Almost every project at Rainforest Trust begins with a concept note. These are short documents that provide essential information about the applicant, the proposed project, and the anticipated protected or conserved area.

When deciding whether or not to accept a concept note or application for financial support, we look at several factors to determine the proposed project’s suitability and likelihood of success.

Once a project is accepted, staff at both Rainforest Trust and the applicant organization begin work to ensure a successful project launch and set the project up for achieving its goals.

Rainforest Trust's approach prioritizes authentic respect, support, and collaboration with any local, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant Peoples and communities within or neighboring the proposed project site.

Protecting vulnerable species is central to our mission. To ensure we are safeguarding the acres that most benefit these species, we and our partners rely on an assortment of monitoring tools and techniques.

We specifically look to support capacity-building opportunities that will both strengthen our partner’s ability to achieve and sustainably manage the proposed project, and also increase their conservation impact.

When the unexpected threatens the success of a project, we support our partners as they respond and adapt. Take a look at some of the ways we help our partners respond to wildfires, political turmoil, and other unexpected challenges.

To ensure that project areas remain protected for the long term, our conservation team relies on satellite imagery, geospatial technology, and custom software platforms to track threats and identify changes in forest cover.