Article
Our Mission to Protect the World’s Forests
We are working in 60+ countries to build sustainable, rural economies—a proven strategy to keep our forests standing.
What's at Stake
Source of air, water, food, shelter, medicine: Forests are critical to the survival of every living thing on Earth. They also provide livelihoods for 1.6 billion people. Yet, alarmingly, deforestation rates are accelerating—triggering a global chain reaction of increased greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures, and devastating forest fires.
Trees: Our Best Defense Against Climate Change
Forests are a powerful natural climate solution. As they grow, trees absorb carbon emissions, converting them into clean oxygen. In fact, conserving forests could cut an estimated 7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year—the equivalent of getting rid of every car on the planet.
Our Impact
The Rainforest Alliance has developed innovative, farm and landscape-level strategies to tackle tropical deforestation—a proven, 360-degree approach that addresses not only immediate environmental threats, but also the underlying economic pressures that contribute to them.
Strong Forests
0.4% deforestation rate
in the forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala*
In Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve, 11 forestry concessions safeguard around 500,000 hectares of the largest and most important tropical forest north of the Amazon. These community-run concessions have boasted a near-zero deforestation rate since 2004—a remarkable feat given that adjacent areas suffer some of the highest deforestation rates in the Americas.
*11 community forestry concessions in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve have demonstrated a near-zero deforestation rate, since data collection began in 2000. Data accurate as of December 2019.
Our Crisis Mobilization to the Amazon Fires
USD $1.2 million
raised in emergency funds*
Following the catastrophic fires that engulfed the Amazon in 2019, we raised more than US $1.2 million to help scale up the crisis mobilization of frontline organizations across the region—including essential fire-combat equipment for community fire brigades, and efforts to tackle the root cause of the fires: deforestation.
*Data accurate as of May 2020
Our Work: Forests
Together with forest and farming communities, Indigenous leaders, companies, governments, and global citizens, the Rainforest Alliance works in 70 countries to promote more sustainable land management practices and cultivate thriving rural economies—the most widely proven strategy to keep our tropical forests standing.
Article
Why Our Forests Are Burning
The answer is complex, but at the root of it all: a destructive combination of climate change and reckless land use.
Article
Our 360 Approach to Stopping Rainforest Destruction
Our proven approach to protecting forests puts communities and livelihoods first.
Article
Community: The Secret to Stopping Deforestation in Guatemala
Learn how communities have achieved a near-zero deforestation rate for the last 14 years.
All resources for Forests
Media Coverage
Earth to reach ‘point of no return by 2040’ – What do you think we should do?
Climate change is the single biggest threat to humanity on earth. How many years do we have to save the planet from the climate crisis?
Media Coverage
Food industry must become key driver of ecosystem restoration, says new Rainforest Alliance CEO
Rainforest Alliance’s new CEO, Santiago Gowland, emphasizes that a worldwide shift towards community, Indigenous and nature-led farming is needed in order to reverse the damage from greenhouse gas emissions.
Why Our Forests Are Burning
The answer is complex, but at the root of it all: a destructive combination of climate change and reckless land use.[Read more...]
Topics: Insights
Media Coverage
Amazon rainforest facing most devastating fires ever seen
Experts believe this year’s Amazon rainforest fires could be the worst yet, after deforestation rose 17% on 2020.
Topics: Amazon Basin
Two New Kleinhans Fellows Will Investigate Forest Governance and Community-Centered Conservation in Latin America
The Rainforest Alliance is pleased to announce two new Kleinhans Fellows for 2021. Their diverse, community-based fellowship research will support the Rainforest Alliance’s goal to foster sustainable enterprises for communities living in and around forests. Their tenure as fellows begins September 2021. Jazmín Gonzales Tovar Jazmín Gonzales Tovar brings deep multi-disciplinary research experience on issues […]
Continue Reading
Media Coverage
Why rainforests are important: 9 key reasons we need to fight against deforestation
Rainforests are vital for our survival as a species and for the survival of life on Earth.
