Livelihoods

Rural Prosperity, Responsible Business

What's at Stake

Across the tropics, farming and forest communities face a daily struggle to cover life’s basic needs. Breaking the cycle of rural poverty—and tackling the ensuing impacts for people and nature—is critical for a more sustainable future for us all.

Rural Poverty, Deforestation, and Human Rights

Rural poverty is at the root of many of our most pressing global challenges, from child labor and poor working conditions to deforestation for agricultural expansion. Economic desperation exacerbates these complex issues, which are deeply embedded in global supply chains. The result is a vicious cycle of environmental destruction and human suffering.

Our Work

Our Work: Livelihoods

The Rainforest Alliance partners with frontline communities to build thriving rural economies rooted in more sustainable growing practices and forest stewardship. We also promote responsible business practices to ensure that companies recognize and reward sustainability transformation—in the field as well as the boardroom.

Improving Rural Livelihoods

Improving sustainable livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers and forest communities is the most effective way to lift rural people out of poverty—and nourish a global population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. The cultivation of rural prosperity is core to our vision of a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.

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Women shelling Brazil Nuts in Madre de Dios, Peru

Cultivating Indigenous Forest Economies in the Amazon

We've partnered with an indigenous federation to link their sustainable businesses to the global marketplace.

Ghanaian Cocoa Farmers Reap the Benefits of Sustainability

A community-led Land Management Board has made sustainable, climate-smart farming the norm.

LOL KOÓPTE’ indigenous women's cooperative

Indigenous Women Launch Furniture Business in Mexico

Sustainably harvested wood is at the heart of this new business run by indigenous Maya women.

Learn more about how we are working to achieve our mission.

View our approach

Our Impact

Our work to cultivate rural prosperity brings real, measurable benefits for farmers, forest communities and Indigenous peoples around the world.

amount earned by indigenous and forest communities

US$63 Million

earned by our Maya Biosphere Reserve community partners from 2013-2020.

Building a Sustainable Forest Economy

The Rainforest Alliance has been working with the community forestry concessions in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve since 1999—helping to develop thriving forest enterprises based on the responsible harvesting and processing of non-timber forest products (such as nuts and palm fronds), in addition to timber for export, according to the rigorous standard of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

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people trained in earth-friendly land management practices

2.3 Million+ Certified Farmers

following our standards

Improving Farmer Incomes

In more than 70 countries, we offer training to farmers in more sustainable practices that boost climate resilience, conserve biodiversity, and promote worker wellbeing—while also helping to increase productivity and improve their incomes.

Read the Report

Learn more ways we are achieving real results.

View our impact dashboard

Get Involved

Join us to create a better future for people and nature.