Success stories
The Indigenous Gayo of Pining harvest their first fruit while defending the Leuser ecosystem
After three years of growing a plantation in the Leuser ecosystem, the Indigenous people harvest fruits and defend the rainforest from destruction.
More than 42,000 people demand: “Protect human rights when promoting foreign trade”
On May 15, Rainforest Rescue presented the petition “Germany’s aluminum boom, Guinea’s environmental doom” to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Indigenous people of Sumatra protect mangroves with strength and courage
The film Indigenous People Protect their Mangrove Village, AWF shows how Simpang Lhee is becoming a “mangrove village” using Indigenous laws.
Deutsche Bahn pulls out of proposed rail and port project in Amazonia
After a year of campaigning, Deutsche Bahn (DB) has informed us that it no longer intends to participate in the GPM rail and export port project in the Amazon rainforest.
Liberia: Ecoguards patrol hundreds of kilometers on foot to protect chimpanzees
The 32 Ecoguards supported by Rainforest Rescue in Grebo-Krahn National Park covered 1,050 kilometers on foot to protect chimpanzees in 2024.
Tanzania: World Bank drops harmful project
The World Bank has discontinued funding for the REGROW project in Tanzania following harsh criticism. 80,935 people had called for this in a petition.
Ecuador: Spider monkeys reintroduced into the rainforest
Our Ecuadorian partner organization AmaZoonico recorded the moment that three spider monkeys were released into the wild after years of preparation.
No EU money for GPM rail and port project in Brazil!
Together with our Brazilian partners, we visited the European Commission in Brussels and succeeded in preventing the GPM project from getting funded.
Indonesia: The Tongka rainforest is safe!
Thanks to our partner Save Our Borneo, the village of Tongka on the Barito River in Borneo now has an official title to nearly 6,000 hectares of its ancestral forest!
Indonesia: Striking a blow against the bird mafia
A truck carrying 6,514 birds crammed into 216 crates was seized at a port in Sumatra. This is the outcome of the tireless work of our partner organization, Flight.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Government calls off oil auction!
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo canceled the auction of 27 oil concessions! Local activists opposed the project with the support of Rainforest Rescue.
Indonesia: New forest on old plantation land – the village of Simenakhenak
The Sumatran village of Simenakhenak is recovering 252 hectares of forest with the help of Rainforest Rescue. A new forest of coffee and native trees is being created.
Verdict in Indonesia: A healthy environment is a human right
A court on Sulawesi acquitted Haslilin and Andi Firmansyah from Torobulu on October 1, 2024. According to the court, everyone has the human right to a healthy environment.
Indonesia: The wild orangutans are back!
Good news from our projects in the Leuser Ecosystem in Sumatra: Orangutans are returning to the reforested areas, and our rangers are curbing poaching.
Thanks to everyone who supported Kinipan!
During the abrupt visit of the Minister for Environment and Forestry on September 7 in Kinipan, we presented her with the petition “Please help us save Kinipan forest!”
The people have spoken: Tripa peat swamp forest, home of Sumatran orangutans, needs ironclad protection!
Our partner APEL Green Aceh delivered the petition “Indonesia: Protect the habitat of Tripa’s orangutans!” with more than 65,000 signatures.
Tanzania: Government backs down after Maasai protests
Tanzania’s government tried to strip 100,000 Maasai of voting rights to force them from their lands. After protests, the plan was reversed.
Court suspends deforestation of Argentina‘s Chaco
A court order gives the environment and the people suffering from the corruption-driven deforestation of Chaco a reprieve.
Indonesia: Prestigious award for Papua’s Indigenous Awyu activists
A great honor for the Indigenous Awyu from Boven Digoel in southern Papua: the Indonesian Tasrif Prize for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
DRC: Expulsion of the Batwa people ruled unjust
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has issued a historic ruling in favor of the Indigenous Batwa: They have the right to return to their ancestral lands.
Indonesia: The Afsya people secure 40,000 hectares of forest in West Papua!
40,000 hectares of West Papuan rainforest are safe! Seven Indigenous communities and their forests have been officially recognized – a major victory after years of struggle.
Brazil: Smallholder families successfully defend land against agribusiness giant
Brazilian smallholder families received legal assistance to take on an agribusiness giant and fight for their ancestral land.
Borneo’s Dayak people a big step closer to formal recognition
A success after ten years of struggle for their rights: The Indigenous Dayak Tomun of Kubung village have applied for recognition as a community under Indigenous law.
World Bank suspends controversial financing in Tanzania
The World Bank is suspending funding for the controversial REGROW project in Tanzania. The Bank gave Rainforest Rescue its assurance during its Spring Meetings.
Rescued: Proboscis monkeys, leopard cats and black-capped lories returned to the wild
Our Indonesian partner, Flight, rescues wildlife from smugglers, fights the trade in exotic birds, and releases songbirds back into the wild.
EU puts a stop to abusive SLAPP lawsuits
The EU is finally getting a directive to combat abusive lawsuits, or SLAPPs, that will make it harder for corporations and powerful individuals to silence critics.