When communities lead, forests thrive.

Kawari funds the rights, capacity, and governance structures that make forest carbon markets high integrity — ensuring Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities lead the initiatives taking place on their lands.

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Latest: A call for stronger standards

The Kawari Fund has joined 30 Indigenous Peoples and Local Community representative organizations in submitting recommendations to the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat.

The submission calls for stronger rights protections, more inclusive governance, and robust social integrity mechanisms in ART's TREES 3.0 draft jurisdictional REDD+ standard.
Read the Full Submission

Our impact, by the numbers.

From the Amazon to East Kalimantan, Kawari is funding the rights and capacity that make forest carbon markets credible.

  • 36%

    of the world's remaining forests are stewarded by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

  • 1.33 million

    in targeted grants to promote and secure their rights in forest carbon markets

  • 9 countries

    where Kawari has made grants, across three continents

  • 23 jurisdictions

    with forest carbon finance initiatives supported

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The carbon market needs a trusted, independent voice for Indigenous rights.

Kawari exists to be that voice — channelling funds across five focus areas that together build the rights, capacity, and governance structures that high-integrity carbon markets depend on.

  • Rights

    Integrating safeguard requirements in the design of forest carbon initiatives

  • Engagement

    Supporting the meaningful participation and self-determination of communities

  • Capacity

    Enhancing skills to navigate complex carbon markets

  • Governance

    Creating enabling conditions for rights-based forest carbon programs

  • Collaboration

    Bridging communities and jurisdictional governments

What does Kawari mean?

In the Inga language of southern Colombia, kawari means a panoramic view of the forest — a sweeping perspective that holds the whole landscape in sight at once.

It is this spirit that guides the fund: bringing together communities, governments, and markets in a way that is holistic, rights-based, and inclusive.

Like the ecosystems Kawari works to protect, the fund works best when all its parts are working together.