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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.... Continue Reading
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, nine forestry concessions safeguard around 353,000 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.
*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.
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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.... Continue Reading
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Our 360 Approach to Stopping Rainforest Destruction
Our proven approach to protecting forests puts communities and livelihoods first.... Continue Reading
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Community: The Secret to Stopping Deforestation in Guatemala
The forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve have boasted a near-zero deforestation rate for 20 years.... Continue Reading
All resources for Forests
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The Rainforest Alliance’s Work in Mexico
We are working to grow Mexico’s domestic market for sustainably produced products.
Topics: CoffeeIn the FieldMexico
The World’s Best Forest Guardians: Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples and local communities have an unsurpassed connection to the Earth's forests.
Topics: 35th AnniversaryInsights
Impact Study
Impacts of Cocoa Sustainability Initiatives in West Africa
This scientific article analyses the social, economic, and environmental effects of voluntary standards initiatives and corporate initiatives in the cocoa sector in West Africa, largely focusing on
Project Profile: Elevating the Position of Women in Three of the World’s Key Biodiversity Landscapes
We are scaling up ongoing projects in three areas across Latin-America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, to support women in leading the way forward in community-based landscape management and restoration, as well as nature-based business opportunities.
Topics: In the Field
Project Profile: The Business Case for Collective Landscape Action
Through this initiative, the Rainforest Alliance will work with several organizations to address global environmental challenges associated with commodity-driven deforestation in some of the world’s most important tropical ecosystems and sourcing regions.
How Our ‘Forest Allies’ Work Together to Support Thriving Rural Communities
Our Forest Allies initiative leverages the enormous power of our partnerships to support forest communities as they address the climate crisis and combat deforestation. Here are the six landscapes where our Forest Allies are currently active.
