Tropical Forest Forever Facility Briefing Note

This briefing note, developed by a coalition of international environmental, human rights and Indigenous organisations highlights key concerns that must be addressed for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) to be impactful.  

The TFFF, expected to be launched at the next United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil, is emerging as a possibly promising initiative to address the urgent tropical deforestation crisis. In 2023 alone, more than 3.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest were lost—putting the 2030 global goals for halting deforestation dangerously out of reach. The TFFF seeks to create a simple and stable source of financing for tropical forest countries, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities —the frontline stewards of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. 

To ensure that the TFFF delivers real environmental and social impact however, fundamental reforms are still needed:  

• Stronger investment safeguards:  the TFFF must exclude fossil fuels and other harmful industries, adhere to strict Environmental and Social Governance standards, and prevent greenwashing by ensuring investments are treated as contributions—not offsets. 

• Improved monitoring of degradation: The human causes of forest degradation should be tracked to avoid rewarding harmful activities.

• More ambitious forest integrity standards: Using 20% canopy threshold as a uniform standard, including in regions where primary forest canopy cover may exceed 80% will permit significant forest loss before compensation reduction is triggered. 

• Direct funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities: The share of payments dedicated to such communities (minimum 20%) should be channelled directly to them through self-determined mechanisms, with clear criteria and equitable access. 

• Human rights-based eligibility and safeguards: Participation should require alignment with international human rights standards, including protections against land grabs, displacement, and rights violations. 

• Inclusive and democratic governance: Representation must be balanced across financial contributors, with permanent seats, fair nomination processes, and an independent grievance mechanism. 

Done right, the TFFF could address the important funding gap which holds back efforts to protect forests and safeguard the rights of forest communities, but without the changes outlined above, it risks undermining the very goals it was created to achieve. 

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Categorías: Briefing Notes, Finance for forests and peoples, Forest risk commodities