ADVOCATING IN SUPPORT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

ADVOC ATIN G IN SUPPO RT O F RURAL COMMUNITIES

The Rainforest Alliance fortifies a range of sustainability interventions through targeted advocacy efforts. In both international and national arenas, we advance policies, regulations, and investments that incentivize and support efforts by farmers and forest communities to manage their land in a way that protects ecosystems and community well-being.

A Forestry Code that Benefits People and Forests in Côte d’Ivoire

Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire is the last remaining primary rainforest in West Africa. This year, we partnered with sustainability organization IMPACTUM to hold briefings and consultations with the government, local NGOs, and local communities on the national forestry code. As a result, the code now allows cocoa farmers—many of whom live on the edge of the park, as well as those in Cavally and Goin Debe forest reserves—to own the trees on their property. This means farmers can earn extra income by planting fruit-bearing trees, which protect cocoa trees, build resilience against drought, and generally improve local ecosystem health. The code also requires the inclusion of women in local governance, as well as forest and natural resource management.

Tackling Deforestation with the European Union

The European Union (EU) imports 80 percent of the world’s cocoa, 60 percent of its coffee, and 25 percent of palm oil—all commodities whose production drives significant deforestation. This year, the Rainforest Alliance provided input for the EU’s Communication on Stepping Up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests. We are now working to influence any resulting legislation so that it encourages investment and due diligence by companies and governments—and protects smallholder farmers.

Supporting Land Rights for Guatemala’s Forest Communities

Nine forest communities in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve have maintained a near-zero deforestation rate in the vast “working forest” concessions they’ve managed for almost 20 years. That rate is 20 times less than other parts of the reserve. This year, the Rainforest Alliance, which has worked closely with these communities to sustainably manage their forest concessions since the late 1990s, held briefings and consultations with the local and national government agencies to encourage the extension of the community land leases. At the end of 2019, we celebrated the news that the first community lease up for consideration, Carmelita, received a 25-year extension—a hopeful sign that the other communities will also be able to continue their superb forest management into the future.