Panel Frames Indigenous Consent as a Right, Not a Risk
COP 31 Side Events • United NationsNovember 10, 2026
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Indigenous leaders and a major timberland investor reached the same conclusion at a COP31 side event on Nov. 10, 2026: forest money moves when land rights are secure and communities hold real power. The informational panel, "Closing the Forest Finance Gap: Scaling Investment in Forest Landscapes," took no votes. It did map where capital is stuck and why.
- Free, prior and informed consent framed as a right, including the right to say no.
- Forest Stewardship Council certification pitched as a trust bridge between investors and Indigenous communities.
- Land tenure, accreditation and exclusion named as top barriers to forest finance.
- $1.2B Cerrado restoration fund closed early and over target, according to the investor on the panel.
- Indigenous speakers pressed for direct, long-term funding through endowment-style models.
The basics: Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is the principle that Indigenous peoples must agree to projects affecting their lands before those projects begin. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies forest management and maintains a Permanent Indigenous Peoples' Committee.
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