FSC-IF January Newsletter

New Year, new opportunites!

FSC IF

As we begin a new year, FSC Indigenous Foundation is looking ahead to 2026 with a clear and grounded vision: a future where the rights of Indigenous Peoples are fully honored, and Indigenous-led solutions are recognized as essential to protecting the world’s forests. In this spirit, we are also seeking financial partners who share our commitment to advancing Indigenous forest governance priorities that strengthen self-determined well-being, uphold knowledge systems, and support leadership rooted in community, culture, and territory.

Indigenous Peoples are not only key partners in forest protection, they are experts and leaders in safeguarding Mother Earth. In 2026, we will amplify Indigenous wisdom globally, elevate Indigenous governance in decision-making spaces, and support actions that nurture forests for generations to come.

Highlights of the month and upcoming activities:

Youth application school last call January 25th

Applications are now open for the Quaker United Nations Office Summer School (QUNSS) 2026, a two-week programme in Geneva for young changemakers to deepen their understanding of the United Nations and multilateralism. Participants will strengthen their policy, negotiation, and advocacy skills while engaging directly with diplomats, UN officials, and advocates on topics including human rights, peacebuilding, migration, and climate justice. Open to applicants aged 20–26 from all regions and backgrounds, the deadline to apply is January 25, 2026 (23:59 CET).

Learn more

Indigenous Lands Symposium 2026 in Canada

February 2-6

The Indigenous Lands Symposium 2026 in Canada is a catalyst event bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to embrace sovereignty, innovation, collaboration, and culture in sustainable forestry. With over 300 delegates from 35+ Indigenous Communities, the Symposium represents more than 7 million hectares of shared traditional territories and the leadership of Lands & Resources Development teams as stewards of our shared lands.

FSC Indigenous Foundation will be represented by Indigenous leaders Peggy Smith (FSC-IF Council member), David Flood (Vice-chair of FSC PIPC), Tolita Davis-Angeles (PIPC alternate representative for Oceania), and Minnie Degawan (FSC-IF Managing Director), who will be present throughout the event. The Symposium is organized by Wahkohtowin Development, where David Flood also serves as General Manager.

Learn more!

Workshop on resource mobilization

The CBD Workshop on Resource Mobilization (10–13 February 2026, Rome) will bring together Parties and stakeholders to advance discussions on closing the global biodiversity finance gap by 2030 and supporting upcoming negotiations at SBI-7 and COP-17. Held back-to-back with the sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-6), it provides a space for informal dialogue on key resource mobilization priorities. FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) will be participating in these discussions.

Webinar on Community-Led Forest Economies

📅 Tuesday, February 10 | 🕘 9:00–10:30 AM ET

Join Indigenous and women leaders, family farmers, scientists, and policy partners from the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia to explore how community-led forest economies can protect forests and strengthen fair livelihoods.

🤝 This webinar is a collaboration between World Resources Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, Forest Stewardship Council, FSC Indigenous Foundation, The African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), WRF FRM ML, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

We’ll explore how to shift policy and finance from extractive models to community power, and chart next steps beyond COP30 toward equitable forest solutions for 2026 and beyond.

✨ Featuring Ms. Alina Livet Santiago Jiménez, Indigenous leader of the Zapoteca People from Ixtlán de Juárez and Chair of the FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee, amongst other incredible Indigenous leaders.

🌎 Interpretation available in English, Spanish, Portuguese & French

Research Spotlight:

Research article about Indigenous‐Led Nature‐Based Solutions Align Net‐Zero Emissions and Biodiversity Targets in Canada

Read article

Join us this 2026 in supporting Indigenous-led solutions that uphold rights, strengthen forest governance, and protect Mother Earth’s forests for generations to come.

End-Of-The-Year series newsletter

Find our final 2025 highlights for the year

FSC IF

As 2025 comes to a close, we extend our sincere appreciation for the collaboration between our organization and our partners, especially during a year marked by significant institutional adjustments.

Below are our final highlights for 2025:

October’s highlights

WRI article – For New Global Forest Pledges to Succeed, They Must Center Forest Communities

COP30 commitments in Belém highlight growing recognition that Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants, and local communities are essential forest stewards in the climate fight. Co-authored by Minnie Degawan (Kankanaey-Igorot), Managing Director of FSC-IF, the article spotlights three major pledges on forest finance and land rights, while warning that slow, complex titling processes still limit communities’ access to funding. Read more here.

PIPC Regional meeting

The FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) Regional Meeting for Latin America brought together Indigenous representatives from South America, Mexico, and Central America to strengthen Indigenous participation in forest governance and advance responsible forest management. Read more here.

FSC General Assembly

The 10th FSC General Assembly in Panama highlighted the central role of Indigenous Peoples in shaping the future of responsible forestry, with Indigenous leaders opening the Assembly, contributing to plenaries, and influencing key decisions through FSC’s chamber-balanced governance system. Discussions, motions, and side events emphasized Indigenous rights, culturally appropriate certification, and the recognition of Indigenous knowledge as essential to forest conservation. Read more here.

Strengthening Indigenous Forestry Management in Malaysia

FSC-IF partnered with FSC Malaysia to deliver a workshop in Sarawak that strengthened practical pathways for Indigenous Peoples’ engagement in forest stewardship, emphasizing respect for Indigenous rights and governance, trust building through culturally appropriate dialogue, and alignment with community priorities and long term wellbeing.

Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models – Emberá People

With the support of IDB Lab, we advanced the participatory community economic plans by integrating community timelines, worldviews, FSC’s Economic Viability Tool insights, and local strengthening priorities to shape long term strategies that reinforce Indigenous forest based economies, recognize Indigenous Cultural Landscapes, and support community wellbeing.

November’s highlights

Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models – Emberá People

We advanced the project by linking community economic planning with climate adaptation and territorial governance, supporting workshops and an FSC Board visit that showcased progress, highlighted local initiatives, and informed next steps to strengthen FSC certification with Indigenous Peoples in Panama.

Indigenous leadership and responsible forest management in Mexico

Tyler Bellis of the Council of the Haida Nation visited FSC-certified community forest enterprises in Oaxaca to exchange learning on Indigenous governance and responsible forest management, with Alina Santiago highlighting how community decision making and long term planning strengthen sustainable forest stewardship and collective wellbeing. Read more.

A New Artwork Bringing FSC’s Story and Values to Life in Australia

FSC ANZ is proud to introduce a new artwork created by Tolita Davis-Angeles, Chair of FSC’s Indigenous Working Group and FSC PIPC Oceania alternate representative.

Ngäbe Community program: Workshop on strengthening indigenous governance

The facilitation workshop on strengthening Ngäbe governance focused on building capacities for collective decision making, traditional authority, and culturally grounded leadership, while promoting conflict resolution and the equitable participation of women and youth to reinforce territorial autonomy and collective rights.

UNFCCC COP30 in Belem, Brazil

We worked with FSC throughout COP30 to elevate Indigenous priorities and in our COP30 Report explain key outcomes on forest finance, tenure, adaptation, loss and damage, and carbon markets, stressing that real impact depends on FPIC, tenure security, transparency, and Indigenous governance with strong safeguards at the center.

December’s highlights

Boosting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models – Emberá People

We reached a key milestone in the project by validating and finalizing community economic plans through assemblies and dialogue spaces, incorporating final feedback and strengthening long-term planning and Indigenous governance. In parallel, we participated in the 2025 GET Forum organized by IDB Lab, identifying opportunities to connect with innovation and finance ecosystem actors that could help scale and sustain FSC-IF initiatives in the future.

Ngäbe Community program: Environmental workshop

Community members received training on Panama’s key environmental laws, covering forest legislation, wildlife protection, water resources, and environmental impact assessment requirements. The sessions also introduced the Escazú Agreement and its relevance for access to environmental information, participation, and justice.

Advice Note published protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples

FSC has published the Advice Note for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and in Initial Contact (IPVIIC) in Peru. Find the news here.

UNCCD CRIC23 in Panama

UNCCD CRIC 23 advanced recommendations on 2030 land and drought goals while building momentum toward COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia, where Parties aim to accelerate restoration and sustainable land management with stronger engagement of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, and youth.

WWF & AJET Report: Webinar launch

Through the report launch webinar, Indigenous leaders and partners emphasized that a truly just energy transition must recognize Indigenous Peoples as rights-holders and partners, ensure Indigenous governance and land stewardship, and avoid repeating extractive models under the banner of “green” development. Read more here.

Aissatou Oumarou is FSC PIPC representative for Francophone Africa

We congratulate Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim of the Mbororo Fulani People on her appointment as the FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) Representative for Francophone Africa. Learn more about FSC PIPC and her role here.

Support the call!

We stand with Daria and all Indigenous defenders whose voices, safety, and freedom are under threat. Support the call today!

End of the year message and hopes for the future

As we close the year, we recognize a growing shift toward Indigenous leadership as a vital force in protecting forests and advancing sustainable, long-term stewardship. Looking ahead to 2026, we invite partners to invest in Indigenous-led initiatives and become financial partners, please contact us at fsc.if@fsc.org to start the conversation.

Want to support? Please share this newsletter among your network.

FSC PIPC Regional Meeting for Latin America

Regional priorities for fairer and culturally relevant forest governance

FSC IF

The Regional Meeting of the FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) for Latin America, held in October 2025 in Panama, brought together indigenous representatives from South America, Mexico, and Central America, along with officials from the FSC and the FSC Indigenous Foundation.

The day began with registration and a spiritual ceremony led by Nadia Gómez (Warpe woman and PIPC Representative for South America) and Aulina Ismare (Cacica General of the Wounaan People, Panama), creating an atmosphere of respect and cultural connection.

The meeting aimed to strengthen indigenous participation in forest governance, promote responsible forest management, and build a shared strategic vision from the territories.

During the meeting, notable experiences of certified indigenous forest management in Brazil and Mexico were shared, demonstrating how the integration of traditional knowledge with international standards can generate positive impacts on conservation, the community economy, and territorial governance. Likewise, the collective work spaces allowed for the identification of common challenges, such as legal certainty, access to markets, and the adaptation of certification to indigenous contexts, as well as opportunities related to the recognition of ancestral knowledge, ecosystem services, and capacity building.

As a result, the subregions defined strategic areas of action that include governance and intercultural communication, forest certification adapted to indigenous peoples, the valuation of ecosystem services, the inclusion of indigenous women, the development of fair markets, policy advocacy and legal certainty, capacity building, strategic communication, the creation of indicator systems, and the revision of Principle 3 of the FSC to move towards an indigenous standard. These areas constitute a key roadmap for strengthening indigenous leadership and moving towards sustainable, fair, and culturally relevant forest management in Latin America.

The PIPC is a key space for ensuring that the voices, rights, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples influence the decisions of the FSC system. We invite you to follow us to learn more about the *FSC, PIPC, its role in governance, and the initiatives it promotes in the region to strengthen responsible forest management from the territories.***

Aissatou Oumarou is FSC PIPC representative for Francophone Africa.

Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim is the FSC Representative of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) for Francophone Africa.

FSC IF

We are pleased to congratulate Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim, from the Mbororo Fulani People, on her appointment as the FSC Representative of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) for Francophone Africa.

The Forest Stewardship Council Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) is a global advisory body composed of Indigenous representatives from all regions of the world. The Committee advises the FSC International Board on the FSC certification system, with a core mandate to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples, strengthen responsible forest management, and support Indigenous Peoples in building and sustaining FSC-certified forest stewardship.

Through its work, the PIPC also contributes to increasing Indigenous Peoples’ market access, share, and value within FSC systems.

In her new role, Aissatou Oumarou Ibrahim will represent the perspectives, priorities, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples from Francophone Africa, contributing to FSC’s global governance and to the advancement of Indigenous rights and leadership within forest stewardship.

To learn more about Aissatou’s background and work, please visit her bio here:
👉 https://www.fscindigenousfoundation.org/teams/aissatou-oumarou-ibrahim/

We warmly welcome sister Aissatou to this important role and look forward to collaborating closely with her as part of our collective work with the FSC, PIPC and the FSC Indigenous Foundation.

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