Thriving Communities, Healthy Landscapes
We're helping more than two million farmers embrace more sustainable growing practices that can help build resilience to climate change and boost yields.
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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:
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.
Our Work to Improve Rural Livelihoods
To improve rural livelihoods, we foster deep collaboration between farmers, civil society organizations, companies, and governments.
Our Work with the Global Living Wage Coalition
The Rainforest Alliance believes that workers around the world should be paid enough money to provide a decent life for themselves and their families.
Innovative Ways to Enhance Living Income for Cocoa Farmers
At the Rainforest Alliance, we believe in a shared responsibility approach that encourages companies to do their part in ensuring a living income for farmers. This is the basis of our initiatives, the Living Income Module and the Living Income Fund.
All resources for Livelihoods
Rainforest Alliance & Nestlé Cocoa Plan: Monitoring and Evaluation Highlights 2017-2024
The Rainforest Alliance has supported Nestle Cocoa Plan’s work with cocoa farming families around the world since 2017. One of the services we offer is data-powered monitoring and evaluation of field programs, so we can better assess sustainability impacts for people and nature directly on the ground. Between 2017 and 2024, we visited nearly 12,000 […]
Coffee, Cocoa, and Conservation: Making Consumption Sustainable with Santiago Gowland
In this episode, Sarah sits down with Santiago Gowland, CEO of the Rainforest Alliance and former sustainability leader at Unilever, Nike, and The Nature Conservancy, to discuss how markets can drive regenerative agriculture, reduce biodiversity loss, and combat deforestation through innovative partnerships and consumer action.
2024 Annual Report: The Future Can’t Wait
Leap into our 2024 Annual Report to see the advances we’ve made toward a brighter future.
Smallholder Farmers: The Heart of our Certification Program
Smallholders produce one-third of the world’s food, making them the quiet backbone of global agriculture—and a key piece of the sustainability puzzle. ... Continue Reading
Project Profile: A Partnership for Sustainable Farming in Tropical Asian Landscapes
The Sustainable Farming in Tropical Asian Landscapes (SFITAL) project aims to link small-scale producers to global supply chains in an environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially responsible manner.... Continue Reading
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
Definitions differ, but at its heart, sustainable agriculture is about meeting the needs of the present, without sacrificing those of tomorrow—it’s farming that is environmentally sound, socially responsible, and profitable for farmers.... Continue Reading