Mobilizing private finance for Indigenous-led forest protection and bioeconomy innovation
Forest Guardians Connect is a UNDP-hosted platform that mobilizes private finance directly to Indigenous-led forest conservation and bioeconomy initiatives.
We connect companies and philanthropies with trusted, rights-based opportunities in forest territories - unlocking climate, biodiversity, and livelihood benefits while ensuring transparent and ethical engagement.
The platform offers:
A trusted gateway to Indigenous-led climate and biodiversity solutions vetted by UNDP
Rights-based partnership models aligned with FPIC, ESG standards, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights
Direct access to innovators protecting the world’s most critical forest territories
Measurable impact for companies and philanthropies seeking high-integrity nature and climate outcomes
Call to Action
* Partner or Seed Fund Forest Guardians Connect
* Express your interest
* Join the platform community
Companies, philanthropies, and investors can apply to explore partnership opportunities, receive updates, and engage with Indigenous innovators.
Download two-pager about the Platform here.
Here are examples of the potential of the platform:
UNDP and Lavazza partnership to certify and market first ever deforestation-free coffee from Ecuador, a pilot being scaled to other countries:
Our founding partners at Sacred Forests bridge brands with Indigenous territories and their seed funding helped support the design phase of the Platform. They have developed a model for rewarding “conservation as a service” in an effort to correct the “Trillion Dollar Blindspot of carbon logic.”
Sacred Forests’ key partner is Rituals, and their first joint pilot is working with the Arhuaco Indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada: https://www.rituals.com/en-us/mag-the-arhuaco-sacred-forest-rituality.html
The Arhuaco partner organization, ASOARHUACO, won the UNDP Equator Prize in 2024 for their longstanding efforts securing livelihoods and protecting nature. Watch a short film about their work here: https://youtu.be/ORugXP8TEgU?si=B99dPBpuMOQjNnZ1
As a result of this successful pilot, Rituals has made a 10% profit pledge to continue supporting Indigenous forest guardians long-term: https://www.rituals.com/en-us/lp/profitpledge
Amazon Investor Coalition joined the platform as a founding funding partner. They met several grantees in meetings of the platform, such as Con Amazonia.
Our partners Rurban connect Indigenous artisans with fashion brands. We connected them with Hakhu Amazon, an Indigenous Kichwa designer and women artisan collective: https://vimeo.com/1121164982
Fundación Hakhu won the UNDP Equator Prize in 2025: https://www.equatorinitiative.org/2025/07/31/fundacion-hakhu-amazonia/
Contact:
Nina Kantcheva | Global Advisor on Indigenous Peoples | UNDP
Email: nina.kantcheva@undp.org
Josep Garí | Head of Climate, Forests & Land | UNDP
E-mail: josep.gari@undp.org
Impacts
1 — UNDP & Lavazza: Deforestation‑Free Coffee
Description:
UNDP and Lavazza partnered with Indigenous communities in Ecuador to produce and certify the first‑ever deforestation‑free coffee, setting a new precedent for ethical and climate‑positive sourcing.
Impact Metric:
Over 400 Indigenous farmers supported in piloting a zero‑deforestation supply chain now being scaled to additional countries.
2 — Sacred Forests: Conservation as a Service
Description:
As a founding partner, Sacred Forests created a new model that rewards “conservation as a service,” channeling private-sector funding directly to Indigenous forest stewards and helping shape the platform’s design.
Impact Metric :
Early investments unlocked seed funding that catalyzed the platform and strengthened conservation efforts across multiple Indigenous territories.
3 — Rituals x Arhuaco: 10% Profit Pledge
Description:
Rituals and Sacred Forests co‑designed a regenerative sourcing partnership with the Arhuaco people of Colombia, uplifting cultural practices and strengthening forest protection.
Impact Metric:
Rituals’ 10% profit pledge now provides long‑term financial support to Indigenous guardians protecting one of the world’s most biodiverse mountain ranges.
4 — ASOARHUACO: Equator Prize 2024
Description:
ASOARHUACO was awarded the UNDP Equator Prize for its leadership in defending the Sierra Nevada ecosystem while advancing Indigenous livelihoods and rights.
Impact Metric:
The association has empowered more than 600 Arhuaco families to sustain traditional livelihoods rooted in forest conservation.
5 — Amazon Investor Coalition: Impact-Driven Investment
Description:
The Amazon Investor Coalition joined as a founding funder, bringing mission‑aligned investors into direct dialogue with Indigenous leaders across the Amazon basin.
Impact Metric :
Investor engagement facilitated through the platform has supported partnerships reaching community groups such as Con Amazonia across several Amazonian regions.
6 — Rurban & Hakhu Amazon: Indigenous Fashion Innovation
Description:
Rurban collaborated with Hakhu Amazon, a Kichwa women‑led design collective, to connect rainforest artisans with ethical global fashion markets.
Impact Metric :
Hakhu’s artisan network has increased women’s income by supporting hundreds of Indigenous creators producing sustainable Amazonian fashion.
7 — Fundación Hakhu: Equator Prize 2025
Description:
Fundación Hakhu, facilitated through platform partnerships, received the 2025 UNDP Equator Prize for empowering Indigenous women artisans and conserving the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Impact Metric:
The initiative has strengthened economic resilience for 300+ Indigenous women while expanding community-run conservation enterprises.