NEWS
IRI Peru delivers opinion column, bringing together religious, indigenous and civil society leaders to call for protection of forests
IRI Peru worked with three leaders to develop a firm opinion piece on the urgency of curbing threats to forests and life, especially in the
IRI Indonesia publishes february newsletter
In the month of February, IRI Indonesia published a bulletin under the theme “Religious and Cultural Collaboration: Supporting the Sustainability of Kasepuhan Karang Indigenous Forests.”
IRI Colombia prepares for Biodiversity Summit
IRI Colombia actively participated in the workshop “Challenges and Opportunities for Updating National Biodiversity Plans from the Colombian Amazon and on the Road to COP16,”
IRI Brazil completes pilot phase of Carbon Neutral Churches Project through engagement in forest restoration
A total of five religious institutions were selected for the pilot phase of a Carbon Neutral Churches Project: Assembléia de Deus Church (Pará), Santa Maria
IRI Peru defends Wampis people against invasion of their territory by illegal mining
The Vicariate of Jaén, Monsignor Alfredo Vizcarra, issued a statement in solidarity with the people of the Wampis and asked for action from the state
IRI Indonesia participates in event on religion and environmentalism
IRI Indonesia participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the theme ‘Religious Identity and Environmental Activism: Actors, strategies, and Networks’. Three religious leaders from
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.
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