CFES grew from a network of civil society organizations united by one fundamental commitment: ensuring that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) have the capacity and authority to manage their forest resources sustainably.

Our approach is built on direct field experience and designed to serve two interconnected needs — communities who steward the forest, and public and private sector partners with commitments in social equity, biodiversity, and climate. Through Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles and structured multi-stakeholder collaboration, we deliver contextual, measurable solutions across three core services: Performance-Based Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), community capacity building, and program governance.

Our Performance-Based PES scheme provides direct incentives to IPLC for verified conservation actions — forest patrols, land rehabilitation, and targeted support for marginalized groups and women's enterprise collectives. Payments are triggered when communities meet jointly agreed performance indicators, creating a system that is equitable, transparent, and accountable to all parties. This model demonstrates that community wellbeing and stakeholder commitments can be advanced within the same framework.

On the capacity side, we provide technical training, managerial support, and hands-on assistance in forest resource management. The goal goes beyond knowledge transfer — we strengthen community self-reliance as long-term forest stewards. When rehabilitation and conservation succeed, the benefits extend beyond the ecosystem: they expand economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of the people who protect it.