Forest Peoples Programme (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. FPP works with forest peoples in
South America,
Africa, and
Asia, to help them secure their
rights, build up their own organisations and negotiate with governments and companies as to how economic development and conservation are best achieved on their lands.
Forests cover 31% of total land area of the planet.
Of that, 12% are designated for the conservation of biological diversity and nearly all are inhabited.
Many of the peoples, who live in and have customary rights to their forests, have developed ways of life and
traditional knowledge that are attuned to their forest environments.
Yet, forest policies commonly treat forests as empty lands controlled by the state and available for ‘development’ –
colonisation,
logging
Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars.
Logging is the beginning of a supply chain ...
,
plantations, dams, mines, oil wells, gas pipelines and
agribusiness
Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy,
in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise.
The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit w ...
.
These encroachments often force forest peoples out of their forest homes.
Many conservation schemes to establish wilderness reserves also deny forest peoples’ rights.
History
Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) was founded in 1990 in response to the forest crisis, specifically to support indigenous forest peoples’ struggles to defend their lands and livelihoods. It registered as a non-governmental human rights Dutch Stichting in 1997, and then later, in 2000, as a UK charity, No. 1082158 and a company limited by guarantee (England & Wales) Reg. No. 3868836, with a registered office in the
UK.
FPP's focus, in the beginning, came from the expertise and relationships that the small founding team had with specific communities, primarily in the Guyanas and in South and
South East Asia.
Forest Peoples Programme has grown into a respected and successful organisation that now operates right around the tropical forest belt where it serves to bridge the gap between policy makers and forest peoples. Through
advocacy
Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...
, practical projects and
capacity building, FPP supports forest peoples to deal directly with the outside powers, regionally, nationally, and internationally that shape their lives and futures. Forest Peoples Programme has contributed to, and continues supporting, the growing indigenous peoples' movement whose voice is gaining influence and attention on the world-wide stage.
Publications
Forest Peoples Programme produces a wide range of publications, including reports, briefings, training manuals, papers, submissions to human rights bodies, statements, letters, urgent action requests, as well as news articles.
See also
*
FERN
*
World Rainforest Movement
The World Rainforest Movement (WRM) is an international initiative created to strengthen the global movement in defense of forests, in order to fight deforestation and forest degradation. It was founded in 1986 by activists from around the world.
...
*
Indigenous rights
*
UNFCCC
*
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP or DOTROIP) is a legally non-binding resolution passed by the United Nations in 2007. It delineates and defines the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, including th ...
References
External links
Official websiteForest Peoples Programme
at UK Central Register of Charities
, type = Non-ministerial government department
, seal =
, seal_caption =
, logo = Charity Commission for England and Wales logo.svg
, logo_caption =
, formed =
, preceding1 =
, d ...
{{Authority control
Indigenous rights
Organizations established in 1990
Environmental organisations based in the United Kingdom
Indigenous rights organizations
Charities based in Gloucestershire
International forestry organizations
Forest conservation organizations