Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) has launched a new initiative called “Treasury for the Trees.” The goal is to raise 100 Bitcoin (BTC), worth around $10 million, to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. This move aligns with a growing trend where governments, corporations, and institutions are building Bitcoin-backed treasuries to hedge against inflation and financial instability.
RFUS aims to use this reserve to triple its operating budget over the next 10 years. The organization has worked for 37 years to help Indigenous communities in Peru, Brazil, and Guyana protect their ancestral lands from deforestation.
Why Bitcoin? A Hedge Against Inflation and a Long-Term Strategy
In an interview on The Agenda podcast, RFUS executive director Suzanne Pelletier explained why the NGO is adopting Bitcoin. She said that holding cash reserves in traditional currencies is problematic due to inflation and the declining value of the dollar.
“With inflation and dollar debasement, the money that people have given us is losing value,” Pelletier said. She pointed out that companies like MicroStrategy have already embraced Bitcoin as a treasury asset, and RFUS wants to apply the same idea in the nonprofit sector.
Pelletier believes now is the right time to launch the initiative because of Bitcoin’s market cycles. She noted that Bitcoin historically experiences price growth after halving events and that regulatory changes could also make this a good moment to invest.
How RFUS Will Use Bitcoin
Unlike other Bitcoin reserves that restrict spending, RFUS plans to actively use the funds to support conservation projects. The organization estimates that it costs $2 per acre per year to monitor and protect rainforest lands.
A 1 Bitcoin donation (currently around $98,000) could help Indigenous communities protect 50,000 acres for one year. RFUS has outlined specific ways in which Bitcoin donations can contribute to conservation work. A donation of 0.0015 BTC (about $147) can fund satellite monitoring for 50 acres, enabling the foundation to track deforestation and illegal activities in the rainforest. A larger contribution of 0.0154 BTC (around $1,500) can provide an annual stipend for an Indigenous forest patroller, ensuring that local communities have the resources to protect their land.
RFUS focuses on supporting Indigenous people, unlike some conservation organizations that concentrate solely on land protection. The foundation provides legal, technical, and advocacy support to Indigenous groups working to defend their ancestral territories.
Indigenous Participation in Decision-Making
RFUS operates in full partnership with Indigenous communities. Pelletier emphasized that the foundation does not impose its own agenda but co-creates projects with local leaders.
“All of our work is done in partnership with Indigenous peoples,” she said. “We always work in partnership, not just consultation, with communities.”
Above all, the Bitcoin reserve could provide long-term financial sustainability for RFUS’s conservation programs, ensuring more funding stability while helping Indigenous groups preserve their land and culture.
