Guidance for Communities Engaging with Project Developers

Rainforest Foundation UK, SDSG. October 2026

Suggested Citation:

RFUK, SDSG. “Protecting Community Rights and Interests in Carbon Projects Guidance for communities engaging with project developers.” Rainforest Foundation UK, Sustainable Development Strategies Group.

What are these checklists for?

These checklists are a practical tool designed to help landholders and communities understand and protect their rights when a developer approaches them about a voluntary carbon credit project. It is intended for use in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where private developers seek to carry out such projects on community or customary land, with the aim of generating carbon credits for sale on international markets. There is often an imbalance of power between developers and communities. Developers may have lawyers, money, and technical experts that communities do not have, often leading to unfair agreements and other severe impacts on local populations. These checklists aims to help close that gap. It gives landholders the information they need to make informed decisions about whether to participate in a project, and on what terms.

The checklists guide landholders through the key issues and questions that should be raised at each stage of engagement with a developer. It is structured across four stages:

Checklist 1: Initial Contact with Developer – use this when a developer first approaches the community.

Checklist 2: During Negotiation and Before Signing an Agreement – use this while terms are being discussed and before signing any documents.

Checklist 3: Understanding the Project (Project Management Plans) – use this to make sure the community understands what the project involves, what activities will take place on the land, and what each party will be responsible for.

Checklist 4: Benefit Sharing Arrangements – use this to make sure the community receives fair, clear, and enforceable compensation for the use of its land.