Does the Rainforest Alliance work exclusively in rainforests, as the name would suggest?
While we started out focusing on rainforests, our work has expanded to include a wide range of landscapes in over 50 countries around the world. In collaboration with local, nonprofit partner groups, we ensure that the farms and forests we certify meet a rigorous host of standards that protect the environment and the rights and welfare of workers and communities. What do you mean by independent, third-party certification and why is it important? It’s a voluntary way for companies to ensure that their practices are responsible, and it demonstrates to the public that a company’s claims about itself are reliable and have been verified by an independent, outside party. In cooperation with locally-based NGOs and local stakeholders including government, businesses, scientists and academics, the Rainforest Alliance has worked to developed performance-based standards that balance environmental and social concerns with the economic, technical and cultural realities faced by loggers, farmers and
