Forest protection: Why Germany must continue to support indigenous peoples

Last month, the world received dire forest news: Global deforestation increased by a staggering 80% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Our forests are burning, and with them, the future of our communities and planet.

The news came as Indigenous peoples from all the tropical forest regions of the world gathered in Congo Brazzaville for the first global congress of Indigenous peoples. Here, they united not just as communities, but as guardians of the planet's most vital ecosystems.

Now, as Germany gets ready to host the important preparatory meeting in Bonn ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year, the congress in Brazzaville raised an important message from the Indigenous peoples of the tropical forests: we need Germany to recommit to its international leadership for climate and nature and continue its strong support of Indigenous peoples.

The science is crystal clear on the role of tropical forests. Tropical rainforests are an essential part of mitigating and adapting to climate change, and protecting the world’s biodiversity. They house more than half of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, and store carbon equivalent to 1500 years of German CO2 emissions.

The science is equally clear on the significance of Indigenous stewardship in protecting rainforests: where Indigenous peoples have rights to territories and the resources to protect them, deforestation drops dramatically. We’ve seen it ourselves. On satellite images, Indigenous territories appear as vibrant green islands in a sea of destruction—surrounded by areas scarred by roads, industrial agriculture, and mining. These forests do not protect themselves, Indigenous peoples do.

Despite this, Indigenous peoples in every tropical forest in the world are facing threats to their lives, rights and territories. In the majority of cases, the threats are driven by big business, from large-scale agriculture and logging to extractive industries, be it oil or minerals for batteries to power the green transition.

With the increasing deforestation and pressure on the Indigenous peoples that protect them, the world needs COP30 to be a turning point. Therefore, it is disheartening to see that many countries are instead scaling back their international climate finance and that the United States is pulling out completely of international climate cooperation. While no concrete measures have yet been taken in Germany, we also see worrying signs that the new government will reduce Germany’s international climate role.

Germany has long been a trusted ally of the Indigenous peoples of the tropical forests. For years, it has stood with Indigenous peoples and supported forest protection through concrete financial commitments. In 2021, Germany helped lead a historic pledge to increase funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. That support has helped Indigenous peoples advance the recognition of their rights and strengthened their role as stewards of the forest.

But the reorganization of the German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has given little reason to believe that it will maintain Germany’s leadership in the fight against climate change. On its first day, it scrapped the Special Envoy for International Climate Policy. The coalition agreement does promise to contribute its fair share to international climate efforts, but it also states an intention to cut the international development support that this climate finance is taken from. This would be a distinct shift of direction.

This is a moment of choice. Germany can either retreat—or reaffirm its position as a global climate leader. Now, there is an opportunity to show the world that solidarity and long-term vision still matter. That Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities-led forest protection is not charity—it’s a solution. A proven, cost-effective, and just solution.

Indigenous peoples are not asking for a blank check. They are inviting to a partnership. They are offering their knowledge, their commitment, and their lives—once again—for the forests that sustain us all.

Before COP30, and with the world now again gathered in Bonn, we strongly encourage Germany to renew and expand its pledge to Indigenous peoples. Because if we truly want to halt deforestation, this is where investments make the greatest impact.