Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Announces Three New Global Forest Partnerships Ahead of International Day of Forests

Ahead of the International Day of Forests set by the United Nations on March 21, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is strengthening support for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) through three new partnerships that will advance forest conservation and community resilience in the Amazon, Southeast Asia and the Congo Basin.

As part of the Foundation’s Forests and Communities Initiative (FCI), these collaborations with Associação Floresta Protegida (AFP) in Brazil, the Samdhana Institute in Indonesia, and the Centre for Innovative Technologies and Sustainable Development (CTIDD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will aim to support conservation of forest ecosystems through the action of IPLCs.

Kayapo Project in the Brazilian Amazon

The Foundation is partnering with the Mebêngôkre-Kayapo-led Associação Floresta Protegida to support the Kayapo Project, a flagship programme of Biome Conservation, to safeguard 9.4 million hectares of tropical forest in the Amazon Basin, across six Indigenous Territories in south-central Pará and northern Mato Grosso.

From 2026 to 2028, the partnership will strengthen two key initiatives: the Kayapo Forest School, which trains the next generation of Indigenous leaders by combining traditional knowledge with conservation technologies, and the territorial monitoring programme, which supports more than 1,500 Kayapo guardians protecting over 2,200 kilometres of territorial borders.

Patkore Kayapo, President of Associação Floresta Protegida, said: “The Forest and Communities Initiative provides important resources directly to Indigenous associations and communities. The partnership with the Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation will provide essential support for the protection of Kayapo culture, rivers, lands, and biodiversity. The partnership reinforces durable Indigenous governance and autonomy.”

Community Resilience Project in the Congo Basin

In the  Congo Basin, the Foundation is partnering with the Centre for Innovative Technologies and Sustainable Development (CTIDD) to implement the PRC-PROZAC project (Community Resilience Project in the face of the protection and degradation of forest areas), which aims to strengthen community resilience and the protection of high-conservation-value forest areas in Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Running from 2026 to 2028, the project will support local communities in Bolomba, Basankusu and Mbandaka through reforestation, community conservation initiatives, sustainable agroforestry and income-generating activities designed to reduce pressure on forest ecosystems while improving livelihoods.

Trésor Bondjembo, Executive Director of CTIDD, said: “It is possible to place local communities at the heart of forest conservation, local development and the governance of natural resources. The PRC–PROZAC project represents an exemplary initiative for sustainable development in Equateur Province, strengthening the protection of forest ecosystems rich in biodiversity. This partnership represents a significant responsibility for CTIDD: to demonstrate our commitment to sharing our expertise in support of a just cause — the fight against climate change.”

Community Led Endeavours for Conservation, Human Rights and Environmental Defence (CLENCHED) in Southeast Asia

The Foundation is also partnering with the Samdhana Institute to implement the CLENCHED project across Southeast Asia, in collaboration with regional partners in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

The project will provide flexible grants to 25 Indigenous and community-led initiatives focused on forest conservation, biodiversity protection and tenure security. It will also strengthen local governance and support capacity-building — particularly for women, youth and marginalised groups — in areas such as grant management, policy engagement and access to legal recourse.

Erwin Quinones, Deputy Executive Director for Philippines and Mekong Operations at Samdhana Institute, said: “We in Samdhana Institute welcome our partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation as another avenue to support community-led endeavours for conservation, human rights and environmental defence in Southeast Asia. With this partnership under the Forests and Communities Initiative, we look forward to supporting Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities leading the movement of forest conservation, protection and restoration, and practice of integrated approaches of ecosystem protection in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.”

Supporting Indigenous and Community Leadership in Forest Conservation

Through these partnerships, the Forests and Communities Initiative supports community-driven conservation efforts by strengthening governance systems, providing flexible funding and reinforcing knowledge transmission across generations.

Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, said: “Protecting the world’s forests requires strong partnerships with those who have safeguarded them for generations. Indigenous peoples are not only guardians of biodiversity; they are key actors in the global response to climate and environmental challenges. Through the Forest and Communities Initiative, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is committed to strengthening Indigenous-led conservation by supporting local governance, education and territorial protection."


COPYRIGHTS

©Simone Giovine
©Marcos Hlace
©CTIDD
©Samdhana Institute