The Americas

In  2008  Rainforest Foundation Fund  will continue supporting work in the Americas,  through its partners organizations Rainforest Foundations Norway and US, and through organizations on site such as ACT Brazil, Etnobotanica in Bolivia. Projects relate to land tenure, security, natural resources management, community and organizational development, cultural revitalization, protection of human rights of the indigenous peoples of Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Belize, Nicaragua, Panama.

2007 Projects


 BELIZE - Indigenous Land Management. The project, related to  the Maya people, involves an effort to achieve local indigenous control over traditional lands.  Monitored by US University of Arizona and Rainforest Foundation US.

BOLIVIA - Planning and implementation of Women's group activities in the Garabata Plant Cultivation and Crafts Production. The project, which is ending this year, focuses on cultivating the garabata plant  and the production of handicrafts with innovative designs.It also  looks at strategies to sell their products. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation Fund.

BRAZIL - Protection of Verde Para Sempre Extractive Reserve. The project, which is a three year project, aims at helping  the rubber  tappers in the protection of Verde Para Sempre extractive Reserve. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation US.

ACRE - Indigenous Education and Resource Management. The  project aims at strengthening the autonomy and capacity of the  indigenous movement through securing differentiated education  and sound resource manangement regimes in the indigenous  territories. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation Norway.

 YANOMAMI  LAND - The continuation of this project is aimed at strengthening the Yanomami association HUTUKARA in their effort  to improve health  and living conditions and the permanent protection of their area. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation US.

 IKPENG- Building the capacity of the lkpeng and neighboring tribes in the Xingu Indigenous Park. This project works on achieving their  full potential in control and management of their 7.5 million acres of prime Amazon rainforest. Monitored by Amazon Conservation Team.

ECUADOR - Integrated Land use Planning in the Shuar Territory of the Kutuku Region. A project continued from last year, it relates to Land titling and participatory community based integrated land use planning, in order to address the threats to its communities, the major and immediate threat being oil development. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation US.

 NICARAGUA - Legal Defense and Resource Management for the Mayangna Indigenous Community of Awas Tingni. The project involves efforts to secure its traditional lands in a heavily forested area  of that country's Atlantic Coast Region. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation US and University of Arizona.

PERU - Protecting the rights of Isolated Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon. This project aims to enhance the quality and  intensity of their efforts and find a permanent solution to the issues  facing these populations. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation Norway.

 SURINAME - Association of Indigenous Village Leaders (VIDS).  This project aims at the promotion of indigenous rights and land  management in the Lower Marowijne Region. Monitored by Rainforest Foundation US.