Our Conservation and Social Benefits -- On Farms
Because agriculture uses more land and water than any other human activity -- and is the leading cause of habitat destruction and species extinction -- the Rainforest Alliance is working with environmental organizations throughout Latin America to help farmers implement sustainable agricultural practices. This means ensuring that their lands will remain productive for generations, that farm workers and their families are treated fairly and have access to clean water, education and medical care, and that habitat critically important to wildlife is conserved.
- Today more than 15% of all the bananas in international trade come from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. These farms have improved water quality, instituted programs for recycling and safe waste disposal, dramatically decreased agrochemical use, and improved the quality of life for workers.
- In the midst of a worldwide coffee crisis that threatens the livelihoods of an estimated 20 million people, the Rainforest Alliance is ensuring that coffee workers are paid fairly, treated with respect, and that the crop they tend does not contribute to soil erosion, water contamination or forest destruction. More than 45,000 farm families are directly benefiting from Rainforest Alliance certification, which guarantees access to medical facilities and schools for farm children.
- As a result of certification, Nueva Granada, a shade farm in Guatemala, planted 30,000 additional trees -- an improvement that has meant a noticeable increase in the number of butterflies, birds and small animals on the farm.
- On Finca Santa Isabel, 60% of the 6,000-acre farm is dedicated to shade-grown coffee production. The remaining 40% of the land has been set aside as a nature preserve.
- Sustainable Agriculture Network biologists and agronomists have developed a set of guidelines for environmentally and socially responsible orange production, and have inspected and certified 17,414 acres in Costa Rica, including a 7,000-acre farm bordering on the Guanacaste Conservation Area. The farm will be an important determiner of the success of conservation efforts within the park.
- Ornamental fern growers in Costa Rica are improving measures to protect worker health and safety and safeguard against soil and water pollution. The Rainforest Alliance has certified as well-managed and sustainable over 17% of the fern production Costa Rica, the world's leading exporter of ferns.
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