Interview with The Rainforest Alliance
With: Tensie Whelan, President
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Lisa Selvaggio: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. We always like to start off by saying thank you as well for all the great work you do around the world to help the environment, humans, and animals. What is it about Rainforest Alliance that allows it to distinguish itself from other non-profits?
Tensie Whelan: Thanks for you interest, Lisa. First of all, the Rainforest Alliance is solutions-oriented. Instead of simply talking about problems, we work on developing practical approaches to conserve forests and ensure sustainable livelihoods globally. Second, we pioneered the use of market forces in encouraging sustainable forest and farm management. Consumers are powerful and can have a positive impact on the environment simply by choosing goods and services that were produced in a sustainable way. Finally, we work not only on the ground with farmers, foresters and tourism businesses but also with companies and consumers to build supply chains and markets for these responsibly produced goods.
LS: One of RA's projects is sustainable agriculture. People may not realize how harmful large-scale agriculture is. Can you explain, briefly, to our readers why it's necessary to educate farmers on sustainable agriculture? What exactly does sustainable agriculture imply?
TW: Agriculture is the leading cause of ecosystem destruction and species loss globally. It is the cause of rampant deforestation, takes up about a third of the Earth's landscape and uses more land and fresh water than any other activity by humans. This is why it's important that we work with farmers to help them minimize their impact on the environment and local communities. Sustainable agriculture takes into account environmental, social and economic concerns, with an eye toward the long-term viability of the farm. Sustainably managed farms support soil and water conservation, the protection of wildlife habitat, recycling, safe and dignified working conditions, health care for farm workers and education for farm children, among other things. Put simply, the farms are being managed responsibly. In turn, farm owners often see reduced worker turnover because workers are being treated well. They often save money through increased productivity and efficiency, recycling and reduced agrochemical use. And they can often get a premium price due to demand from increasingly eco-savvy consumers.
LS: Does your organization target factory farms as well? Do you feel that meat-producing farms are any better or worse than those farms that only grow produce? Would it really make a difference if more people became vegetarian and/or vegan?
TW: We currently do not work on meat production, but sustainable cattle ranching is one of our next targets as an organization, along with the sustainable production of biofuel crops, such as sugar cane and palm oil. Our sustainable agriculture program focuses on export commodity crops that have big impacts in the tropics, including coffee, tea, bananas, cocoa, citrus, ferns and flowers. Factory farming is not such a big problem there, but most of the pressure on the forest is for cattle ranching or soy that is being grown for livestock feed. So, yes, the planet would be better off if people ate a lot less meat.
LS: As your name implies, another key issue targeted by your organization is deforestation. In what regions of the world do you see the most deforestation taking place, and why should people be concerned?
TW: Some 13 million hectares of forestland globally are destroyed every year. Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and Brazil are among the countries losing primary forest at some of the highest rates. Individuals should be concerned for a variety of reasons. Deforestation contributes to the loss of critical wildlife habitat and biodiversity and causes at least 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Plus, more than six billion people rely on trees to build houses, make paper, build furniture and keep warm; the depletion of forests and non-timber forest products would have dire consequences for all of these individuals.
LS: What are some of the things the average consumer can do to reduce the problem of forest destruction?
TW: Consumers play an enormously important role by voting with their dollars. We can all help to protect natural resources by choosing goods that are produced in a responsible manner, in a way that conserves forests, protects biodiversity and ensures that workers are treated well and compensated fairly. At the grocery store, we can choose foods grown on farms that have been certified by the Rainforest Alliance against a rigorous set of environmental, social and economic standards. Some of these products include coffee, tea, chocolate, bananas, orange juice, flowers and macadamia nuts. (Visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/marketplace for a complete list.) Consumers can also look for wood products such as lumber, furniture and paper that come from responsibly managed forestlands that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. These goods carry the FSC logo, a little green tree. The latest Harry Potter book, for example, was printed on FSC-certified paper in the US. And stores like Office Depot and Staples carry FSC-certified copy paper. If you can't find these 'green' goods, you should ask store management to begin stocking them. Many grocery stores will begin to carry an item after as few as three shoppers request it.
LS: A lot of people don't realize that the environment is precious and is made of finite resources. Environmentalists are often put down, dubbed "tree huggers" for example, and not taken as seriously as they should. Why do you feel there is so much apathy towards the source that gives us life in the first place?
TW: We're all pulled in a million different directions -- from the demands of our families and our work. As a result, I think people often neglect to take the time to consider the consequences of their actions. They don't realize that seemingly small choices, like recycling, taking a shorter shower or picking up coffee or tea bearing the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, can make a difference. We can all be a little 'greener,' with minimal effort and cost.
LS: What do you do when you encounter negative, close-minded people who don't want to change their ways and who don't care about anything except making money, regardless what they destroy in the process?
TW: There's been a pretty rapid shift in public opinion regarding the environment, and a growing number of consumers are demanding goods that were produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way. This means that investing in sustainability has become a smart business decision - even for companies who only care about the bottom line. Many environmentally aware consumers are willing to pay a premium price for 'green' goods, and businesses - even those driven solely by profit - want to meet this demand. So, we can influence irresponsible companies by saying, 'You may not care about the environment but your customers do, and they'll take their business elsewhere if you don't step up to the plate and make some much-needed changes.'
LS: What advice can you offer to those who find it hard to keep their heads high amidst such adversity? And what can people say to convince others of the need to conserve and care?
TW: We have to remain optimistic that we can change the world and public opinion. Big changes are already taking place as some of these issues about global warming and deforestation have been coming to the forefront of political discussions. You can help change public opinion simply by becoming educated about the issues and learning to personalize those issues for your audience. Learn what you as an individual can do to make a difference, and make greener habits a part of your daily routine.
LS: The Rainforest Alliance gets into the problems created by tourism. For our readers, can you briefly describe what some of these problems are? How can vacationers who just want to see the world be wreaking havoc on the planet?
TW: Tourism is the largest industry in the world, and more than 800 million people travel each year. Nature-based tourism is the fastest growing segment of that industry. This makes developing countries in biodiversity-rich areas especially vulnerable. The tourism industry holds great promise for poor countries working to improve the lives of their residents. However, when it's not practiced responsibly and in a way that respects the environment and local communities, tourism can lead to unchecked development, habitat destruction, waste and pollution.
LS: What are some things to consider when planning a vacation these days? And upon arrival, what practices should people take up to make sure they're not harming their natural surroundings?
TW: Each vacation you take is an opportunity to have a positive impact on the places you visit, and simple choices can make a big difference if we all do our part. Responsible travelers should ask businesses about their environmental policy, whether or not they support projects that benefit the local community or conservation, if they have earned certification from a sustainable tourism certification program or are recommended by any conservation groups, how they are working on reducing their footprint and educating their customers about those initiatives, and what they are doing to reduce their energy and water use, for example. By using socially and environmentally responsible tour operators, hotels and outfitters, you can ensure that your trip contributes to conservation efforts and to the well being of communities. The Rainforest Alliance has a database of tourism businesses in Latin America that are certified by a sustainable tourism certification program or recommended by a reputable conservation organization at http://www.eco-index.org/tourism.
LS: Since the RA's inception, do you feel that the problem of rainforest depletion is still just as bad today as it was decades ago? What accomplishments have you had, and what setbacks have you had to endure?
TW: We've made impressive inroads, but the work is far from done. One of our greatest accomplishments is making a real difference in the lives of people in impoverished communities -- helping them earn a living from the land and conserve our natural resources and biodiversity at the same time. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing from a coffee farmer or timber producer about why they think migratory birds and water quality are important and why they are honored to have market support for their commitment to sustainability.