NEWS
On World Rainforest Day, religious leaders representing the world’s major faith traditions issue a declaration in support of indigenous peoples in the Amazon basin
Attacks against the lives and rights of indigenous peoples have increased significantly over the past decade, constituting a human rights emergency. Following several complaints lodged
IRI launches new issue primer on forest restoration as contribution to UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
The IRI partnership has launched a new issue primer for religious leaders and faith communities called, Forest Restoration: Healing Tropical Forests for Spiritual Renewal. The new IRI
IRI Colombia launches campaign to promote UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
On the eve of World Environment Day, June 4th, IRI Colombia launched a country-wide campaign as a contribution to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
IRI DRC planning meetings with government leaders, parliamentary groups and religious delegations
During the month of June, Reverend Matthieu, the National Facilitator of IRI DRC will prepare the groundwork to meet with the President of the Republic,
IRI DRC prepares strategy to influence national policies on forests and land use
IRI DRC has convened a team of five experts in collaboration with religious denominations members of the IRI DRC Advisory Council to produce an advocacy
IRI Colombia launches issue primer on forest restoration for UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
IRI Colombia is the first IRI country program to launch a national issue primer on forest restoration. The primer is a manual intended for religious leaders
They are irreplaceable. Not only do they exhibit creation in its most exquisite beauty, they provide millions of people with food, shelter, livelihoods, medicine and clean water. They are also the best climate solution we have. If protected and restored, rainforests can provide an indispensable contribution to sustainable development. Instead, they are at grave risk.
Extractive industries and land conversion for agricultural products like beef, soy, palm oil, and pulp and paper are driving tropical deforestation. In the last decade alone, an area of forest the size of the United Kingdom, France and Germany combined has been lost forever. This destruction is unnecessary and is undermining efforts by the international community to address climate change, sustainable development and human rights.
A coalition of indigenous peoples, government, business, science, NGO and civil society partners are working to halt deforestation. However, to achieve the speed and scale of change required, we need to bring the moral, ethical and spiritual dimension of humanity to bear more strongly on these efforts.
ABOUT US
The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is an international, multi-faith alliance that aims to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. It is a platform for religious leaders to work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society and business on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard those that serve as their guardians.
We focus on three main goals:
Raise awareness of the tropical deforestation crisis by equipping religious leaders with the science, information and tools needed to serve as effective advocates for rainforest protection.
WHERE WE WORK
We work globally and in major rainforest countries to support religious leaders and spiritual communities that are mobilizing to protect rainforests.
We currently work in Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia and Peru, which together contain 70% of the world’s remaining tropical forests.
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates and see how you can make a difference.
THE PARTNERSHIP
