Climate policies like REDD+ often fail to prioritise Indigenous peoples, undermining their effectiveness in tackling the root causes of deforestation and climate change, according to a recent study.
Most Southeast Asian nations missed the COP16 deadline to submit updated biodiversity pledges. Competing priorities and financing gaps have hampered nature commitments, say experts.
Microfinance institutions in Cambodia, accused of predatory lending, are pivoting to green bonds while borrowers, burdened by debt and climate impacts, struggle to survive.
There has been a severe shortfall in funding for natural park management, and forest rangers are bearing the brunt of these budget cuts. This is despite the risks they face, and amid an expansion of top-down efforts to establish more government-protected areas which demand enforcement and patrol resources.