🌟We're excited to share the inspiring story of Dephence Mdamu, a dedicated Data Clerk and Research Assistant at the Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project. Dephence's journey began when she joined the team during the project's early formation. Now, she plays a crucial role in managing data, tracking wildlife, and promoting conservation within her community.📉 Reflecting on her work, she shares, “It fascinates me how data from a tree is collected, converted, analyzed, and eventually taken to the buyer of credits until it brings food to my table.” Born and raised in Kasigau, Dephence has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of the REDD+ project. From improving access to water to enhancing health services, her work contributes to both environmental sustainability and community welfare. As her perspective on farming and conservation has evolved, she inspires those around her to recognize the vital role forests play in their lives. She reminds us, “If you take care of a tree, it will take care of you." 🔗Read the full blog to learn more about her journey and impact: https://lnkd.in/eKUubw4W  #Kasigau #CommunityVoice #REDDPlus #CarbonCreditsWork

🌳 La Forêt is out now! Today, we’re proud to announce the release of La Forêt, a stunning new music video by artist Maïa Barouh created in collaboration with Everland.🎶 This unique video blends modern pop with traditional Japanese folk music, featuring musicians from Japan’s Ainu community and traditional performers from the Tono region. It’s a powerful reminder of the deep connection we all share with forests, and a celebration of Indigenous knowledge and cultures that have preserved  the world’s forests for generations. Every year, an area of forest the size of Portugal is destroyed, impacting both our climate and the livelihoods of Indigenous and forest-dependent communities. With La Forêt, Maïa inspires us to reflect on our relationship with nature and how we can all make choices that protect our planet’s future.🌍 🎥 Watch La Forêt now: https://lnkd.in/eGHctSPe #LaForêt #MaïaBarouh #ForestConservation #IndigenousKnowledge

Over the weekend, we were honored to be part of the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, where bold action for our planet took center stage. In partnership with Global Citizen, Everland took a crucial step toward addressing climate change by offsetting the festival’s carbon emissions through the Wildlife Works Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 🌿 Dr. Jean-Robert Bwangoy Bankanza, Country Director of the Mai Ndombe project, delivered a powerful message on the importance of forest conservation and community-led efforts to combat climate change. He reminded us: "Forest destruction is one of the leading causes of climate change, and we must act now to protect our forests. This effort cannot succeed without the leadership of forest communities." The Mai Ndombe project is a shining example of how nature-based solutions, such as REDD+, are tackling deforestation and creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities. By securing land rights, creating economic opportunities, and protecting biodiversity, projects like these are critical in the global fight against climate change.  From the inspiring speeches to the fully SmartGrid-powered stage, this year’s #GlobalCitizenFestival demonstrated the collective impact we can have when we join forces to protect our planet. 🌍 #ClimateWeekNYC #CarbonCreditsWork #REDDPlus #ForestConservation 📸 Image (2) Dr. Jean-Robert Bwangoy Bankanza on stage at Global Citizen Festival

👀Sneak Peek! We’re excited to share a preview of an incredible collaboration! On October 1st, internationally acclaimed artist Maïa Barough will unveil the full music video for her new song La Forêt, produced in partnership with Everland.🎶 Maïa’s music beautifully honors Indigenous knowledge and our deep connection to forests, reminding us of the urgent need to protect these precious ecosystems. Featuring collaborations with the Ainu community of Japan and traditional Japanese folkloric rituals, this video is a tribute to the forests that sustain life on Earth. 📽️Check out the trailer below and stay tuned for the full release on October 1st! #LaForêt #MaïaBarouh #ForestConservation #IndigenousKnowledge

📣 We’re thrilled to attend the Global Citizen Festival this Saturday, September 28th, in Central Park! This year, Global Citizen has partnered with Everland to take bold climate action by investing in nature. Together, we’re offsetting the festival's estimated carbon emissions to protect our planet through the Wildlife Works Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Jean Robert Bwangoy Bankanza, Country Director of the Wildlife Works Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project, will take the stage to highlight the critical role of forest conservation in the fight against climate change, and the impact of REDD+ projects in achieving these goals.👏 This year’s #GlobalCitizenFestival is set to be unforgettable, hosted by Hugh Jackman and featuring a star-studded lineup, including Benson Boone, RAYE, Post Malone, Doja Cat, LISA, Jelly Roll, and Rauw Alejandro, along with special appearances by Dr. Jane Goodall and Chris Martin. For the first time, the event will be powered entirely by a SmartGrid battery system, making it one of the first major U.S. festivals to embrace sustainable energy solutions, reducing its carbon footprint.⚡ We can’t wait to stand alongside global citizens demanding action for a better, more sustainable world. Join us in #NYC or tune in to be part of this movement: https://lnkd.in/eqQRz46i #ClimateWeekNYC #ClimateAction

At yesterday’s Global Citizen NOW event, the panel on '𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙩: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝?', highlighted the critical role that Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Traditional Communities (TCs) play in preserving the Earth’s forests and biodiversity. The panel was moderated by Mustafa Santiago Ali, Executive Vice President of Conservation & Justice for the National Wildlife Federation, and featured insights from: Constance Chalchat, Chief Sustainability Officer, CIB & Global Markets, BNP Paribas CIB, Victor A. Lopez-Carmen, MD, MPH, Dakota and Yaqui writer and Indigenous climate health advocate and Joshua Tosteson, CEO, Everland. Joshua Tosteson emphasized the essential role of IPs and TCs, stating, “𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥’𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦—𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦. 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬—𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴.” Josh also stressed that while the Voluntary Carbon Market (#VCM) plays a crucial role, it hasn’t always been designed with the rights, needs, and interests of IPs and TCs at its center. This is why the Equitable Earth standard is so important, to ensure that finance can be delivered directly to these communities in a way that fully respects their rights, traditional knowledge, and cultures. At Everland, we’re committed to working hand-in-hand with forest communities and corporations, ensuring sustainable solutions that empower these communities, while addressing climate change and biodiversity loss for the benefit of all. #ClimateWeekNYC #ClimateChange #REDDPlus #IndigenousPeoples #TraditionalCommunities 📸 (L-R) Mustafa Santiago Ali, Constance Chalchat, Josh Tosteson, and Victor A. Lopez-Carmen, MD, MPH onstage during the Guardians of the Planet. © Getty Images for Global Citizen

📽 Monday night's screening of “We Are Guardians” during #ClimateWeekNYC left a lasting impact. Hosted by Equitable Earth and Global Citizen, the event spotlighted the critical role Indigenous leaders play in defending the #Amazon. The message was clear: we must support and stand with those protecting the forests. As Puyr Tembé, Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Pará, Brazil, emphasized, "We need to ensure those safeguarding the forest are recognized and supported." Indigenous communities are at the heart of climate action, but they can’t do it alone. The event also featured an insightful panel discussion moderated by the Chair of Equitable Earth’s Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities Advisory Group, Beto Borges, with Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Congresswoman Célia Xacriabá, Puyr Tembé and directors Chelsea Greene and Edivan Guajajara speaking passionately about the urgent need to protect Indigenous lands and the forests they preserve.🌳 The film takes us to the frontlines of the Brazilian Amazon, where the struggle between preserving ancestral lands and illegal deforestation is urgent and dangerous. It's more than just a film—"We Are Guardians" is a call to action. The future of our forests, and ultimately our planet, rests on the stewards of these vital ecosystems. Learn more about the documentary here: https://lnkd.in/eZKiF2vd #REDD #CarbonCreditsWork #IndigenousRights Image details: (1) Director Edivan Guajajara, Assistant and Translator Laysa Matthias, Minister Sônia Guajajara, Congresswoman Célia Xacriabá and Puyr Tembé. (2) Puyr Tembé (3) Célia Xacriabá, Puyr Tembé, Director, Chelsea Greene and Sônia Guajajara Images (2) and (3) taken by Katie G. Nelson / katiegnelson.com

🌳We’re back with Forest Notes! After a summer break, we’re excited to share updates on the impactful projects we represent, insights from our latest research and the events we’re attending during #ClimateWeekNYC. This issue highlights the reinstatement of the Wildlife Alliance Southern Cardamom REDD+ project and our innovative collaboration with Space Intelligence. Subscribe for the full edition here: https://lnkd.in/e_syv-TD

🎥 Don’t miss out! There's still a limited number of tickets left for the exclusive screening of We Are Guardians during #ClimateWeekNYC on September 23, 2024, at the iconic Angelika Film Center. This award-winning documentary shines a powerful light on the Indigenous activists in Brazil who are risking everything to protect their ancestral forests. With the Amazon facing unprecedented threats, We Are Guardians offers an urgent call for global action to protect our planet's most vital ecosystems. Join us for an inspiring evening, with opening remarks from Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder of Global Citizen, and a post-screening fireside chat featuring key voices from the film, including Beto Borges, Puyr Tembé, and directors Edivan Guajajara and Chelsea Greene. Event details: 📅 September 23, 2024 5:00 PM | Reception at Angelika Film Center Café 6:00 PM | Film Screening + Fireside Chat ✨ Reserve your spot now before tickets run out! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eN-M7sfR #ClimateAction #Deforestation #IndigenousRights

🚰In rural #Cambodia, securing clean water is a daily struggle, particularly in the dry season. Without reliable access, community members would often walk for miles to collect water from ponds shared with cattle and other animals. The consequences of using unsafe water, especially for the elderly and children, included frequent health issues such as dehydration and stomach problems. That’s where the Wildlife Alliance Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project stepped in. Through this impactful initiative, 20 solar water wells were installed in Dang Peng and 5 in Sovanna Baitong, ensuring access to clean, safe water and radically improving daily life. Families no longer need to rely on unsafe sources, and the community has gained crucial education on hygiene and healthy water habits. "The Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project has been invaluable to the community. In Cambodia, where rising temperatures have caused many of our water sources to dry up, the REDD+ Project’s provision of water couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s helping us navigate these challenging circumstances effectively." — Sophany Touch, Wildlife Alliance Ecotourism and Community Development Project Manager. Thanks to these efforts, clean water is now a reality for many, transforming lives and supporting healthier futures. As climate change continues to affect vulnerable areas, projects like these serve as vital lifelines for communities across Cambodia. 👏 Learn more about the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project and its life-changing impact- https://lnkd.in/eU5_Y4ME #REDDPlus #CarbonCreditsWork #SouthernCardamom #Water