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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.
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.
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Our 360 Approach to Stopping Rainforest Destruction
Our proven approach to protecting forests puts communities and livelihoods first.
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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.
All resources for Forests
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Media Coverage
New ‘Business Case’ launched to reduce cocoa and other commodity-driven deforestation
The Rainforest Alliance, CDP, Clarmondial, Conservation International, and USAID announce a transformational public-private ‘Business Case’ partnership to reduce cocoa and other commodity-driven deforestation, and contribute to global climate and biodiversity goals.
Topics: Cocoa
White Paper
Our Response to the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products
The Rainforest Alliance welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for an EU regulation on deforestation-free products. This proposal is an ambitious move to ensure the success of zero-deforestation
View: Our Response to the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products
Topics: Insights
Forms and Templates
Deforestation Inconsistency Registry
This document is for Certification Bodies to register inconsistencies found in the field during the audit by comparing field observations and the risk assessment results provided by the Rainforest
View: Deforestation Inconsistency Registry
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.[Read more...]
Topics: Insights
An Indonesian Farmer Harnesses the Healing Power of Trees through Reforestation
Reforestation is at the heart of Eko Purnomowidi's work at Klasik Beans, a Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee cooperative he co-founded in West Java, Indonesia.[Read more...]
Shaping Human Rights and Environmental Policy for a Sustainable Future
Advocacy complements the other main areas of our work by shaping policies and practices that will affect agriculture, forests, and business for years and decades to come.[Read more...]
