you like to receive emails in language english espa ol fran ais we respect your privacy . you can unsubscribe at any time . fran ais espa ol fran ais espa ol select language home supporting forest tenure policy and market reforms who we are indicators of progress institutional information partners affiliated networks & collaborators board of directors fellows staff current openings contact us how we create change by issue alternative enterprise models gender justice realizing rights rights and climate by initiative measuring progress networking support strategic initiatives by region africa asia latin america our impact resources forest tenure data rri publications external publications presentations rri quarterly updates tenure trends videos news & events events rri dialogue series news from rri rights in the news press room why forests forests cover close to 30 percent of the world s land area and more than a billion people rely on forests for food fuel and income . why rights the lack of clear rights to own and use land has driven millions of forest dwellers to poverty and has encouraged widespread illegal logging and forest loss . why a coalition strategic collaboration between diverse organizations enables us to be effective champions in advancing the rights and interests of local people . alternative enterprise models gender justice realizing rights rights & climate measuringprogress networkingsupport strategicinitiatives establishing a world with more just and secure access to land and natural resources the rights and resources initiative rri supports the developing world s indigenous peoples and local communities in forests and other rural areas helping them to secure and realize the rights to own control and benefit from the natural resources they have depended on for generations . we work together with community organizations civil society governments international institutions and the private sector to promote and accelerate global efforts to improve local livelihoods reform forest tenure and governance combat poverty mitigate the effects of climate change and deliver sustainable development . centre for environment and development the centre for environment and development ced was created in 1995 with the specific aim of realizing sustainable management of central africa s forests . ced was created to counter the rising threats to forests observed during the 1990s and situates itself firmly within the local context where forest destruction takes place and where its impacts are felt most strongly among communities as well as the national level the seat of decision making that leads to or legitimizes deforestation and the dispossession of local peoples . ced also works on the international level where decisions are made affecting the forests and lives of millions of people . ced s vision is a society in which natural resource management over forests oil mines and land ensures lasting social economic and environmental sustainability . its mission is to contribute to the protection of indigenous and local communities rights interests culture and aspirations in central africa by promoting environmental justice and sustainable natural resource management throughout the region . ced has taken up the role of watchdog scrutinizing all actors initiatives processes policies and practices with an eye to their effectiveness in protecting forests essential functions and services and in recognizing communities rights . extending beyond this role ced works to explore alternatives to dominant models and defines its strategy according to three terms and conforming to an earth friendly strategy mobilization as a means of legitimizing our actions in the quest for sustainability resistance to unsustainable methods of natural resource management and transformation by finding solutions to reach sustainability . for more information visit the ced website . center for international forestry research cifor cifor advances human well being environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to help shape policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries . cifor is a member of the cgiar consortium . our headquarters are in bogor indonesia with offices in asia africa and latin america . for more information please visit the cifor website . civic response civic response was founded in 2003 by a group of social activists with a wide experience of campaigns in ghana and internationally . civic response works to deepen the political economic analysis of grassroots groupings and to facilitate their networking towards the emergence of articulate social movements that could lead in the democratisation and development of african societies and in international development struggles . for more information please visit the civic response website fecofun the federation of community forestry users nepal fecofun is a formal network of community based forest user groups from all over nepal . fecofun emerged from the idea that forest users from all parts of the country should be linked in order to strengthen the role of users in policy making processes . since its inception in july 1995 fecofun has grown into a social movement organization with about 8.5 million people represented all of whom are forest users . to date more than 11 200 community forest user groups are affiliated with fecofun . fecofun has become an effective mechanism for developing dialogue between policymakers and users and also a learning center for user groups on forest management . we believe the local communities and people are the real managers of the forests . we have learned from our past experiences that forests and people can live in harmony . fecofun is also a cofounder of the global alliance of community forestry a network of community forestry users at the international level . for more information visit the fecofun website . forest peoples programme forest peoples programme fpp supports forest peoples to secure and sustainably manage their forests lands and livelihoods . fpp advocates an alternative vision of how forests should be managed and controlled based on respect for the rights of the peoples who know them best . it works with forest peoples in south america africa and asia to help them secure their rights build up their own organizations and negotiate with governments and companies as to how economic development and conservation are best achieved on their lands . our strategies to achieve this include a promoting the rights and interests of forest peoples at local national and international levels ; b creating space for forest peoples to have an effective voice in decision making processes ; c challenging top down policies and projects that deprive local peoples of resources ; d coordinating support among environmental organizations for forest peoples vision ; e supporting community led sustainable forest management ; and f publicizing forest peoples plight through research analysis and documentation . for more information visit the forest peoples programme website . forest trends forest trends is an international non profit organization that works to expand the value of forests to society ; to promote sustainable forest management and conservation by creating and capturing market values for ecosystem services ; to support innovative projects and companies that are developing these new markets ; and to enhance the livelihoods of local communities living in and around those forests . forest trends analyzes strategic market and policy issues catalyze connections between forward looking producers communities and investors and develop new financial tools to help markets work for conservation and people . for more information visit the forest trends website . helvetas swiss intercooperation helvetas swiss intercooperation is a member based non profit organization that is engaged in 30 partner countries throughout africa asia latin america and eastern europe . based in switzerland the primary focus of helvetas swiss intercooperation is to reduce poverty through specific sustainable development projects and advisory services . inform the swiss public about its work and raise awareness concerning global injustice and the necessity to stand up for the needs of the world s poorest populations . promote fair trade of products such as cocoa rice and cotton from developing countries . participate in global networks petitions and as a member of alliance sud to take a public stance on development issues within switzerland and internationally . for more information visit the helvetas swiss intercooperation website . international forestry resources and institutions the primary mission of ifri is to examine how governance arrangements shape forest outcomes in terms of both social and environmental dimensions . scholars and policy makers affiliated with ifri are interested in understanding the role of formal and informal institutions in enhancing livelihoods and adaptive capacity of peoples conserving biodiversity and promoting greater sustainability in carbon sequestration . ifri was established by prof. elinor ostrom indiana university who won the 2009 nobel prize in economics . ifri s goal is to carry out rigorous research that can help policy makers and forest users design and implement improved evidence based forest policies . most importantly ifri comprises partner collaborating research institutes in north america latin america asia and africa . as such it draws on localized knowledge and perspectives in developing its research program . at the same time ifri utilizes an institutional analysis and development framework which promotes interdisciplinary research and analysis that enables comparability across regions . specifically some of the goals of ifri s work are to determine how to change processes leading to deforestation in many countries of the world ; assess the nature of tradeoffs among forest conservation livelihoods promotion and carbon sequestration ; and assess the role of institutions and policies in promoting better forest outcomes . the ifri research program was initiated in 1992 . it is currently housed at the school of natural resources and environment at the university of michigan having moved from indiana university in 2006 . for more information visit ifri s website . instituto socioambiental isa aims to defend social indigenous and environmental rights and has pioneered the concept of integrating environmental protection and sustainable development with indigenous groups . isa s work has achieved significant impact by influencing public policies and spearheading new laws while effectively developing 70 million hectares through three separate projects in three different parts of brazil . it has introduced integrated programs from satellite mapping and monitoring against land invasions to sustainable income generation to schools and clinics designed and operated locally to extending formal citizenship and advocating for needed national policy changes . these initiatives have become models for indigenous socio environmental development in brazil and latin america . for more information visit the isa website . landesa landesa works at scale to create opportunities for the world s poorest to lift themselves out of poverty by working side by side with governments and other organizations to strengthen land rights for the landless poor . it provides support for the design and implementation of land systems that reduce poverty encourage women s empowerment promote inclusive economic growth improve nutrition and health reduce and prevent violent conflict and foster environmental stewardship . for more information please visit the landesa website . prisma prisma salvadoran research program on development and environment is a policy oriented research center founded in el salvador in 1993 . its mission is to work for the social and environmental revalorization of rural communities and territories as an integral aspect of development processes . prisma s vision is societies that advance toward greater social justice and environmental sustainability . during its first decade of operations 1993 2002 prisma s program primarily focused on el salvador . in 2003 prisma s program formally incorporated a regional component . the regional focus has grown considerably so much so that by 2006 the organization adopted as its principal goal to consolidate its transformation into a regional reference center that adds value to knowledge mobilization dialogue and advocacy . prisma serves as a regional platform for dialogue critical analysis and action . this platform is an ongoing process a social construction based on the following key elements a shared concern by all participants for improving the livelihoods of poor marginalized communities and promoting sustainable development . a commitment to a genuine dialogue among different perspectives focuses and points of view . fomenting interaction among diverse actors community based organizations ngos