We call on groups, organisations and movements to sign on to this statement to STOP the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). This new initiative, slated to be launched at the UN Climate Conference in November in Brazil, has been created to supposedly provide funding for forest conservation.
The TFFF claims to be a "new hope" for tropical forests worldwide. However, it is not designed to address the drivers of deforestation, but to benefit investors in financial markets that are actually driving deforestation.
Far from protecting forests and their communities, this new market-based initiative will actually reinforce a capitalist, racist, colonialist and patriarchal worldview that only deepens current manifold crises and injustices.
Sign-on statement:
Let´s STOP the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) now!
UN climate conferences have become a popular place to launch international initiatives with much fanfare, initiatives which usually fail to live up to their promises. At the UN climate summit, in November 2025, in the Amazon city of Belém in Brazil, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) is expected to attract much attention. The center piece of the proposal, however, is the Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF).
The architects behind the TFFF promise that by investing USD125 billion of borrowed money into global financial markets, the TFIF will be able to generate profits of around USD 3.75 to 4 billion annually. Some of the profits would be passed on to the TFFF to distribute them to countries with tropical forests in the global South.
The TFIF would not use carbon markets or carbon offsetting to raise the money which TFFF expects to distribute to countries with tropical forest. TFFF documents also note that such countries should pass on 20 percent of the money they receive from TFFF to Indigenous Peoples and forest-dependent communities. The idea has been praised by governments, banks and big conservation NGOs.
What lies behind the nice words, however, is a proposal that would make rich investors richer at the cost of people in countries in the global South that are crippled with unsustainable and illegitimate debts.
The set-up of the initiative reveals a colonial rationale:
• The TFFF is merely an accessory to the financial core of the initiative, the Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF). TFIF will likely be hosted by the World Bank, be staffed by highly paid financial managers and be governed mainly by entities from the global North. Governments of countries with tropical forests will have no say in crucial TFIF financial decisions.
• TFIF hopes to borrow USD 125 billion by selling bonds to companies from the finance sector and rich country governments. It will then lend this money to countries in the global South in need of more money to pay their crippling and illegitimate debt, or to large-scale state-backed energy, mining, infrastructure, agribusiness, or industrial tree plantation companies in the global South. The hope is that TFIF will receive more annual interest payments from these investments than it has to pay to its lenders, and that a portion of this profit will be used for forest conservation.
• Forests and forest peoples are the last in line to receive a share of the hoped-for profits: Any profits TFIF may generate will first be used to pay management fees to the bank hosting the TFIF and TFFF and their financial managers and consultants, then to pay off the TFIF’s big “senior” private investors, then to pay off the “junior” investors (Northern governments and private foundations). If anything is left, governments of countries with tropical forests can apply to receive USD 4 per hectare of forest registered with the TFFF – if they pass a ‘deforestation test’.
• Governments receiving money from the TFFF are expected to commit to pass on 20 percent to Indigenous Peoples and forest-dependent communities, in recognition of communities’ contributions to forest protection. These payments to communities will not be made directly by TFFF; they will be at the discretion of governments.
• The investors buying TFIF bonds and the activities financed by TFIF loans will very likely be linked, directly or indirectly, to deforestation and human rights abuses. In other words, TFFF’s payouts to governments of countries with tropical forests are likely to be funded with profits derived from the destruction of tropical forests. Moreover, the World Bank, as the likely host of the initiative, will control day-to-day decisions of the Fund. The World Bank has a terrible record of promoting deforestation, financing programmes that violate community rights, and imposing policies that have contributed to the crippling debt crisis in many countries in the global South.
TFFF’s claim of addressing large-scale tropical deforestation is empty talk. Past market-based initiatives to protect forests, created in the global North and managed by bankers or other actors, have not halted deforestation. There is no indication that the TFFF and TFIF will be any different. Worse, the TFFF would make wealthy investors who profit from forest destruction look like forest defenders.
Hence, the conclusions are clear:
• TFFF is yet another trap that will not stop deforestation.
• TFFF is a colonial plan of Northern elites, by Northern elites and for Northern elites that will make the rich richer by extracting wealth from the global South. Initiatives like this one end up reinforcing a capitalist, racist, colonialist and patriarchal vision of the world that only deepens the current injustices and manifold crises.
• It is high time to address the root causes of deforestation: unjust economic relations and trade, land grabbing by agribusiness, and expansion of mining and other extractive industries.
Our commitment is to resistance struggles against large-scale projects that destroy forests and fuel climate chaos. TFFF will put solidarity among communities protecting their territories at risk.
For all these reasons, we say NO to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility!
Let´s STOP the TFFF now!
Signatories (updated on November 17th, 2025):
- Corporate Accountability, International
- Debt for Climate, International
- ETC Group, International
- Focus on the Global South, International
- GARN Youth Hub, International
- Global Forest Coalition, International
- GRAIN, International
- La Via Campesina International, International
- Mirrors of the Global South _ Espejos del Sur Global, International
- Oilwatch International, International
- Thematic Social Forum on Mining and Extractivist Econoomy, International
- World Rainforest Movement, International
- Biofuelwatch, Europe/USA
- Corporate Europe Observatory, European Union
- Alianza Biodiversidad, Latin America
- Campaña Que Paguen Los Contaminadores América Latina, Latinoamérica y el Caribe
- Diálogo 2000 - Jubileo Sur Argentina, Argentina
- Guardaparques y Areas Naturales Protegidas, Argentina
- Proyecto Lemu - Asociacion Lihuen-Antu - Epuyen, Argentina
- Centre tricontinental - CETRI, Belgique
- Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la Biodiversité (CRGB), Benin
- Bolivia Libre de Transgénicos, Bolivia
- Consumidores Conscientes, Bolivia
- Mancomunidad de comunidades Ríos Beni, Tuichi y Quiquibey, Bolivia
- Reaccion Climatica, Bolivia
- Aquibac (Associação quilombola do Baixo Caeté), Brasil
- Abya Yala473 de Comunicação, Brasil
- Ação Franciscana de Ecologia e Solidariedade AFES, Brasil
- Aliança RECOs - Aliança de Redes de Cooperação Comunitária desde o Sul Global, Brasil
- APIB, Brasil
- Articulação Agro é Fogo, Brasil
- Articulação Antinuclear Brasileira, Brasil
- Articulação dos povos indígenas do sul, Brasil
- Articulação Nacional de Agroecologia (ANA), Brasil
- Asmogac, Brasil
- ASPAC, Brasil
- Associação APROMOVA, Brasil
- Associação das Famílias Tradicionais da Amazônia do Rio Tauá. ASAFRATA, Brasil
- Associação dos Atingidos pela Barragem de Belo Monte e Mineração, Brasil
- Associação dos Geógrafos Brasileiros (AGB), Brasil
- Associação Movimento Paulo Jackson- Ética, Justiça, Cidadania, Brasil
- Associação Remanescente de Quilombo são Tomé de Bracinho do Icatú, Brasil
- Campanha Nacional em Defesa do Cerrado, Brasil
- Centro Dandara de Promotoras Legais Populares, Brasil
- Centro de Formação Saberes Ka'apor, Brasil
- CEPASP- Centro de Educação, Pesquisa e Assessoria Sindical e Popupular, Brasil
- CIMI Amazônia Ocidental, Brasil
- Coletivo Ativista, Brasil
- Comissão Pastoral da Terra - Bahia, Brasil
- Comissão Pastoral da Terra, Brasil
- Comitê de Energia Renovável do Semiárido-CERSA, Brasil
- CONAQ SP, Brasil
- Conselho Pastoral dos Pescadores e Pescadoras, Brasil
- Doces Segredos da Floresta, Brasil
- Espaço Feminista, Brasil
- FASE AMAZÔNIA, Brasil
- Fase FUNDO DEMA, Brasil
- Fórum Carajás, Brasil
- Fórum Mudanças Climáticas e Justiça Socioambiental - FMCJS, Brasil
- Frente em Defesa dos Territórios, Brasil
- GEEMA - Grupo de Estudos em Educação e Meio, Brasil
- IFAC, Brasil
- Inata Sustenatural, Brasil
- Instituto Dom Alberto Guimarães Rezende, Brasil
- Instituto Terra, Direitos e Cidadania, Brasil
- Instituto Transformance, Brasil
- Instituto Universidade Popular - UNIPOP, Brasil
- Jubileu Sul Brasil, Brasil
- Laboratório Perisi UFF, Brasil
- MLT - Movimento de Luta pela Terra, Brasil
- Movimento Ciência Cidadã- Brasil, Brasil
- Movimento de Mulheres Trabalhadoras de Altamira Campo e Cidade, Brasil
- Movimento dos Pequenos Agricultores, Brasil
- Movimento Mulheres pela Paz na Palestina, Brasil
- MST - Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, Brasil
- MSTPA, Brasil
- Mulheres do Brasil, Brasil
- Organização dos Jovens Indígenas Kokama, Brasil
- Pastoral da Juventude Rural, Brasil
- PSOL Cabo Frio RJ, Brasil
- Rede Brasileira de Educação Ambiental - REBEA, Brasil
- Rede de Educação Ambiental e Políticas Públicas, Brasil
- Rede de Mulheres Ambientalistas da América Latina, Brasil
- Rede de Trabalho Amazônico - GTA, Brasil
- Rede de Trabalho Amazônico Regional Amapá, Brasil
- REDI, Brasil
- Setorial Ecossocialista do PSoL-RS, Brasil
- Sim:Bio:Sys, Brasil
- Sindicato dos Trabalhadores da Educação Pública do Para, Brasil
- Território Nova Esperança, Brasil
- Território Indígena Quilombola e agroextrativista Rio Tauá MST, Brasil
- Tuxa ta Pame, Brasil
- UNIP União dos Povos Indígenas de Região de Tefé AM, Brasil
- Xingu Indígena Ribeirinhos, Brasil
- Action for Conservation and Environmental Sustainability (ACES), Cameroon
- Green Development Advocates (GDA), Cameroon
- Nature Cameroon, Cameroon
- Struggle to Economize Future Environment, Cameroon
- Réseau des Acteurs du Développement Durable (RADD), Cameroun
- Synaparcam, Cameroun
- Asociación por los Derechos Humanos Parral, Chile
- Comité Ambiental Comunal Tomé, Chile
- Comite de d.hh. y ecologicos de Quilpue, Chile
- IxofijMogen por Bosque Ancestral- Wekufe Forestales, Chile
- No a la Motosierra, Chile
- Observatorio Latinoamericano de Conflictos Ambientales OLCA, Chile
- ONG We Kimun, Chile
- Red por la Superación Modelo forestal, Chile
- Acción Colombiana por la Soberanía Ambiental, Colombia
- Asociación Autoridades Tradicionales y Cabildos Indígenas de La Primavera Vichada - ASOATCIPRIVI, Colombia
- Asociación Campesina Para el Desarrollo Rural - ACADER, Colombia
- Asociación Cusiana Ecosolidaria, Colombia
- Censat Agua Viva, Colombia
- Corporación Claretiana Norman Pérez Bello - CCNPB, Colombia
- Deuda x Clima Colombia, Colombia
- Fundación Amigos del Planeta, Colombia
- Fundaexpresion, Colombia
- Grupo Semillas, Colombia
- Guardianes de la Andinoamazonia, Colombia
- Herederos del Macizo, Colombia
- Montes Nativos sin Monocultivos, Colombia
- Observatorio de Conflictos Ambientales - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
- Tejido Unuma de la Orinoquia - Asociación Tejido Intercultural de la Orinoquia Colombiana ATIORIC, Colombia
- Nature-D-Congo, Congo-Brazzaville
- Bloqueverde, Costa Rica
- MARBE SA, Costa Rica
- Oilwatch Costa Rica, Costa Rica
- Acción Ecológica, Ecuador
- Fundación Cerro Verde, Ecuador
- Ambientalistas en el Mar de Plástico, España
- Ecologistas La Parrilla, España
- Greenpeace Spain, España
- Proyecto Gran Simio, España
- Salva la Selva, España
- Unión Universal Desarrollo Solidario, España
- Adéquations, France
- Attac 64 Béarn, France
- Les Mains Sages - Permaculture, France
- Nature Rights, France
- Permaculture sans frontières, France
- Maiouri Nature Guyane, France (French Guiana)
- Coopérative des plateaux Assaly, Gabon
- Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement, Gabon
- Musiru Divag dit stop TFFF, Gabon
- ONG Développement durable et bien-être, Gabon
- Collectif des Ressortissants Écologistes des Plateaux Bateke GABON, Gabon
- Institut de Formation et de Tutorat GIVEN BACK, Gabon
- Muyissi Environnement, Gabon
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Regenwald und Artenschutz, Germany
- Down to Earth Consult, Germany
- FDCL-Center for Research and Documentation Chile-Latin America, Germany
- Forum Ökologie & Papier, Germany
- Pro REGENWALD, Germany
- Rettet den Regenwald - Germany, Germany
- Whistleblowing International, Germany
- Carbone Guinée, Guinea
- Mouvement Paysan Papaye, Haiti
- Kolektif Peyizan pou Devlopman Ekon9mik ak Sosyal (KOPDES), Haïti
- ANAFAE, Honduras
- ECORE, Honduras
- All India Forum of Forest Movements (AIFFM), India
- All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP), India
- Indigenous Perspectives, India
- JKMU, India
- Aceh Wetland Forum, Indonesia
- Buol Plasma Peasants Forum (FPPB), Indonesia
- Jaringan JAGA DECA, Indonesia
- JATAM Kaltim, Indonesia
- LMA MALAMOI, Indonesia
- NUGAL Institute for Social and Ecological Studies, Indonesia
- Palm Oil Womxn Educational Group, Indonesia
- Papua Trada Sampah, Indonesia
- Puanifesto Collective, Indonesia
- Roehana Project, Indonesia
- Save Our Borneo, Indonesia
- School of Democratic Economics, Indonesia
- Solidaritas Perempuan, Indonesia
- WALHI/Friends of the Earth Indonesia, Indonesia
- Yayasan Pusaka Bntala Rakyat, Indonesia
- Oilwatch Africa, Kenya
- Institute of Sustainable Agriculture, Liberia
- Jogba United women empowerment development organization, Liberia
- Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation, Malawi
- Consumers' Association of Penang, Malaysia
- Asamblea de los Pueblos Indígenas del Istmo en Defensa de la Tierra y el Territorio - APIIDTT, México
- Aula Verde AC, México
- Colectivo Jna Tsjo, México
- Colectivo por la Autonomía, México
- Deuda x Clima México, México
- INstituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario, México
- Legado Gaia (LEGAIA), México
- Nodho de Derechos Humanos, México
- JA!Justica Ambiental, Moçambique
- Missão Tabita, Moçambique
- UPCN União Provincial de Camponeses de Niassa, Moçambique
- Instituto Agrário de Chimoio, Moçambique
- GE Free NZ, New Zealand
- Palm Oil Detectives, New Zealand Aotearoa
- Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nigeria
- HOMEF - Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nigeria
- No REDD in Africa Network, Nigeria
- The Young environmentalist Network, Nigeria
- Centro de Desarrollo Ambiental y Humano, Panamá
- Colectivo Voces Ecológicas COVEC, Panamá
- MICAD, Papua New Guinea
- Centro de Estudios Heñói, Paraguay
- Coordinadora de organización Defensoras por territorio y soberanía Macronorte Perú, Perú
- Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres Macronorte Perú, Perú
- Ronda Campesinas Femenina de Llushcapama, Perú
- ADPM, Portugal
- Quercus-ANCN, Portugal
- Comuna Caribe, Puerto Rico
- Red Dominicana de Estudios y Empoderamiento Afrodescendiente RedAfros, República Dominicana
- ABED, République Démocratique du Congo
- APEM, République Démocratique du Congo
- COPACO, République Démocratique du Congo
- FOCODER ASBL - Forets communautiares pour le développement rural en abrégé, République Démocratique du Congo
- RIAO - Réseau d’information et d’appui aux ONG en République Démocratique du Congo, République Démocratique du Congo
- Women’s Network Against Rural Plantations Injustice (WoNARPI), Sierra Leone
- Landless Peoples Movement S.A., South Africa
- West Coast Food sovereignty and solidarity forum, South Africa
- Ecopaper, Switzerland
- Rettet den Regenwald - Schweiz, Switzerland
- Land Watch Thai, Thailand
- Project SEVANA South-East Asia, Thailand
- Kolomo Agro Farmers Association ( KAFA), Uganda
- Witness Radio, Uganda
- Keighley workers party, United Kingdom
- The Corner House, United Kingdom
- #CommitToOcean, United States
- Concerned Health Professioinals of Pennsylvania, United States
- Friends of Enchanted Meadow, United States
- Grassroots International, United States
- Indigenous Environmental Network, United States
- Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program, United States
- Just Transition Alliance, United States
- Native Connections Action Group - Quimper Peninsula, United States
- North American Climate, Conservation and Environment(NACCE), United States
- NWRAGE, United States
- Swift Foundation, United States
For further reading:
• Tropical Forests Forever Facility: A new trap for peoples and forests in the Global South.
• Spoils of a Continuing Colonialism: The Tropical Forest Forever Facility