News and success stories
Stay in the loop with news of ongoing campaigns and successes in the fight against rainforest destruction.
© RdR/Mathias Rittgerott
The international community has spoken: NO to oil from DR Congo!
African environmental activists in DR Congo delivered our petition – with more than 106,650 signatures – to the office of the Congolese president in Kinshasa on Monday.
Current petitions
Malaysia: Wholesale deforestation looms in Sarawak
The government of the Malaysian state of Sarawak is opening no less than 1.27 million hectares of forest for logging. Indigenous people fear for their land and livelihood.
Tanzania: Violence against Maasai people escalating
Numerous Maasai have been injured by security forces. The indigenous people are resisting expulsion from their traditional land.
Borneo: Freedom for Willem Hengki – an open letter to the court
The village of Kinipan in Borneo is fighting back against deforestation for palm oil: An open letter to the court speaks out against criminalizing indigenous people.
The conservation community mourns Sarapo Ka'apor
The indigenous Kaapor people of Brazil are calling on the authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of their leader Sarapo Ka'apor.
No reprieve: For life and territory, COVID-19 and resistance to the mining pandemic
New report - Coalition Against the Mining Pandemic - Latin America unmasks the unbridled advance of mining during the pandemic.
Deutsche Bank rejects EACOP pipeline project
The planned EACOP oil pipeline in Africa is running out of financiers: Deutsche Bank has now rejected the fossil-fuel project.
Open letter to Elon Musk from Indonesia: NO to nickel mining for EVs!
Nickel mining, smelting and factory construction are destroying the rainforest, polluting the ocean and wrecking human livelihoods: an open letter to Elon Musk.
2021: World loses 11.1 million hectares of tropical forest
The world lost 11.1 million hectares of tropical forest in 2021, with particularly alarming developments in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
More than expected: 73,300 tree species on Earth
A new study concludes that an estimated 73,300 tree species exist on Earth, with 9,200 of them still undiscovered by science.
A man-made disaster: Mega-plantations in the rainforests of Sumatra
Mega-plantations are consuming millions of acres of forest and destroying the livelihoods of smallholders. A brief look at the reality of "Food Estates" in North Sumatra.
Ecuador: The Sápara people reclaim 251,503 hectares of rainforest
With the support of Rainforest Rescue, the indigenous Sápara people of Ecuador have regained ownership of their rainforest after months of legal battles.
Moorim paper company destroys pristine forests in Papua, Indonesia
Papua, a paradise for biodiversity and indigenous culture, is being devastated for paper. An investigation details the destruction of pristine forests in Papua, Indonesia.
Development banks shirk responsibility for victims of land grabbing and violence
DEG has sold its shares in the Congolese plantation company PHC, leaving local people vulnerable to the whims of the new investors.
Ecuador: Constitutional Court backs indigenous people in fight against gold mining
Illegal gold mining concessions in the territory of the indigenous A'i Cofán must revoked. The Constitutional Court upheld the complaints of the indigenous people.
A victory for land rights: Penyang village prevails in court
An encouraging precedent: Mr. Hiden from Penyang in Borneo prevailed against a palm oil company. According to the court ruling, the company must return the stolen land.
Namibia: Canadian oil company reportedly destroys pristine bushland
ReconAfrica, a Canadian oil company, is reported to have destroyed bushland in Namibia. The company has announced plans to drill three to six additional test wells in 2022.
72,643 signatures delivered to UN over Africa deals with Bolloré
It was a wake-up call for three UN agencies: On Monday, Rainforest Rescue and the Oakland Institute sent them a petition with 72,643 signatures.
Maasai fears of eviction are growing
In Tanzania, the situation for the pastoralist Maasai people is coming to a head: Plans by the authorities to evict tens of thousands of people are taking shape.
Defenders of Kinipan Forest in Borneo taken to court
The village of Kinipan in the mountains of Borneo has become a symbol of the dispute over forest rights. Now their village chief is on trial.
Petition with 213,432 signatures delivered to European Commission
The home stretch was breathtaking, with the number of signatures going up dramatically in the closing hours – 213,432 supporters had signed our petition to the EU.
Ecuador: Pipeline rupture causes oil spill in rainforest
The OCP pipeline was built with a million-euro loan from Westdeutsche Landesbank. Indigenous organizations complain about the pollution of rivers in the Amazon region.
Ivory trade in the EU is (almost) history
The protection of elephants is making headway: the European Commission is finally moving to close loopholes in the trade in ivory within Europe.