenous rights and land claims, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) rights. It finds that claimants often use multi-scalar strategies, combining domestic litigation with mass protests and international advocacy. While some claims lead to the suspension of extractive activities or improved corporate engagement, others are met with state oppression or violence. The study highlights the critical role of civil society organizations (CSOs) as enablers and the importance of framing strategies to maximize available resources.

The submission argues for a paradigm shift toward people-centered development and rights-based conservation, emphasizing the need to decentralize power and energy systems. It highlights the role of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in preventing habitat loss and calls for the formal recognition of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs). The document specifically critiques large-scale extractivism and infrastructure projects in Kenya, such as the Marsabit wind power plant and Lamu coal plant, advocating for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the integration of traditional knowledge. It also links the COVID-19 pandemic to environmental degradation, suggesting that the global coordination used to fight the virus should be redirected toward addressing the planetary crisis.

The Living Convention Volume I is a guide that aggregates disparate international laws, declarations, and voluntary guidelines into a structured compendium. It focuses on the rights of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and peasants, categorizing them into substantive rights (such as land tenure, food sovereignty, and cultural heritage) and procedural rights (such as free, prior and informed consent and access to justice). The document aims to democratize international law to empower these groups in negotiations, litigation, and the management of their social-ecological systems.

The guide presents a methodology to re-center international law around the social-ecological relationships of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and peasants. It critiques the fragmentary nature of state and international law, which often compartmentalizes resources and conflicts with customary law. To address this, the authors apply a 'Traditional Resource Rights' (TRR) approach to 'bundle' disparate legal provisions into categories of rights organized by a landscape-based logic. The document also provides international definitions for Indigenous peoples, local communities, and peasants, and discusses the distinction between 'hard' and 'soft' international law.

The ESMF provides the guidelines, legal frameworks, and procedural requirements for managing environmental and social risks for a GEF-funded project in Ecuador's Amazon. It focuses on establishing connectivity corridors in the Putumayo-Aguarico and Palora-Pastaza landscapes, ensuring the protection of biodiversity and the rights of indigenous peoples through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).

The briefing note examines the ongoing negotiations regarding Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, highlighting the risk that poorly designed carbon market and non-market mechanisms could lead to human rights violations. It advocates for the inclusion of rights-based safeguards, meaningful stakeholder consultation (including free, prior, and informed consent for indigenous peoples), and independent grievance redress processes to avoid repeating failures seen in the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism.

The report critiques the Land Value (Amendment) Act, 2019, specifically its failure to distinguish between community and private land during compulsory acquisition. It highlights the risks of undervaluing community land through a market-value approach, the removal of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for development-induced displacement, and the creation of a state-controlled Land Acquisition Tribunal. The author argues these provisions may be unconstitutional and recommends a separate valuation index for community lands and the restoration of FPIC.

The document assesses the integration of the UNFCCC's Cancun safeguards into the national legal frameworks of Ghana, Liberia, and the Republic of Congo. It finds that while broad principles of participation and transparency exist in constitutions and forestry laws, they often lack practical procedural detail or consistent implementation. The briefing highlights a gap between high-level policy goals and the legal reality for local communities and indigenous peoples (LCIPs), particularly regarding land tenure and equitable benefit sharing. It suggests that REDD+ can act as a catalyst for legal reform, leveraging existing mechanisms like Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the EU's FLEGT-VPA initiative to strengthen forest governance.

The report finds that despite widespread commitments, global progress toward the NYDF goals is insufficient, with tropical deforestation increasing by 44% since 2014. Through consultations with 84 signatories, the document identifies eight key lessons, emphasizing that high-level political will, secure land tenure for indigenous peoples, and a shift from 'grey' to 'green' finance are critical for success. While some localized successes in REDD+ and sustainable supply chains are noted, systemic barriers—including corruption, lack of transparency in agricultural commodities, and the criminalization of forest defenders—continue to hinder large-scale implementation.

The Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) report for early 2019 details its operational status, including the adoption of new Procedures and Guidelines and the development of a Case Management System. While no formal complaints or reconsideration requests were received during the period, the IRM conducted a preliminary inquiry into a project in Peru regarding potential mis-categorization and lack of free, prior, informed consent. The IRM also focused on capacity building for direct access entities and outreach activities in Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, and China.

The document evaluates forest governance in nine tropical countries, noting improvements in legal frameworks and multi-stakeholder engagement driven by Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and REDD+. However, it highlights critical failures in cross-sectoral policy coherence, the rule of law, and the implementation of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). While transparency has increased through digital tools, accountability remains limited by corruption and insufficient resources for law enforcement.

A joint statement by civil society organizations challenging the claims of the International Hydropower Association that large dams are 'clean and green' solutions for the Paris Climate Agreement and UN SDGs. The authors demand a redirection of funding from large-scale hydro to decentralized renewables and the legal protection of free-flowing rivers.

The report 'Uncalculated Risks' examines how development finance institutions (DFIs) often fail to account for human rights risks, leading to the stigmatization, criminalization, and physical attack of human rights defenders. Through 25 case studies across various countries and sectors, it argues that DFIs frequently rely on inadequate client reporting and overlook the enabling environment for public participation. The document provides a 'Leverage Toolbox' and a 'Reprisal Prevention and Response Process' to help DFIs move toward a human rights-based approach to development.

The author describes a series of visits to mining and development sites in South Africa and Kenya, highlighting environmental destruction and human rights violations. The text criticizes the South African government's support for the mining industry and the New Development Bank's funding of coal-fired power plants, while warning against the dangers of geoengineering funded by carbon emitters.

The report examines the assassination of environmental defender Berta Cáceres and the role of the Desarrollos Energéticos S.A. (DESA) company and its international financiers in the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project in Honduras. It highlights the failure of voluntary human rights due diligence and calls for binding international legislation to hold corporations accountable for human rights and environmental abuses.

The report establishes a framework for certifying forestry-related bonds, focusing on ensuring that funded projects contribute to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. It defines eligible assets—including plantation forestry, sustainable forest management, and conservation/restoration projects—and sets specific requirements for mitigation and adaptation. Key measures include a prohibition on natural landscape conversion since 2010 and the use of a resilience checklist. The framework leverages existing industry standards, specifically FSC and PEFC, as proxies for many management requirements while adding specific climate-risk assessments.