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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 Impact


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

Building a sustainable forest economy

US$69.7 million

earned by our Maya Biosphere Reserve community partners from 2013-2021*

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).

*2013-2021 earnings from 100+ small and medium-sized forest-based businesses in the community concessions of Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve.

Improving farmer incomes

40% higher cocoa income

on West African small-scale certified farms*

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

*Three studies published in 2018-2020 reveal that income from cocoa production is 40% higher on average on Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified farms in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, compared to non-certified farms:

    • Brako et al. 2020
    • Iddrisu et al. 2020
    • Ingram et al. 2018

 

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.

Article

Our Work to Improve Rural Livelihoods

To improve rural livelihoods, we foster deep collaboration between farmers, civil society organizations, companies, and governments.
Learn More
Article

Protecting Biodiversity and Livelihoods in Cameroon

Our work in this region lends support for community forest enterprises as they plan sustainable forest management activities, utilize best forestry practices, boost their business skills, and engage in strategies for value-added processing and penetrating premium markets for timber and other forest products.
Learn More
Organizational Updates

Living Income: Moving from Measurement to Action

As founding members of the Living Income Community of Practice, we’re committed to finding solutions to address the living wage gap.
Learn More
guatemala-textile-header
Article

Guatemalan Indigenous Entrepreneur Meets with Kamala Harris

A longtime participant in our programs in Guatemala met with Vice President Harris.
Learn More

All resources for Livelihoods


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Sell Sheet

Improving Farmer Food System Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture

A key aspect of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is helping farmers to improve farm productivity, thus achieve higher incomes and improved standard of living.  Our four main interconnected areas of
View: Improving Farmer Food System Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture

Published on May 5, 2022
Available in: English

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramCertification

Members of the Productive Forest Restoration Team are all smiles for a group photo.

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...]

Published on May 2, 2022

Topics: InsightsMaya Biosphere ReserveShared Responsibility

Project Profile: Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods Program

According to a United Nations report, approximately 12 million people in Kenya live on degraded land and food productivity has fallen behind the rate of population growth. This has resulted in farmland extending up the mountain and encroaching into protected forests.[Read more...]

Published on April 22, 2022

Topics: In the FieldIntegrated Landscape ManagementKenya

Five Coffee Farmers Who Inspire Us

Coffee farmers protect forests and biodiversity, build their farms’ climate resilience, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. Here are five remarkable individuals who motivate us even more than the coffee they grow.[Read more...]

Published on April 12, 2022

Topics: 35th AnniversaryCoffeeIn the Field

The New Statesman
Media Coverage

“You can’t be a CEO without a carbon agenda”: Santiago Gowland

Published on March 31, 2022 | The New Statesman

The CEO of the Rainforest Alliance on the need for businesses to bring about real environmental reform.

Topics: Certification

Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa

We work with almost one million cocoa farmers to build thriving livelihoods and climate resilience through certification and training.[Read more...]

Published on March 21, 2022

Topics: CocoaInsights

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The Rainforest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-3377893.

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In 2020, 79% of our income supported sustainability programs. Learn More »

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