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 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
We Can’t Meet the SDGs without Improving Farmers’ Incomes. Here’s Why
Aparajita Bhalla, Global Director of Sector Transformation for Rainforest Alliance, states that we can't make progress towards a sustainable future unless the economic resilience and wellbeing of farmers is addressed first.
Sustainable Development Goals Position Paper
How The Rainforest Alliance Aligns With and Contributes To the Sustainable Development Goals In September 2015, the United Nations agreed on a global collaborative partnership to transform our world. Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders committed to putting in all necessary efforts to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. […]
Food Giants Launch New Deforestation Pledge after Missing 2020 Objectives: ‘Our Approach Was Not Agile Enough’
Rainforest Alliance global theme lead for biodiversity conservation, Henriette Walz, told FoodNavigator that the industry 'definitely' needs to move further and faster to combat deforestation and its causes.
Is Conscious Consumption the New Normal?
With research showing that we're slowly but surely changing our daily habits to live more sustainably, Alex Morgan, Chief Markets Officer for Rainforest Alliance, sheds a light on the next steps to take together.
Raising the Bar—Regenerative Agriculture for More Resilient Agro-Ecosystems Position Paper
For the Rainforest Alliance, “regenerative agriculture” comprises a broad set of principles and practices under the umbrella of climate-smart agriculture. Taking an agroecology and integrated system management approach, regenerative agriculture aims to increase biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, and increase agroecosystem resilience thus leading to resilient livelihoods. This way of farming is based on enhancing the […]
Advances for People and Nature in Our Certification Program
Our best hope for a better world is to embrace sustainability and build resilience on a massive scale.... Continue Reading