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This fact sheet evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The document reports that while some legal frameworks and demand-side regulations have improved, overall progress is too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with illegal deforestation increasing from 49% to 69% over a seven-year period.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-Rio analyzes the relationship between forest fires and subsequent deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2013 to 2020. The study finds that while forest fires are not systematically used as a direct first step to clear vegetation in the same location, they serve as a strong leading indicator of imminent deforestation in the surrounding vicinity, particularly in rural settlements and occupied public lands.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from the DETER and PRODES monitoring systems. The study finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, there is a strong spatial association, with a significant portion of deforestation occurring in the immediate vicinity of previously degraded areas, particularly in medium or large private properties, rural settlements, and undesignated areas.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from INPE's DETER and PRODES systems. It finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, a significant portion of deforestation occurs in the vicinity of previously degraded areas, suggesting that degradation can serve as a regional risk indicator for future forest loss.

This case study, part of the IISD 'Stories of Change' series, details Liberia's efforts to renegotiate large-scale agricultural concession agreements following its civil war. Through an interview with Ciata Bishop, the document explains how the government transitioned from outdated 'scoop and ship' contracts to a transparent, regulated framework designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) while ensuring community benefits, food security, and job creation.

This report by the Forest Declaration Assessment evaluates progress toward Goal 7 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), focusing on national climate actions for forests. It argues that while the Paris Agreement has recognized the role of forests, current government actions are insufficient to stop forest loss and GHG emissions by 2030. The document provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for governments to increase mitigation ambition, align financial flows with climate goals, and implement six specific strategies ranging from governance reform to demand-side measures in importing countries.

This report by the World Resources Institute outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and community lands in climate change mitigation. It argues that while community lands cover approximately half of the world's land and provide immense ecosystem services and carbon sequestration, they are often legally unrecognized and underfunded. The document provides evidence that secure land tenure leads to lower deforestation rates and proposes six strategic steps to better integrate community land management into global climate action.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of 'other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs) in Africa. It argues that OECMs, which are sites outside formal protected areas managed to deliver long-term biodiversity and socio-economic benefits, are essential for engaging local communities and achieving biodiversity targets. Through case studies in South Africa and Kenya, the document demonstrates how community-private sector partnerships can create sustainable livelihoods while protecting ecosystems, and calls for African governments to align on a community-centred conservation agenda for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP.

This statement from Natural Justice and the Association Nationale des APACs (ANAPAC) advocates for the legal recognition of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (APACs) in Senegal to strengthen biodiversity conservation and support local community governance.

This statement by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes a new substitute text for Bill (PL) no 2633/2020, which proposes changes to land regularization rules for federal lands in Brazil. The analysis identifies some procedural improvements regarding inter-agency consultation and the requirement for active Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) status, but criticizes the lack of environmental safeguards and the creation of unjustified benefits for small properties, which the authors argue may reward environmental crimes.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon between 2007 and 2016, defining it as the partial loss of forest biomass. The study finds that degradation is more widespread than clear-cutting deforestation and often serves as a precursor to it, though this relationship varies significantly by land tenure category. The authors argue that forest degradation is currently under-prioritized in public policy and should be used as an indicator for imminent environmental damage to better allocate conservation resources.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2007 to 2016, defining it as the partial loss of forest biomass. The study finds that degradation is a large-scale phenomenon that often precedes or occurs near clear-cut deforestation, with the relationship varying significantly based on land tenure categories. The authors argue that degradation should be a priority for conservation policy as a leading indicator of imminent environmental damage.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes Bill (PL) No. 510/2021, which proposes modifications to Law No. 11.952/2009 regarding the land regularization of federal public lands. The document argues that the bill repeats setbacks from the expired Provisional Measure (MP) No. 910/2019 and introduces new provisions that benefit medium and large landholders and speculators, potentially incentivizing illegal deforestation and land grabbing (grilagem).

This internal report by Friends of the Earth International (December 2020) argues that the right to organize and the protection of cultural and spiritual rights are essential for the success and full development of Community Forest Management (MCB). It positions these rights as collective and historical, emphasizing that legal frameworks should be used as one tool within a broader strategy of communication and mobilization to defend the territories of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

This internal briefing by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) examines the fundamental rights to community organization and cultural/spiritual expression as essential pillars for Community Forest Management (CFM). It argues that legal frameworks, while important, must be part of a broader struggle for rights and that the protection of cultural identity is inextricably linked to the protection of the territories where these practices occur.

This document consists of formal submissions by Natural Justice to the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Forestry regarding the Draft Forest Policy 2020. The submissions argue for a shift away from 'fortress conservation' and the current Community Forest Association (CFA) model toward a human-rights-based approach that recognizes the ancestral rights and conservation roles of indigenous and local communities.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) outlines the essential rights and conditions necessary for the successful implementation of Community Forest Management (MCB). It argues that MCB is a tool for both environmental conservation and the defense of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, asserting that these rights are intrinsic and exist independently of state recognition.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) outlines the essential rights and conditions necessary for effective Community Forest Management (CFM). It argues that CFM is a tool for protecting biodiversity and improving the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, provided that States guarantee their inherent rights to territory, self-determination, and well-being.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) outlines the essential rights required for the successful implementation of Community Forest Management (CFM). It argues that CFM is not merely a forestry technique but a political tool for defending the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, asserting that these rights are inherent and exist independently of state recognition.

This submission by Natural Justice to the UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights details the impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa. It highlights how environmental shifts and land-use changes threaten bio-cultural resources and traditional knowledge, while presenting 'Community Protocols' as a tool for adaptation and the protection of cultural rights. The document also outlines the severe risks faced by cultural and environmental rights defenders in Africa, including violence, criminalization, and land grabbing.