Our Mission to Protect the World’s Forests
We are working in 60+ countries to build sustainable, rural economies—a proven strategy to keep our forests standing.
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What's at Stake
Forests are critical to every living thing on Earth. Not only do they give us clean air, shelter, and rain, they house 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. Alarmingly, humans have destroyed half of the world’s tropical forests and driven extinction rates up thousands of times higher than what is natural.
Climate & Nature
Forests are a powerful natural climate solution. As trees grow, they absorb and store carbon emissions, while releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Conserving forests could cut an estimated 7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year—the equivalent of getting rid of every car on the planet.
Our Impact
Strong Forests
0.4% deforestation rate
in the forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala*
In Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve, twelve community forestry concessions safeguard around 417,269 hectares of the largest and most important tropical forest north of the Amazon. These community-run concessions boast a near-zero deforestation rate—a remarkable feat given that adjacent areas suffer some of the highest deforestation rates in the Americas.
*Community forestry concessions in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve have demonstrated a near-zero deforestation rate, since data collection began in 2000. Data accurate as of December 2019.
Thriving Biodiversity
45,000 trees
80 elephant-friendly farms*
From 2020 through 2021, farmers we work with in the buffer zone of Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park planted 45,000 trees in the area directly bordering the park. In addition, we identified 80 farms that sit in a wildlife corridor used by the critically endangered Sumatran elephant. We supported these farmers in planting species that suit the elephants’ diet.
*Data accurate as of December 2022
Our Work: Forests & Biodiversity
Together with forest and farming communities, Indigenous leaders, companies, governments, and global citizens, the Rainforest Alliance works in 58 countries to promote more sustainable land management practices while cultivating thriving rural economies—the most widely proven strategy to restore biodiversity and keep our tropical forests standing.
The World’s Best Forest Guardians: Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples and local communities have an unsurpassed connection to the Earth's forests.
Community: The Secret to Stopping Deforestation in Guatemala
The forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve have boasted a near-zero deforestation rate for 20 years.
Indonesian Coffee Farmers Help Conserve Biodiversity in Iconic National Park
We're training coffee farmers in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park buffer zone to help them conserve biodiversity and improve their livelihoods.
All resources for Forests & Biodiversity
Our Response to the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products
The Rainforest Alliance welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for an EU regulation on deforestation-free products. This proposal is an ambitious move to ensure the success of zero-deforestation commitments and create a level playing field for companies involved with such commodities. It sends a strong political and market signal in support of achieving deforestation-free supply chains. […]
Deforestation Inconsistency Registry
This document is for Certification Bodies to register inconsistencies found in the field during the audit by comparing field observations and the risk assessment results provided by the Rainforest Alliance.
An Indonesian Farmer Harnesses the Healing Power of Trees through Reforestation
Reforestation is at the heart of Eko Purnomowidi's work at Klasik Beans, a Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee cooperative he co-founded in West Java, Indonesia.... Continue Reading
Shaping Human Rights and Environmental Policy for a Sustainable Future
Advocacy complements the other main areas of our work by shaping policies and practices that will affect agriculture, forests, and business for years and decades to come.... Continue Reading
Integrated Community Forest Management Monitoring and Evaluation Tool
This tool has been developed by the Rainforest Alliance with support from IIED (Victor Milla, Duncan Macqueen) and field tested by the Rainforest Alliance in Indonesia, Guatemala and Cameroon, to implement community based monitoring in our community forest projects, in particular those supported by the Forest Allies initiative. It is based on the four pillars […]
Five Coffee Farmers Who Inspire Us
Coffee farmers protect forests and biodiversity, build their farms’ climate resilience, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. Here are five remarkable individuals who motivate us even more than the coffee they grow.... Continue Reading