BTRF is conceived as a mechanism to support, facilitate and streamline existing rainforest conservation efforts, rather than rival or detract from them. In this respect, its commitments are to:

• Build on the vast reservoir of goodwill and expertise already present in the field by making available new emerging strategies, multi-disciplinary networks, institutional support and sources of funding.
• Propose rather than impose, unite rather than duplicate.
• Respect the independence and policy discretions of partner and other organizations.
• Address and identify applicable solutions to the problems traditionally hampering the work of environmental agencies, forest departments, governmental and non-governmental organizations.