Mr. Erik Habers, EU Head of Development (Kenya) Union ... · Mr. Stefano Dejak, EU Ambassador to...

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Mr.StefanoDejak,EUAmbassadortoKenyaMr.ErikHabers,EUHeadofDevelopment(Kenya)Mr.DanielPlas,EUHeadofSocialAffairsandEnvironment(Kenya)EuropeanUnionDelegationtoKenyaUnionHouse,P.O.Box45119Nairobi00100,Kenya,

CC: NevenMimica,CommissionerforInternationalCooperation&Development;and,

HansChristianStausboll,HeadofUnitDEVCOD2–DevelopmentCoordinationEastAfricaandRegionalCooperationinEasternandSouthernAfrica

2December2016

YourExcellency:DearMr.AmbassadorStefanoDejak;DearMessrs’ErickHabersandDanielPlas,URGENT–Re:EuropeanUnion,WaterTowerProtectionandClimateChangeMitigationandAdaptationProject(WaTER)inKenya Wetheundersignedorganisationsarewritingtorequestyoururgentassistanceinrespectofthetenderforbidsfor‘TechnicalassistancetotheWaterTowerProtectionandClimateChangeMitigationandAdaptation(WaTER)Programme’(publicationrefEuropeAid/137671/IH/SER/E)whosebiddeadlineclosedyesterday.Theurgencyofthismatterisillustratedbythefactthat–certainlyfromtheperspectiveoftheMt.ElgonOgiekandSengwerpeopleslivingintheWaTERprojectarea–theinstigationoftheWaTERprojecthascoincidedwithrecentforcedevictionsofmembersoftheMt.ElgonOgieknearChepkitale,andathreatofmassevictionmadeyesterday(withonly7daysnotice)inKapyego(ElgeyoMarakwetCounty)bytheKenyaForestService(KFS)directedattheSengweroftheCheranganyHills.Inparticular,weareseekingtheEU’sundertakingtopostponetheselectionofanybidpendingareviewoftheTermsofReference(attachedforeaseofreference),whichintheircurrentforminourview,areatriskofplacingtheEU,Kenyaandanysuccessfulbidderinapositionofnon-compliancewithlegaldutiesand/orresponsibilitiesenshrinedinmultipleinstrumentsofEUpolicyandlaw,internationalhumanrightslaw,andindeedKenyandomesticlaw(notablyits2010Constitution).Indeed,itisourfearthattheWaTERprojectasawholeisatriskofsodoing,butduetotheimminenceofbidselection,ouremphasisinthisletterisonthebiddingprocess.1Inlightoftheurgencyofthecontextinwhichthisletterisbeingwritten,weaskforanacknowledgementofreceiptofthisletterbyreturn,andthattherequestedundertakingbecommunicatedtothesignatoriestothisletterassoonaspossible,andnolaterthanThursday8thDecember2016.Intheabsenceofsuchanundertakingwewillhavenochoicebuttoconsiderlegal

1 WewouldliketohaveraisedthesematterswiththerelevantmembersoftheEUdelegationinKenya

directlyinthefirstinstance,andpreferablyinperson,beforeinvolvingothers,butwehopeyouwillunderstandthatpurelyduetotheurgencyofthesituationweareputtingthisinwritingandcopyingtheofficesofCommissionerNevenMimicaandHeadofUnitDEVCOD2,Mr.HansChristianStausboll.

avenues,howeverwewouldmuchprefertheopportunitytoavoidunnecessarycostonbothsidesandthespaceandopportunityforaconstructivedialogue.Forthisreason,wewouldalsobegratefulforameetingatthedelegation’searliestconveniencetodiscussmattersinperson.WewouldliketomakeclearattheoutsetthatwedonotwanttopositionourselvesinoppositiontotheEU’sWaTERprojectintotoorbeperceivedassuch,butratherascriticalfriendskeentoensurethatthefactualbasis,aims,assumptions,risksandgeneralmethodologyoftheprojectreallycandeliverthepublicpolicyobjectiveswhichthesignatorieswouldbroadlysupport–includingtherestorationandprotectionoftheforestsofMt.ElgonandCheranganyHills.OurmajorconcernasregardstheTermsofReferencefortheTechnicalAssistancetenderforbidsisthattworelatedandfundamentalissuesarenotaddressed,namely:

(1) thefactthattheownershipoftheseforestsishighlycontestedandcurrentlyunderconsiderationinKenya’sdomesticcourts,withtheOgiekandSengwerseekingtoenforcetheirrighttoeffectivecontrol,ownershipandprotectionoftheirancestralforestsonMt.ElgonandCheranganyrespectivelyintwoseparateHighCourtchallenges.Noconservationprojectcansucceedwithoutthisforesttenurematterbeingaddressedfirst.

(2) thatthedegradationoftheforestsatMt.ElgonandCheranganyhasarisenunderKenyaForestServicegovernanceandwillcontinuetooccurunderitsaegis,unlessanduntiltheownershipoftheseforestsisresolvedinfavourofitsancestralownersandstewards,andtheroleofstateconservationbodiesisre-orientatedtosupportingthecommunityownerstoconservetheirforestswithtechnicalsupportfromthoseagencies.

Modernconservationscienceandbestpractice(supportedbyinternationalenvironmentallawandhumanrightslaw)demonstratesthat:2

(a) communityinvolvementas'helperstotheGovernment'(out-dated'participatory'forestry)isaninsufficientconditionforsustainableconservation(letalonebadlyneededrehabilitation);andthatrecognitionofcommunityownershiponconservationconditions,isthenecessarytippingpointtoenableeffectiveprotectionofindigenousforests;

(b) oldstrategiesthatassumethatresourcesofnationalandlocalimportancemustbeownedbygovernmentsareunproductive,especiallyinmodernagrarianstateswhere

2 Foracomprehensivesurveyofsources,see:Seymour,LaVina,Hite,(2014)Evidencelinkingcommunity-

leveltenureandforestcondition:Anannotatedbibliography,ClimateandLandUseAlliance(CLUA)(http://www.climateandlandusealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Community_level_tenure_and_forest_condition_bibliography.pdf).Seeforexample:CIFORwhosesurveycomparing40protectedareasand33community-managedforestsin16countriesfoundthatcommunity-managedforestswereover6timesbetteratavoidingdeforestationthanprotectedareas(Porter-Bollandetal(2011)Communitymanagedforestsandforestprotectedareas:Anassessmentoftheirconservationeffectivenessacrossthetropics,ForestEcologyandManagement,http://www.cifor.org/online-library/browse/view-publication/publication/3461.html)ResearchfortheWorldBank’sIndependentEvaluationGroup(IEG)foundthat:”InLatinAmerica,whereindigenousareascanbeidentified,theyarefoundtohaveextremelylargeimpactsonreducingdeforestation”(NelsonA,ChomitzKM(2011)EffectivenessofStrictvs.MultipleUseProtectedAreasinReducingTropicalForestFires:AGlobalAnalysisUsingMatchingMethods.PLoSONE6(8)(http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0022722).

Thisapproachissupportedbyinternationalhumanrightslaw,notablybyreferencetothetreatiesandjurisprudenceoftheUNandtheAfricanCharteronHuman&Peoples’Rights(ACHPR),andinternationalenvironmentallawincludingArticles8(j)and10(c)oftheUNConventiononBiologicalDiversity(1992)asillustratedbyDecisionVII/28onProtectedAreas,adoptedbythe7thConferenceofPartiestotheConventiononBiologicalDiversityin2004(e.g.atpara22).Further,theIUCN’sWorldConservation(WCC)CongressinHawaiiinSeptember2016madeclearresolutionscallingfortherecognitionoftherightsofindigenouspeoplesandlocalcommunitieswhereprotectedareashavebeencreatedontheirterritoriesandlands,seehttp://www.forestpeoples.org/topics/iucn/news/2016/10/key-outcomes-iucn-s-world-conservation-congress-indigenous-peoplesinrelationWCCMotions80and29.

devolutionarydemocracyistheconstitutionalmodeofgovernance;manycommunitiesallaroundtheworldservewiselyasowner-conservatorsofnationallyimportantassetsunderstateoversight;and,

(c) thatKenya,andtheseforestsinparticular,aregiftedwiththepresenceoftraditionalforestdwellers(theSengwerandtheMt.ElgonOgiek)whoareatthispointprobablytheonlypartieswhowillbeabletorehabilitateandsustainconservationoverthelongterm,becausetheseforestsarethelastoftheirancestrallandsandtheycannotsurviveculturally,socio-economicallyandorganisationallyaspeopleswithouttheirforestsbeingintact.

Thisisnotanuncommonstory,butonewithparticularpertinencetodayinKenyaas,inthecontextoftheSengwerandMt.ElgonOgiek:

§ theirownershipisnowrecognisedintheConstitution,accordingtoArticle63(2)(d)oftheConstitutionofKenya(2010);

§ theyarehighlymobilisedinprotectingtheirrights,includingtakingtheircasestocourt,partlyinresponsetothegrosshumanrightsviolationstheyhavebeenexperiencingformanydecades;3

§ theirsistercommunity,theMauOgiek,exhaustedlocalremediesandhasitscaseintheAfricanCourt,thefirstlandcaseagainstanAfricanGovernmentwhichtheCourthastakenup(rulinginMarch2017);and

§ theyhavemadeaclearproposalforaconstructivesolution4totheproblemsfacingthemandtheirforests,namelythatinreturnforacknowledgementthattheseforestsaretheirancestrallands(anddesignatedascommunitylands,andformalregistrationofwhichisprovidedbytheCommunityLandAct)theconcernedcommunitiesarefullypreparedtohavethisownership/entitlementsubjecttodenialof:therighttoeverselltheseforestedlands,clearintactforest,extendhabitationbeyondcurrentglades,andsoon.Theyarealsoverykeentoworkwithcompetentforestauthoritiesandexpertstoorganiserehabilitationandrestoration.

Furthermore,thiswillingnessandorganisationhasbeendemonstratedinpracticeundertheauspicesoftheIUCN’s(‘WhakataneMechanism’)conflictresolutionprocess.Thishasresultedinacommunityscoutsscheme,wherebyOgiekscoutsweretrainedbyKWSandequippedtomonitor,identifyandapprehendillegalcharcoalburnersandpoachersfromnon-Ogiekcommunitiesbasedoutsideoftheforest,andescortthoseindividualstoKFSandKWSforarrest.Thereisnothingradicalaboutthisstrategy.Someofthemostgloballyimportantnationalforestsareowner-conservedbyforestpeoples,withtheXinguNationalParkinBrazilbeingagoodexample.There,forestdwellersareveryeffectivelyandefficientlyprotectingmillionsofhectaresofforestandguaranteeingthehealthycontinuationoftheenvironmentalservicesthusprovided.KenyanlawalsosupportstherightsoftheOgiekandtheSengwer,soonewayoranotheranyconservationprojectneedstoworkwithinthisreality,andwouldbeindangeroffailingorcausingharm(includinghumanrightsviolations)wereitnottodoso.ItisimperativethattheWaTER

3 Seebywayofbackground,interalia,thereportbyMilkaChepkorirKuto,herselfaSengwerwoman,on

theimpactsofevictionsonwomenandtheirstruggletoprotecttheirrights(seehttp://www.forestpeoples.org/topics/rights-based-conservation/publication/2016/sengwer-women-s-experiences-evictions).SeealsotheinterventionsaddressingtheevictionsanddiscriminationfacedbytheMt.ElgonOgiekandSengweroftheCheranganyperrepresentationsmadebytheUNCommitteeontheEliminationofRacialDiscrimination(CERD)totheGovernmentofKenyain2013(http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CERD/Shared%20Documents/KEN/INT_CERD_ALE_KEN_7099_E.pdf)and2014(http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CERD/EarlyWarning/Kenya7April2014.pdf),andtherepresentationsoftheUNSpecialRapporteuronIndigenousPeoples(J.Anaya)in2014(http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14163&).

4 Thissolutionwascommunicatedpubliclyinthefollowingarticlein‘TheStar’newspaper:http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/07/12/does-burning-homes-save-the-water-towers-quite-the-opposite_c1384027

projectasawhole,andtheTechnicalAssistanceTermsofReferenceinparticular,bereconsideredandrefinedinordertoproperlyaddressthisreality.ThismayofcourserequiredialoguebetweentheMinistryofEnvironmentandNaturalResourcesandKenyaForestService,inordertoadjustthepolicycontexttoonethatacceptsthe‘owner-conservator’arrangementasthebestroutetofulsomeandlong-lastingconservation.Beyondnationallaw,wearealsoconcernedthatactionsundertakenasaresultofthecurrentTermsofReferencefortheTechnicalAssistancetendermaynotbecompatiblewithEUpolicyandlaw.Areasofpotentialconflictinclude,interalia,theEU’sexternalpolicyonindigenouspeoples;theEUConsensusforDevelopmentandproposednewEuropeanConsensusforDevelopment;theEUHumanRightsActionPlan,andhumanrightsobligationsbindingontheinstitutionsoftheEUbyvirtueoftheCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion(CFR)andrelevantjurisprudenceoftheEuropeanCourtofJustice.5 Itisalsoimperativetoavoidthemistakeofperceivingthe‘CommunityForestAssociation'(CFA)modelasaproxyforsuccessful,humanrightscompliantforestmanagement.InKenyatheCFAsarenotforestcommunities,butrepresentforest-adjacentinterests,whetherlogging,forestfarmingorother(oftenelite)interestgroups.Forest-adjacentcommunitiesdoandshouldhaverights,andwhereproperlyformedandgenuinelycomprisingforestadjacentpopulationswithtraditionalaccessrightstofuel-woodandsimilarassetsofforests,traditionalforestdwellerswelcomeengagingwiththem.However,bylegaldefinition,theCFAdiscriminateagainsttheOgiekandSengwerastheyliveintheirancestralforests,andCFAsconcernonlycommunitieslivingadjacenttoforests.TheCFAthuspresentsamodelthatcanberaciallydiscriminatoryandpronetooffendingotherbasichumanrights,aswellasfailingtotakeadvantageofthecapacityoftheMt.ElgonOgiekandSengwertoprovidecost-free,sustainableandcommittedrehabilitationandconservationasowner-conservators.TheTermsofReferenceandwiderWaTERprojectneedsurgentlyreviewingsoasto:

a. layoutclearlyastrategyofexploringandpilotingthemostinnovativestrategiespossibletobringtheseforestsbackfromthebrink,whichdoesnotsettleforpresentfailingstrategies.Thismeansventuringmorethoroughlyintothefundamentalissues,includingthequestionofcommunitylandtenure;

b. showawarenessthattheownershipoftheseforestsiscontestedandthatthisissuemustbeaddressedbytheprojectandinfullcompliancewiththeEUandKenya’slegalhumanrightsobligations.TheConstitutioniscrystalclearonboththerightsof,andthesupportthatmustbegivento,preciselythesekindofverypoormarginalisedcommunities;

c. assuretheGovernmentofKenyathatresolvingtheseissueswillrequireworkingwiththefullrangeofparties,includingtheMt.ElgonOgiekandSengwerthemselves(andothernon-Stateparties)aswellasallrelevantbodiesoftheState,includingespeciallycountygovernments,becauseowner-conservatorapproacheshavebeenshowntobealogicalpath,workable,cheap,anddefinitelyworthyofbeingpilotedintheseareas.ItwouldalsobeworthyoftheEUtomakecleartobiddersthatthenewForestConservationandRehabilitationAct,2016makesprovisionforpubliclands(thepresentstatusoftheseforests)tobetransferredtocommunitylandsonacasebycasebasis;thisprovidesausefulopeningtotrialthesecutting-edgeapproaches.

5 JointStaffWorkingDocumentImplementingEUExternalPolicyonIndigenousPeoples,(2016)ontheEU’s

respectfortheUnitedNationsDeclarationontheRightsofIndigenousPeoples,particularlywithregardtofree,priorinformedconsent(p.9)andtheEU’srights-basedapproachtodevelopmentcooperationwhendealingwithindigenouspeoples(p.13);EuropeanConsensusonDevelopment(2006),primarilyparagraphs7,13,18,86,92,97,101;EUActionPlanonHumanRightsandDemocracy(2015),primarilypriorities10,17c;SeeCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,bindingontheEUbyvirtueofArticle6(1)oftheLisbonTreaty.

Ifacautionarytaleisneeded,theWorldBank’sNaturalResourceManagementProject(NRMP)relatedtothesamegeographicalarea,hadsubstantiallythesamepublicpolicyobjectivesasWaTER,andyetresultedinwhatwasahighlydamningInspectionPanelreport.ThePanelfoundnon-compliancewithWorldBankoperationalpolicies,includingitsIndigenousPeoplesPolicy(OP4.10)andInvoluntaryResettlement(OP4.12)invariousregardsbecauseitsprojectsustainedtheconditionsforfurtherevictionsbyfailingtoadequatelyidentify,addressormitigatethefactthattheinstitutionitwasfunding(KFS)wasandremainscommittedtoeviction"before,duringandaftertheconclusionoftheNRMP".6IntheviewoftheMtElgonOgiekandCheranganySengwerforestcommunities,theWorldBankprojectwastedmillionsandsquanderedavaluableopportunitytoachieveawin-winintheprotectionofKenya’sforestsandpeoples,andtheirinputtothedesignandexecutionoftheWaTERprojectwouldbeinvaluableinensuringitssuccess.Yourssincerely,

TomLomax Dr.JustinKenrickLawyer,HeadofStrategy(tlomax@forestpeoples.org) SeniorPolicyAdvisorLegal&HumanRightsProgrammeCoordinator justin@forestpeoples.orgForestPeoplesProgramme(FPP) 1cFossewayBusinessCentre,StratfordRoadMoreton-in-Marsh,GL569NQ,England,Tel:+44(0)1608652893,Fax:+44(0)1608652878FPPisaUK-registeredCharity(No.1082158)andregisteredasanon-profitStichtingintheNetherlands.FPPwasfoundedin1990,andworkstosupporttherightsofindigenousandotherpeopleswholiveinforestsanddependonthemfortheirlivelihoods.Weworktocreatepoliticalspaceforforestpeoplestosecuretheirrights,controltheirlandsanddecidetheirownfutures.FPPhasSpecialConsultativeStatustotheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC),andObserverStatuswiththeAfricanCommissiononHuman&PeoplesRights(ACHPR).

RichardWainwrightCommunicationsManager(richard@fern.org)FERNBrusselsoffice:Rued'Edimbourg,26,1050Bruxelles,Belgium,Tel:+3228944690UKoffice:1cFossewayBusinessCentre,StratfordRoad,Moreton-in-Marsh,GL569NQ,EnglandFERNisanon-governmentalorganisation(NGO)andaDutchStichtingcreatedin1995tokeeptrackoftheEuropeanUnion’sinvolvementinforestsandcoordinateNGOactivitiesattheEuropeanlevel.Ourworkcentresonforestsandforestpeoples’rightsandtheissuesthataffectthemsuchastradeandinvestmentandclimatechange.Allofourworkisdoneinclosecollaborationwithsocialandenvironmentalorganisationsandmovementsacrosstheworld.

6 WorldBankInspectionPanelReport(2014),atparagraph27(see

http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/191221468050686466/pdf/880650REVISED0001400INSP0R201400001.pdf).SeealsoarticleinTheGuardian(2014)byEnvironmentEditor,JohnVidal,‘WorldBankaccusesitselfoffailingtoprotectKenyaforestdwellers’https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/sep/29/world-bank-kenya-forest-dwellers).

Thefollowingorganisations,thoughnotsignatoriestothisletterwhenoriginallysenton2ndDecember2016,haveagreedtoaddtheirorganisations’logostotheletterheadandtheirsignaturebelowasanexpressionoftheirsupportforthecontentsofthisletterandtherequestsmade.Thesesignaturesandtheabove-listedsignatureofDr.JustinKenrickwereaddedtothe2ndDecember2016letterandsenttotheEUbywayofa9thDecember2016update:

JohannaSandahlPresident(johanna.sandahl@ssnc.se)SwedishSocietyforNatureConservation(SSNC)Visitoraddress:Åsögatan15;Postaladdress:Box625,SE-11691,Stockholm,SwedenTel:+46(0)703578023;Telswitchboard:+46(0)87026500TheSSNCisaleadingSwedishcharitableorganisationconcernedwithnatureprotection.TheSSNCworkstospreadknowledge,chartenvironmentalthreats,proposesolutionsandinfluencepoliticiansandauthorities,bothnationallyandinternationally.Underdemocraticforms,weworkregionallyin24countybranchesandlocallyin270communitybranches.

Mr.Olli-PekkaHaavistoWaterGrouppersonincharge(olli-pekka.haavisto@maanystavat.fi)FriendsoftheEarthFinland(FoEF)Address:Mechelininkatu36B1,00260Helsinki,FinlandTel:+358458863958;Fax:+35822371670FoEFisoneofover30nationalorganisationswhichalongwiththousandsoflocalgroupsmakeupFoE-Europe.FoE-EuropeisthesinglelargestgrassrootsenvironmentalnetworkinEurope.FoEcampaignsontoday'smosturgentenvironmentalandsocialissues,challengingthecurrentmodelofeconomicandcorporateglobalization,andpromotingsolutionsthatwillhelptocreateenvironmentallysustainableandsociallyjustsocieties.FoEseekstoincreasepublicparticipationanddemocraticdecision-making,withgreaterdemocracybeingbothanendinitselfandvitaltotheprotectionoftheenvironmentandthesoundmanagementofnaturalresources.HannaMatinpuroDirector(hanna.matinpuro@siemenpuu.org)SiemenpuuFoundationAddress:Lintulahdenkatu10,FI-00500Helsinki,FinlandTel:+358(0)505691189TheSiemenpuuFoundationwasfoundedin1998byfifteenFinnishenvironmentalanddevelopmentpolicyCSOs.Itsupportsenvironmentalworkandglobalcooperationofcivilsocietyorganisationsindevelopingcountries.Inadditiontoenvironmentalissues,focusisalsoonhumanrights,socialjusticeandculturaldiversity.Siemenpuu’ssupportischanneledtoprojectsplannedandimplementedlocallybyCSOs.Since2002Siemenpuuhasfundedmorethan600environmentalprojectsinover50developingcountries.

KateGearyForestCampaignManager(kgeary@bankinformationcenter.org)BankInformationCenter–Europe(BIC-Europe)Address:Sarphatistraat30,1018GL,Amsterdam,TheNetherlandsBICEurope,Tel:+447393189175,BICinWashingtonDC,Tel:+1(202)7377752BICpartnerswithcivilsocietyindevelopingandtransitioncountriestoinfluencetheWorldBankandotherinternationalfinancialinstitutions(IFIs)topromotesocialandeconomicjusticeandecologicalsustainability.BICisanindependent,non-profit,non-governmentalorganizationthatadvocatesfortheprotectionofrights,participation,transparency,andpublicaccountabilityinthegovernanceandoperationsoftheWorldBankGroupandregionaldevelopmentbanks.Thismissionrestsonthecorepremisethatsociallyandenvironmentallysustainabledevelopmentisnotpossiblewithouttheinformedandactiveparticipationoflocalcommunities.Dr.LauraMillerExecutiveDirector(laura@synchronicityearth.org)SynchronicityEarth32aThurloePlace,London,SW72HQ,Phone:+44(0)2075810100SynchronicityEarthisaUKregisteredcharitythatprovidesaframeworkforenlightenedenvironmentalgiving,globally.Wefillanimportantniche:onlyfourpercentofUK(andsixpercentofUS)philanthropygoestoenvironmentalcharities.Ouraimistogrowtheamountofsupportavailabletohigh-priorityconservationactionglobally.Thisisvital:thehealthoftheplanetisathresholdissue.Withoutahealthybiosphere,welosethepossibilityofpeace,security,healthandprosperityforall.Ourrigorousresearchidentifieseffectivepeopleandorganisationstacklingthemosturgentenvironmentalproblems.

SimonCounsellExecutiveDirector(simonc@rainforestuk.org)RainforestFoundationUK(RFUK)Address:233aKentishTownRoad,LondonNW52JT,UnitedKingdomTel+44(0)2074850193;Fax+44(0)2074850315RFUKiscommittedtobothhumanrightsandenvironmentalprotection.Indigenouspeoples'participationaswellastheirknowledgeofthelocalecologyarenowrecognisedasthemosteffectivewayofprotectingtheenvironment.Wehavebeenhelpingindigenousandlocalcommunitiestoprotectmillionsofhectaresofrainforestoverthelast26yearsandwewillcontinueempoweringforestpeopletosecurelandsandsustainlivesforfuturegenerations.