When Forest Conservation Meets Human Rights: The Rainforest Foundation's Approach

For over 20 years the Rainforest Foundation's mission has been to support indigenous and traditional forest peoples in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfill their rights. We argue that recognizing the rights of forest peoples is one of the most effective strategies to maintain standing forests. In this talk, Marina will discuss the effectiveness, as well as the opportunities and challenges, that this approach provides for the conservation of tropical rainforests. The talk will focus on the work of Rainforest Foundation in South and Central America, more specifically on Peru, Guyana and Panama.Dr. Marina Campos is currently the Program Director of Natural Resource Management and Climate Change at Rainforest Foundation US. In this position, Marina works in partnership with indigenous groups and local grassroots organizations in Central and South America to secure rights to their lands and influence policies to protect their resources.