Evaluation and Research

Projects

In an ongoing effort to quantify and qualify the positive impacts of our work, the Rainforest Alliance is involved in a number of projects across many regions and sectors. They include...

General

Project	Description	Location	Status
Rainforest Alliance Global Indicators	We are analyzing data on aspects of environmental, social & economic performance from agriculture, forestry & tourism operations working with the Rainforest Alliance.	Global	In Progress

Agriculture

Project	Description	Location	Status
Costs & Benefits of Sustainable Banana Certification for Two Small Farms in Latin America	We are conducting a formal analysis of the costs & benefits of banana certification on two farms.	Guatemala & Costa Rica	In Progress
Economic Study of Rainforest Alliance Certified™ & Non-Certified Coffee Farms	Using a cost-benefit analysis, CENICAFE is comparing the socioeconomic conditions on Rainforest Alliance Certified and non-certified coffee farms.*	Colombia	In Progress
Shade Coffee Landscapes in Colombia	CENICAFE is analyzing forest cover, shade coffee & connectivity.	Colombia	In Progress
Shade Coffee Landscapes in El Salvador	CENICAFE is analyzing forest cover, shade coffee & connectivity.	El Salvador	In Progress
Soil Biodiversity on Rainforest Alliance Certified & Non-Certified Coffee Farms	Study aims to compare the soil arthropod diversity & physio-chemical properties of soil on Rainforest Alliance Certified and non-certified coffee farms.*	Colombia	In Progress
Use of Shaded Coffee Farms as Habitat & Dispersion Corridors for Night Monkeys	Project uses radio collars to study movements of night monkeys in forest patches near coffee farms.*	Colombia	In Progress
Water Quality on Rainforest Alliance Certified & Non-Certified Coffee Farms	We are comparing water quality on Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee farms with water quality on non-certified coffee farms using visual & physical-chemical analyses.*	Colombia	In Progress

*Study carried out by the Colombia National Center for Coffee Research (CENICAFE)

Forestry

Project	Description	Location	Status
Are There Economic Benefits from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification? An Analysis of Pennsylvania State Timber Sales	Using a statistical model, we determined that prices paid to FSC-certified Pennsylvania State Forests by FSC-certified buyers are higher than those paid by non-certified buyers.	United States	Complete
Biodiversity, Deforestation & Degradation Study	This is a baseline research effort to study the impact of a USAID/National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) project.	Mexico	Planning Stages
Deforestation & Wildfires in Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR)	We analyzed satellite imagery & determined that FSC-certified areas of Guatemala's MBR experienced fewer wildfires & less deforestation than other areas of the MBR.	Guatemala	Complete
Impacts of FSC Certification in Canadian Boreal Forests: Exploring Partnerships Between Certified Forest Companies & Aboriginal Communities	We are conducting case studies of three companies in Canada's boreal forests & determining how FSC certification has affected their relationships with aboriginal communities.	Canada	In Progress
Jaguars & FSC Certification in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR)	We are examining the positive impact of FSC certification on jaguar populations in the MBR.	Guatemala	In Progress

Tourism

Project	Description	Location	Status
Impacts of Sustainable Tourism Best Management Practices in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica	We analyzed the environmental, social and economic performance of five hotels before & after the implementation of "best management practices," finding strong improvement in all hotels.	Costa Rica	Complete