A Look at the Rainforest Alliance's Growing Efforts in Africa
After nearly two decades of building momentum in Latin America, the Rainforest Alliance is establishing a strong presence in Africa. Last April, following a year of preparations, a group of 678 family coffee farms in the Djimmah region of Ethiopia became the first operation in Africa to be awarded Rainforest Alliance certification. Demand for their beans has already been strong, with Kraft purchasing all of the first year's harvest.
In Cote d'Ivoire, the Rainforest Alliance is working with about 4,000 farmers to encourage sustainable cocoa production. We recently hired an international trade specialist familiar with the region to liaise with local producers and ensure our full understanding of the region's unique social and environmental circumstances.
Last summer, Rainforest Alliance agriculture specialists visited Kenya to discuss certification with coffee exporters, producers, NGOs and government organizations. Highlighting their itinerary was a visit to two coffee communities at the invitation of Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2004 Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement. Maathai is Africa's foremost environmental campaigner and is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation.
The Rainforest Alliance's forestry program has also been expanding to Africa, performing assessments in Ghana as well as training 26 people to lead forestry audits in Cameroon. These auditors will be able to evaluate the management of forestry operations and determine whether they qualify for certification.
Add Your Pledge to the Billion Tree Campaign
Join Wangari Maathai's Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. This effort, launch by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to mobilize individuals, communities, businesses, non-profit organizations and governments to commit to tree planting pledges entered online with the goal of collectively planting at least one billion trees worldwide during 2007.
At the UNEP Governing Council meeting in Nairobi this past month close to 90 million trees were pledged, including a planting pledge of 45 million trees by Cameroon; one million by Haiti; 20 million by Myanmar; and 20 million by Venezuela. Pledges also came from Kenyan groups including youth networks. During the campaign's first two months over a quarter of a billion pledges were received, putting the campaign on track to reach its goal!
By empowering all levels of society -- from governments to grass roots organizations -- to take practical steps to reduce pressures on primary forest, the Billion Tree Campaign will not only help conserve biodiversity, reduce soil erosion and promote carbon dioxide absorption but will also serve as a powerful _expression_ of global solidarity.
Rainforest Alliance Helps Launch Sustainable Furniture Council
The Rainforest Alliance is part of an innovative new group called the Sustainable Furniture Council. Members of the council include manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and non-profit organizations. They will work to encourage companies to incorporate responsible practices, create standards for the sourcing and use of sustainable wood as well as work to increase consumer awareness and demand for "green" home products.
By purchasing furniture crafted from sustainably harvested wood, conscientious consumers can help support forestry practices that protect habitat and the rights and welfare of workers.
"The furniture industry has a lot of power in conservation because we add the most value to wood resources," said Gerry Cooklin, founder of the Sustainable Furniture Council and CEO of the Forest Stewardship Council/Rainforest Alliance certified South Cone Trading Company. "It has been impressive to see how quickly interest in this effort within the industry has grown."
Apply to Nespresso's AAA Summer Campus in Costa Rica
This summer, Nespresso invites students to experience firsthand the world of high quality sustainable coffee production. In partnership with the Rainforest Alliance, the Nespresso AAA Summer Campus (http://www.nespresso.com/aaa-program/en/campus/) provides a two-week adventure learning experience for 20 participants interested in sustainable development to learn about responsible coffee farming in Costa Rica.
Under the tutelage of local experts and partner institutions, students will explore sustainable farm methods, beneficial business practices, biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, and more. Activities will include coffee-picking, tree-planting, wildlife excursions and river-rafting in some of Costa Rica's most breathtaking environments.
This program is an outgrowth of Nespresso's commitment to responsible coffee production through its AAA SUSTAINABLE QUALITY™ program. Nespresso's AAA coffees are high-quality beans produced by farmers who benefit from the program's commitment to the social, economic and environmental well-being of coffee producing communities.
Send free Rainforest Alliance eCards!
Sign up to receive Rainforest Matters each month by email!
![]()
© 2007 Rainforest Alliance
|
