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.... Continue Reading
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What's at Stake
A full third of Mesoamerica is covered in lush forest, which serves as home to scores of Indigenous and local communities, iconic wildlife, archeological wonders, and abundant biodiversity. While agriculture is the backbone of the region’s economy, it also drives deforestation and climate change.
On the front lines of climate change
Prolonged droughts and frequent hurricanes are making it harder for farmers in Mesoamerica to make a living. A lack of access to international buyers and government support compounds the problem, leading some farmers to cut down forests for more cropland, while others migrate elsewhere in search of better opportunities.
Our Impact
Our community forestry work in the Selva Maya is recognized around the world as a stunning success for people and nature. We also work with certified farmers on producing crops like coffee, cocoa, and fruits sustainably.
Our reach in certification
700,000 hectares (data through 2023).
Through our certification program, we work to improve the sustainability of 61,443 smallholder farmers, 233 farm groups, and almost 3,000 large farms across 700,000 thousand hectares. Almost half a million workers benefit from these efforts.
Protecting forests and building up communities
1 million hectares of forest managed sustainably.
We worked with community forestry businesses to improve their conservation practices while achieving US$53 million in sales of forest products from 2013 to 2023. As a result, the communities conserved one million hectares of forest.
Mesoamerica
We always start by listening. We work with farmers and forest communities to develop solutions to their specific challenges—which range from a lack of investment and business skills to poor soils and droughts. Our agricultural certification program supports farmers and workers, while our forest work helps both forests and communities thrive.
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All resources for Mesoamerica
Thriving Communities, Healthy Landscapes
We're helping more than two million farmers embrace more sustainable growing practices that can help build resilience to climate change and boost yields.... Continue Reading
Women and Forests: A Winning Team in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve
If ever there were a question as to whether community forestry is an excellent conservation strategy, one would only have to look to the concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve for an answer—and to the women leaders who live there.... Continue Reading
If We Want to Meet the SDGs, We Need to Ditch Empty Rhetoric and Invest in Young People
María Fernanda Ghiso, Youth Inclusion expert at Rainforest Alliance, marks International Youth Day by reminding organizations that they need to enable today’s youth to deliver tangible and sustainable change.
International Youth Day: Rural Young People and Sustainable Living
International Youth Day draws attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.
The Rainforest Alliance’s Work in Mexico
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How Our ‘Forest Allies’ Work Together to Support Thriving Rural Communities
Our Forest Allies initiative leverages the enormous power of our partnerships to support forest communities as they address the climate crisis and combat deforestation. Here are the six landscapes where our Forest Allies are currently active.... Continue Reading