The Partner Survey

In November of 2023, Rainforest Trust conducted an anonymous survey of its conservation implementing partners in 50 countries around the globe, using an external agency for this purpose. As a leading funder of local and national conservation NGOs in the tropics and subtropics of the Global South, Rainforest Trust works with organizations around the world to create legally recognized, protected or conserved areas for biodiversity conservation, climate stabilization, and people.

The goal of this survey—the first of an annual series—was to understand our partners’ collective perspectives on the current state of global conservation. We wanted to hear more—in their own words—about the strategies our partners employ to achieve successful conservation results, collaborate with Indigenous and local communities, and address the most significant barriers to conservation.

Respondents identified these key areas of conservation deserving of our focus.

Conservation Practices That Work

• Protecting standing forests
• Global initiatives like 30×30 are having a positive impact on their conservation work
• Reliable, long-term funding
• Sustainable agriculture
• Climate education and awareness
• Developing long-term, mutually respectful relationships with Indigenous and local communities

Barriers to Effective Conservation

• Lack of political will and commitment (both regulatory and financial) from governments to implement conservation
• Need for more and longer-term financial support from global sources
• Habitats are under more climate stress than three years ago
• Species in their region are at near-term or at immediate risk from the impacts of climate change
• Impact of poverty on local communities

Strategic Initiatives

At present, our strategic goals reflect the urgency of biodiversity loss and climate change in the Global South. Special focus areas include the largest rainforests still standing on Earth – the Brazilian Amazon, Congo Basin, and Papua New Guinea – where we have grown our pipeline of projects 2,500% from three projects in 2021 to 77 projects in the pipeline currently, to save millions of acres of high-integrity tropical forest.

READ THE FULL REPORT TO LEARN MORE

Study Methodology

The anonymous survey link was distributed to 207 individuals working at local and national NGOs across 50 countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The 10-minute survey fielded from October 27 – November 13, 2023. A total of 137 responses were collected (over 65% response rate).

Our partners surveyed range from the smallest local organizations fighting to keep outsiders from destroying their environments to national NGOs creating wildlife corridors spanning millions of acres. But the majority of them fall somewhere in between. Of respondents to the survey, 67% of them work for an organization with fewer than 50 employees. We work with committed conservationists and dedicated local professionals who know the land, species, communities and challenges of their regions.

The individuals surveyed were given the opportunity to share their insights and experiences through standard questions as well as individual (anonymous) comments. Their input was sought by Rainforest Trust to inform our critical conservation activities in important ecosystems around the world.

The survey was managed by an external agency, Coax Insights, to ensure complete anonymity. Neither Rainforest Trust nor any third parties, including the press or host governments, had or will have access to specific responses. The survey results were analyzed for averages and trends.

We are committed to providing lasting, on-the-ground conservation solutions, which cannot succeed without the ongoing partnerships we deeply value. The results of the partner survey are critical to understanding the methods that work, those that don’t, and how to reach the future we aspire to, together.