Rainforest Alliance. Sustainability certification and biodiversity protection

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1 INSTITUTO DE MANEJO E CERTIFICAÇÃO FLORESTAL E AGRÍ COLA Rainforest Alliance Sustainability certification and biodiversity protection Luis Fernando Guedes Pinto IMAFLORA Executive Director luisfernando@imaflora.org Global Biodiversity Forum March 2006 Copyright Rainforest Alliance

2 2 Rainforest Alliance Mission Our mission is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

3 3 Collaborative Global Action The Rainforest Alliance: Promotes and implements global standards for sustainable management practices. Monitors and evaluates progress and compliance through on-site investigation and certification. Educates industry and consumers about their opportunities and responsibilities to conserve natural resources.

4 4 Collaborating with Industry Forest products worldwide Agriculture: Coffee, Citrus, Bananas, Cacao, Ferns & Flowers Tourism

5 5 What is Rainforest Alliance Certification? As an independent, third party we award a seal of approval to farm and forestry operations that meet our guidelines. Rainforest Alliance guidelines are comprehensive and balance ecological, economic and social considerations. Our seal is a guarantee to consumers that the products meet our set of criteria for sustainability. Certification is a strictly voluntary, non-governmental process.

6 6 Designing Better Business Practices Collaboratively Conservationists Industry Wildlife conservation Ecosystem conservation Soil conservation Conservation of water resources Integrated management of wastes Integrated Pest Management Fair treatment and good conditions for workers Strong community relations Scientists Communities

7 7 Understanding certification: A tool for linking consumers and producers Identify well managed operations Establish linkages in the production chain Create recognizable label Enable consumers to support responsible practices

8 8 Components of a credible certification system Voluntary, nonregulatory Collaborative, inclusive & transparent Broad acceptance Performance based Truly third-party Market oriented Global recognition

9 9 Ensuring Accountability: The Certification Process Pre-Assessment Annual Audit Continual Improvement Assessment Surprise Audit Certification Committee

10 10 FSC Forest Certification Summary Wildlife habitat RTE species Soils Water quality Biological diversity Landscape issues Management planning Silviculture Monitoring practices Regeneration Stand improvement Trespass Local control Community relations Employment practices Worker safety record Recreational opportunities Road layout Harvesting practices BMP s Protected areas Utilization AAC Observe laws

11 11 FSC Certification Over the past 10 years, 50 million hectares in more than 60 countries have been certified according to FSC standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC certified wood and carrying the FSC trademark. The global market in FSC-certified products is in excess of US$5 billion. To date, more than 28 million hectares (71 million acres) worldwide have been certified by SmartWood. SmartWood works with over 1300 small land-owners, indigenous and community forestry operations, medium size companies and multinational corporations.

12 12 SmartWood certification s tangible benefits for the world s forests A new report analyzed 129 forestry operations in 21 countries, all of which have won SmartWood/Forest Stewardship Council certification. As a result, these forested lands now have: Better protection of aquatic, riparian and ecologically sensitive areas (63% of operations were required to make changes to this effect) Improved treatment of sensitive sites and high conservation value forests (62%) Improved treatment of threatened and endangered species (62%). Addressed soil and erosion, woody debris, snags and legacy trees and landscape-level considerations This study and all auditor reports of SmartWood Certified operations are available on the Rainforest Alliance Web site:

13 13 Klabin Protecting the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil Largest pulp and paper company in South America. Owns 240,000 hectares (593,000 acres) of forest on Atlantic coast of Brazil: 82,000 hectares (202,500 acres) in natural forest; plantation forest is eucalyptus and a native species of pine Employs 5,500 people Managing for wildlife: 400 pumas, 320 bird species; game warden Clean/green manufacturing: bark used for fertilizer, energy; pulp and paper plant does not use bleach Managing for botanicals: Have intensively studied 240 species for phytotherapy, 130 species in use.

14 14 Gibson Guitar Partners in Sustainable Sounds Certified wood used in over 40% of Gibson USA guitars the world s first ecofriendly guitars The new Les Paul SmartWood Exotic guitar has a Muiracatiara, or Muir, top and a mahogany back. Muir grows extensively in Brazil but ranges from southern Mexico through Central America to the Amazon Basin. Gibson buys certified mahogany from local communities in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua and provides technical assistance to these communities.

15 15 Roy O. Martin Upholding an Eighty-year Old Louisiana Tradition Practicing sustainability since their founding in 1923; certified by SmartWood in ,000 acres of forestland and 4 mills. One of the largest independently owned wood products companies in the southern U.S. Plants 4-6 million trees a year Managing for black bear and migratory bird habitat. Hired a fulltime wildlife biologist to ensure conservation

16 16 Rainforest Alliance Agriculture Certification More than 181,500 hectares hectares (448,500 acres) of bananas, oranges, cut flowers and ferns, coffee and cacao are Rainforest Alliance Certified. 15% of all bananas in international trade come from farms we have certified. We are currently working with 4461 certified operations, including cooperatives and estate farms, midsize companies and multinationals.

17 17 Sustainable Agriculture Network Pronatura Chiapas (Mexico) Fundación Natura (Colombia) FIIT (Guatemala) Imaflora (Brasil) ICADE (Honduras) Secretariat (Rainforest Alliance) C y D (Ecuador) SalvaNATURA (El Salvador) Rainforest Alliance TIDE (Belize)

18 18 What difference has RA Certification made for biodiversity on Kraft s coffee farms? Farm Aspects Common Problems Certified Farms For Example Tree Cover No shade trees, or only scattered shade of one, or few tree species, often exotic tree species of little use to local wildlife Abundant shade trees of varied species and sizes, native species to conserve soils, provide habitat for wildlife and firewood, materials, for workers and neighbors The Ciudad Barrios Coop, in El Salvador, has planted more than 100,000 trees on member coffee farms Forest Conservation Completely deforested or with little natural forest, which lacks protection Forests protected and degraded areas or deforested 40% of the Santa Isabel farm, in Guatemala, is dedicated to forest conservation Wildlife Protection Hunting, or extraction of orchids and other flora commonplace Natural ecosystems and their flora and fauna well protected Daterra s 8,292-acre cerrado reserve holds dozens of Brazil s endangered species

19 19 and on Chiquita s banana farms? Farm Aspects Before Certification After Certification For Example Tree Cover Banana farms were almost completely devoid of trees, and deforestation to create new farms was a common problem. Deforestation is prohibited. Trees and bushes have been planted along streams, rivers, roads, packing plants and housing to prevent erosion and pesticide drift and to provide wildlife habitat. More than 800,000 trees and bushes have been planted on Chiquita farms. Forest Conservation Rainforests were commonly destroyed to expand or create new banana farms. Farms conserve forest patches, including several large reserves. The 100-hectare Nogal Nature Reserve in Costa Rica has more than 150 plant and 122 animal species Pesticides Dangerous, dirty dozen pesticides used, workers often unaware of dangers and didn t wear protective gear; unsafe pesticide storage and handling were the norm. Dirty dozen pesticides banned and less toxic alternatives used. Pesticides handled only by trained workers wearing protective gear. Chemicals stored in locked areas. Workers who handle pesticides change into and out of protective gear in special locker rooms and shower before putting on their own clothes. Waste Management Farms were littered with plastic bags, string and other trash, much of which ended up in rivers, and the sea. Farms are clean and trash receptacles abundant. Plastic bags and string are removed from the fields with bananas and recycled. At the Roble Farm, Chiquita built a bridge across the Sucio River with plastic floorboards made from recycled banana bags. Soil Resources Water Resources Herbicides used to kill weeds left soils bare, which resulted in steady erosion. Wastewater from packing plants, plastic bags and pesticides polluted rivers, the banks of which were completely deforested. Low-growing, soil-holding vegetation is planted to prevent erosion and reduce the need for weed control. Water from packing plants is channeled through waste traps. Plastic removed from fields and pesticides kept away from water. 70 percent of the Super Amigos Farm is now planted with a ground cover native to the area A recently developed system for recycling water eliminates the need for chlorine and will cut packing-plant water use by 80 percent.

20 20 Kraft Foods: Sourcing Sustainably Funding technical assistance and training to improve living and working conditions on coffee farms in Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil Purchased 5 million lbs 2004, 10 million in 2005 Certified by the Rainforest Alliance to blend into mainstream European brands Stimulating consumer demand by introducing 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified products under existing trademarks in Western Europe and the US. Benefitting: 10,000 families, 23,400 acres (9,500 hectares) of farmland and 3,574 farms. Conserving: 19,800 acres (8,000 hectares) of natural areas.

21 21 Partnership with Chiquita: Environmental, financial, social successes 100% certification of all company-owned farms Clean, safe conditions for workers Farm wages twice as high as local standard; health & child care and environmental education provided Reforestation of 2,500 acres in key buffer zones, using native species Recycle or reuse 80% of the plastic bags and twine used Integrated Pest Management used on all farms; 80% fewer herbicides now used; $4.8 million annual savings in agrochemical costs since 1997 $3.8 million annual savings from recycling of pallets, packaging Social Accountability International gave Chiquita Corporate Conscious Award and SustainableBusiness.com, publisher of The Progressive Investor newsletter, named Chiquita as a top 20 sustainable stock pick

22 22 Del Oro Sweet fruit of conservation success in Costa Rica Native forest protection Reforestation of vulnerable areas Pollution prevention Strict controls on agrochemical use Waste management Worker training, health and safety

23 23 Daterra Brazil s coffee farm certified by IMAFLORA and the Rainforest Alliance Biologists have found rare macaws, owls, jaguar tracks and a giant anteater in the nearly 4,000 hectares that are preserved or protected of this 7,000 hectare fazenda. Certification promotes the conservation of the natural ecosystem (cerrado), so coffee is grown in the sun and planted in tight rows. Daterra supports use of the farm for environmental restoration and education in collaboration with a local college.

24 24 Creating Opportunities for Change Bring together industry, environmentalists, scientists, local communities, workers, and governments Provide common language of best management practices, and common goals of sustainable, productive operations Focus on achievable, positive changes Provide long term production benefits to farmer and company through lower costs, increased efficiency, progressive labor relations and environmental protection Verify implementation of responsible business practices, reducing risk from health/labor issues and criticism by advocacy groups

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