The Brazilian government recently launched the proposal for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) in its Concept Note 3.0. We at the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) endorse this new version as a direct result of the collective struggle of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP’s and LC’s) for fair and direct access to climate finance resources, acknowledging all the changes that have taken place since the fund was first announced in 2023. 

The guarantee that a minimum of 20% of results-based payments from the TFFF will be channeled directly to frontline forest defenders represents  an historic victory that consolidates the leading role of our peoples in addressing the climate crisis. Additionally , the inclusion of an exclusion list for fossil fuels in Note 3.0 responds to a central demand of our organizations, reaffirming the urgency of preventing the TFFF from becoming a new mechanism of territorial destruction.

We have been closely monitoring the TFFF since its first announcements at COP-28 in Dubai. However, it was not until  October 2024 that we were officially invited to discuss the possibility of including a minimum of 20% of resources for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as part of the fund’s operation. Since February 2025, we have chosen to collaborate with the Government of Brazil, the World Bank, and the TFFF Secretariat in co-designing the so-called Direct Allocation of Financing (IP’s and LC’ DAF), based on an intense collective journey. We held side events at the UN, technical workshops, weekly meetings with the core team, face-to-face meetings of the Global Steering Committee in Brazzaville and London, and a conversation  with over 400 participants at the Forest Basin Congress. 

The proposal, developed by many hands, contemplates the leading role of IP’s and LC’s in all decisions regarding the use of resources at the national level, through national steering committees and freely chosen implementing agencies, enabling resources to reach our organizations and territorial funds. Our decision to participate in the co-design of the DAF was in line with our commitment to transforming the architecture of climate and biodiversity financing, so that we are truly acknowledged as the guardians of our territories.

Although not all our proposals were accepted—such as the requirement for IP’s and LC’s seats on the TFFF and TFIF Boards of Directors—we recognize the progress in the creation of a Global Advisory Committee and will continue to mobilize to ensure that the fund’s governance truly reflects the principles of participation, equity, and autonomy.

We acknowledge  our victories, but we remain vigilant. Now is the time to put  the TFFF into action and, at the same time, guarantee the necessary resources for the fund implementing national structures in tropical forest countries that ensure  our full and effective participation in inclusive steering committees, legitimate implementing agencies, and culturally appropriate monitoring mechanisms. We reaffirm our commitment to socio-environmental integrity and reiterate our demand that no TFIF resources be allocated to oil, gas, or mining—a red line reaffirmed in all our spaces.

Finally, we call on our allies in civil society, communications, and international cooperation to support the next step: building a robust process of national dialogue and advocacy, led by our Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities , to ensure the effective implementation of everything that has been achieved so far.

We know that tropical countries still have a long way to go to establish a truly respectful relationship with us —whether in building inclusive governance structures or in guaranteeing our human and territorial rights. We therefore call on governments and our allies to actively engage in this process, as well as in improving the monitoring systems for forests, other ecosystems, and our territories.

Similarly, it is essential to advocate for the resources already allocated to countries to be directed to this new direct financing mechanism, strengthening public policies that truly protect our territories and rights.

The answer is us. The answer is all of us, including you.

APIB’s 20th anniversary at ATL 2025 set the tone for Indigenous leadership on climate action, with the launch of an Indigenous NDC, international coordination toward COP30 and powerful mobilizations. Top photo: Walter Kuamaruara 

April 2025 – In a landmark moment for Indigenous climate leadership, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) marked its 20th anniversary at Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL) 2025 with the launch of the first proposal to include Indigenous Peoples demands within the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Brazil. Additionally, APIB announced the creation of an International Indigenous Commission for COP30 and hosted a high-level meeting with more than 15 embassies to advance international cooperation on the road to Belem.

Joined by Indigenous and Local Community leaders from Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador representing the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, APIB reaffirmed their leadership as the key convenors of civil society for COP30. They elevated their campaign “We are the answer” which aims at uniting grassroots movements placing the focus on solutions led by Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Quilombolas, and beyond. 

This year’s ATL was a turning point for the Indigenous movement, with the official launch of Brazil’s first Indigenous Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a proposal aimed at integrating Indigenous demands within the broader framework of Brazil’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The NDC emphasizes the need for equity, self-determination, and active participation of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities in the implementation of Brazil’s climate strategies.

“The launch of the Indigenous NDC in Brazil represents the strength with which our peoples are approaching COP30. We are reinforcing the importance of placing ourselves at the center of the climate debate, as we are essential to confronting the crisis,” said Kleber Karipuna, executive coordinator of APIB. “It is impossible, in the 21st century, with all the evidence recognizing our role as protectors of the territories, that we are not included as a vital strategy Brazil can offer in the fight against climate change.”

Two powerful protest marches led by Indigenous Peoples made headlines during ATL. The first, themed “Our Demarcation Is Our Climate,” denounced the ongoing delay in land titling and the political attacks on Indigenous rights. The second, “Without Demarcation, There Is No Democracy,” called attention to legislative rollbacks such as the Time Limit Thesis and PL 2903. Despite facing violent repression by police during both mobilizations, Indigenous leaders received strong messages of support from international allies and movements, including the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC), reaffirming global solidarity with their struggle.

During the ATL, two significant protests took place, each addressing critical issues for Indigenous communities. The first, “Apib Somos Todos Nós: Nosso Futuro Não Está à Venda” (“APIB: We Are All One: Our Future Is Not for Sale”), was a direct response to the growing threats against Indigenous Peoples rights in Brazil, particularly a new proposal by the Supreme Court that threatens to strip Indigenous Peoples of their veto power over economic activities on their ancestral lands. This draft bill, which seeks to open up indigenous territories to mining, hydroelectric plants, and roads, represents an unprecedented move in Brazilian history. 

The second protest, the “Marcha ‘A Resposta Somos Nós‘” (“March: ‘We Are the Answer'”), was joined by diverse groups from Brazilian civil society, including Quilombolas, small-scale farmers, youth, and other grassroots movements. The march’s central message emphasized that the solutions to the climate crisis lie with the people on the ground — those whose livelihoods are directly tied to the environment. This message resonated beyond Brazil’s borders, aiming to unite movements globally on the road to COP30. The march ended with an unprovoked police crackdown on the demonstrators, an act that APIB condemned, reaffirming that their protest had been peaceful. 

In a major diplomatic moment, APIB, in partnership with the GATC and COIAB, hosted a high-level embassy meeting titled “We Are the Answer: Indigenous Visions for COP30.” Over 15 embassies participated, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the European Union. This meeting was a significant step towards ensuring that Indigenous voices are not only heard but also included in the official climate negotiations. The goal is for COP30 to leave a lasting impact, one in which Indigenous participation is further entrenched in the results of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

APIB also announced the creation of the Indigenous International Commission for COP30, a historic step toward formalizing Indigenous participation in global climate governance. The Commission will be led by Minister Sonia Guajajara and include representatives from APIB, COIAB, ANMIGA, the Amazonian G9, and the GATC.

“We are here in solidarity with Indigenous women in Brazil, we are here for the right to territory and life. We stand firm in our solidarity with the peoples of Brazil,” said Sara Omi, an Emberá leader from Panama and representative of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC).

The international presence at ATL 2025 was unprecedented, with leaders from Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Australia, Fiji and other countries standing in solidarity with Brazil’s Indigenous movement. The GATC delegation brought voices from across the world — emphasizing that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are not only on the frontlines of the climate crisis, but also at the forefront of the solutions.

As APIB celebrates two decades of mobilizing for rights and territories, ATL 2025 has positioned Indigenous Peoples at the center of climate leadership, strengthening their collective voice on the road to COP30 in Belém.