Sustainable Vanilla in Madagascar
The Rainforest Alliance’s Sarah Fadika, who works in our sustainable vanilla and cocoa programs, shares impressions from her recent trip to Madagascar, where much of the world’s vanilla is grown.
A glass frog on a vanilla leaf reach signals rich biodiversity in the rainforest here.
Photo credit: Sarah Fadika
Walking through the rainforest here in Madagascar, it’s not uncommon to spot a frog on a vanilla…… Continue Reading
Migratory Birds Find Home on Sustainable Coffee Farms
The vibrant plumage and distinctive songs of migratory birds are not just aesthetic and aural gifts from nature. They are indicators of the biodiversity health of a given landscape. If migratory birds are thriving, then the ecosystems needed to sustain them along their long routes are also flourishing.
Some migratory bird routes are just a short flight to a different elevation on a mountainside, while other routes span thousands of miles across continents. Whatever the length of the passage, migratory…… Continue Reading
Five Endangered Animals We Love (& How We Show It)
These five animals represent a tiny fraction of those threatened by deforestation and climate change. There are many ways to get help, but one simple, first step we can all take is to choose certified sustainable products…. Continue Reading
2010-2013 Kleinhans Fellow: Francisco Kennedy Souza
Working toward Cooperative Non-timber Forest Product Management: Integrating Economic, Institutional, and Ecological Analysis to Improve Livelihoods and Forest Conservation in the Western Amazon Region, Brazil Project Summary Researchers with Indiana University and Universidade Federal do Acre (UFAC) in Brazil examined the importance of non-timber forest products (NTFP) for supporting family income and promoting forest conservation […]… Continue Reading
Introducing the World’s First Rainforest Alliance Certified Cinnamon Farms
In early 2013, a group of cinnamon farmers in Kerinci, Indonesia became the first in the world to earn Rainforest Alliance certification. Located on the island of Sumatra, Kerinci is an important center for global cinnamon production as well as the home of Indonesia’s highest volcano and one of the few remaining pockets of habitat for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.
Photo credit: Donald Bason
Like bamboo, cinnamon is an inherently…… Continue Reading
Getting Ahead of Climate Change in Guatemala’s Western Highlands
Firefighting and rainwater harvesting helps communities protect forests and improve livelihoods…. Continue Reading