
	december 2012 \| Become a Member

studying the benefits of certification

How does Rainforest Alliance certification affect farmers' livelihoods, families, communities and environments? To answer these key questions, we commissioned the Committee on Sustainability Assessment to conduct research on cocoa farms in Côte d'Ivoire. The results were inspiring: certified cocoa farmers produced more cocoa per acre; earned a higher net income; implemented more soil and water conservation measures; and demonstrated an increased commitment to community engagement.


	A Reflection on COP18 The year's fiercely hot temperatures, searing droughts and intense hurricanes served as startling reminders of the urgent need to develop immediate, long-term solutions to global climate change. Yet world leaders who gathered at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar, delivered little more than a transitional agreement -- and a decision to work toward a more substantive accord by 2015.						A Romantic Commitment Thanks to a new sustainability commitment from Harlequin North America, the leading publisher of books for women, romance novels might no longer be considered guilty pleasures! This month, Harlequin -- which sources more than 18,000 metric tons of paper annually -- was awarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certification from the Rainforest Alliance. Based in Toronto, Harlequin is currently purchasing 15 percent of its paper from FSC-certified forests and has pledged to scale up its commitment to sustainable sourcing. Learn more about the commitment.



	The Farm Cove Forest Carbon Project In eastern Maine, a new forest carbon project is set to eliminate some 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions throughout its 100-year lifespan -- an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 156,000 cars. The Farm Cove Forest Carbon Project, which covers 19,118 acres within the Farm Cove Community Forest, is the first Improved Forest Management forest carbon project outside of California to achieve Climate Action Reserve verification through the Rainforest Alliance.

	The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
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