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Founder of the Kleinhans Fellowship for Research in Tropical Non-Timber Forest Products and Longtime Supporter
In 1989, with support from Elysabeth Kleinhans, the Rainforest Alliance began to study the management and use of tropical forest resources including Brazil nuts, fruits and medicinal plants. These non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provide communities with medicines, food, firewood and a source of income if properly managed. They can also offer communities an incentive to protect their valuable forest resources. Kleinhans Fellows study the ecology of tropical forests, resources with economic potential, local and international markets and the logistical and economic challenges inherent to bringing those products to market. Kleinhans Fellowship research is intended to serve as a model for communities seeking opportunities for sustainable NTFP extraction. How were you introduced to the Rainforest Alliance? In 1987 I was in law school at New York University (NYU) and noticed flyers everywhere announcing a conference on tropical rainforests. The event, at NYU, was organized by Daniel Katz along with other founders of the Rainforest Alliance and essentially launched the organization. I was exceedingly impressed by Daniel and by a representative from Madagascar's government who stood up and publicly admitted that his country was an ecological disaster and that it was their own fault. It was the first time I'd ever heard someone in government take responsibility that way. The following year, I went to Madagascar, and indeed it was a disaster. Have you been back to Madagascar? No, but the second Kleinhans Fellowship went to Daniel Razafimamonjy, a plant ecologist working in the Ranomafana National Park in southeastern Madagascar. Part of his project was to create a market for baskets woven by women who collected reeds from a fish pond. Why your focus on non-timber forest products? Because in 1990, that's what I figured I could do to help. At the time, the Rainforest Alliance wasn't working in that area, and I wanted to support research with lasting effects. Probably because I spent years as a librarian, it was important to me that research was conducted and disseminated for the benefits of others. Has the focus of the Kleinhans Fellowships changed over the years? Yes in that they've become more economically driven. To me, the key is always getting products to market. I learned that when I visited Madagascar. Because the country's capital is landlocked, people living there never ate fish since there was no easy way to transport it. The key to giving people an incentive to conserve their forest resources is to create an economic incentive for them to do so. What's your day job? I run the Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical Foundation, which owns, created and funds 59E59 Theaters, a three theater complex where nonprofit companies can produce their plays. What holds your interest in the Rainforest Alliance? I've been very impressed with the certification program. To me, certification provides a long-term solution. If you can help people to understand that a sustainable approach is their best interest economically, that's what matters.
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