Feel Good Friday - Rainforest Alliance

It’s time for another Feel Good Friday alliance y’all. Because Earth Day is coming up on April 22^nd, I’m keeping the next few blogs focused on environmental organizations like the Rainforest Alliance.

Founded in 1987, the Rainforest Alliance is “an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal.” Their vision is “a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.”

 

To achieve this vision, they are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. Watch this 5-minute video to meet some of the farmers who are part of the Rainforest Alliance

 

The work they do is focused on certification, landscapes management, advocacy and supply chain services. Why? Because forests are a source of air, water, food, shelter and medicine yet deforestation rates are accelerating, with an estimated 75% of deforestation driven by agriculture.

 

The Rainforest Alliance works with forest and farming communities, Indigenous leaders, companies, governments, and global citizens 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. They also train farmers in climate-smart agriculture methods, helping them to adapt to current climate impacts and prepare for future challenges.

 

The Rainforest Alliance certification program is followed by over 2.3 million farmers around the world. They are audited against rigorous sustainability standards based on the triple bottom line: environmental, economic, and social well-being. Business that pass these standards can display the Rainforest Alliance certified seal. If you want to support these businesses, #FollowTheFrog.

The impact of the Rainforest Alliance in the last 34 years is impressive. 6.8 million hectares of farmland are certified against sustainability standards and over 5,000 companies work with Rainforest Alliance to source certified ingredients. You can now buy certified products in over 100 countries around the world.

 

Other ways you can help create a more sustainable world, protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities are to buy some Rainforest Alliance merchandise, stay in a certified hotel on your next vacation, or make an old school donation.

 

As always, help amplify the message on social media. Like the Rainforest Alliance Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @RnfrstAlliance and Instagram @rainforestalliance. #RainforestAlliance