Post by account_disabled on Mar 14, 2024 1:27:39 GMT -5
Do you think of tropical forests as faraway places that have nothing to do with your daily life? Think again. You rely on these amazing places more than you know. Even if you’ve never been lucky enough (yet) to visit one of the Earth’s dreamy, mist-enshrouded tropical forests—like the Amazon rainforest or Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park—we are closely connected to these forests and the people who live there. In fact, we all rely on tropical forests in our daily lives—and in ways that might surprise you! That’s why the Rainforest Alliance has made it our mission to protect tropical forests. From Central America to Southeast Asia, we partner with rural and Indigenous communities in the world’s most threatened forest landscapes. Together, we work to promote nature-friendly practices, like regenerative agriculture and agroforestry (where shade loving crops like coffee are grown under the protective canopy of taller trees). Proven solutions like these keep trees standing, ensure healthy soils and clean rivers, and provide welcoming forest habitats for wildlife—and all while helping to advance the rights and well-being of the communities we work with. Tropical forests and me Another big part of our mission is to show individuals that everyone can do their bit to protect tropical forests.
And it doesn’t matter where you live. Small choices can have a big impact: Whether you’re buying bananas at the supermarket or ordering a hot chocolate at your local café, if you choose to buy products that have been grown and sourced more sustainably, then you’re actively encouraging companies to invest in sustainability, and this in turn supports the rural communities working hard to protect our tropical forests. Here are just some of the ways that tropical forests feature in our daily lives: FOOD Farmer Jonathan Vega carries a banana bunch in from the field. Did you know the world’s most popular fruit, the banana, originally BYB Directory comes from the rainforest? Other favorite foods that originate from tropical forests include avocado, citrus fruits, like oranges and lemons, as well as cashews, Brazil nuts, and a certain spice enjoyed by ice-cream lovers the world over—vanilla! And let’s not forget three extremely popular tropical commodities that many of us couldn’t imagine going a day without: coffee, tea, and cocoa. If we are not careful, however, our appetites could destroy the forests that gave them to us.
Agriculture alone is responsible for more than 90 percent of tropical deforestation—but it doesn’t have to be this way. The Rainforest Alliance partners with more than four million farmers and farmworkers to promote more sustainable growing practices, (like organic composting and rainwater harvesting), while boosting crop yields and helping farmers adapt to climate change. MEDICINE Many of the medicines prescribed by doctors today are derived from plants found in tropical forests. Medications to treat or cure inflammation, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, malaria, heart conditions, skin diseases, arthritis, glaucoma, and hundreds of other illnesses, all come from tropical plants. SHELTER Tropical forests yield some of the most beautiful timber in the world, such as teak, mahogany, rosewood, balsa, and sandalwood. These wood products surround us at home and in offices in the form of furniture, cabinets, paneling, and more. But just like farming, logging can either nurture or destroy an ecosystem. That’s why it’s up to all of us—companies, consumers, and forest communities—to support more responsible timber production.
And it doesn’t matter where you live. Small choices can have a big impact: Whether you’re buying bananas at the supermarket or ordering a hot chocolate at your local café, if you choose to buy products that have been grown and sourced more sustainably, then you’re actively encouraging companies to invest in sustainability, and this in turn supports the rural communities working hard to protect our tropical forests. Here are just some of the ways that tropical forests feature in our daily lives: FOOD Farmer Jonathan Vega carries a banana bunch in from the field. Did you know the world’s most popular fruit, the banana, originally BYB Directory comes from the rainforest? Other favorite foods that originate from tropical forests include avocado, citrus fruits, like oranges and lemons, as well as cashews, Brazil nuts, and a certain spice enjoyed by ice-cream lovers the world over—vanilla! And let’s not forget three extremely popular tropical commodities that many of us couldn’t imagine going a day without: coffee, tea, and cocoa. If we are not careful, however, our appetites could destroy the forests that gave them to us.
Agriculture alone is responsible for more than 90 percent of tropical deforestation—but it doesn’t have to be this way. The Rainforest Alliance partners with more than four million farmers and farmworkers to promote more sustainable growing practices, (like organic composting and rainwater harvesting), while boosting crop yields and helping farmers adapt to climate change. MEDICINE Many of the medicines prescribed by doctors today are derived from plants found in tropical forests. Medications to treat or cure inflammation, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, malaria, heart conditions, skin diseases, arthritis, glaucoma, and hundreds of other illnesses, all come from tropical plants. SHELTER Tropical forests yield some of the most beautiful timber in the world, such as teak, mahogany, rosewood, balsa, and sandalwood. These wood products surround us at home and in offices in the form of furniture, cabinets, paneling, and more. But just like farming, logging can either nurture or destroy an ecosystem. That’s why it’s up to all of us—companies, consumers, and forest communities—to support more responsible timber production.