Continuing with our holiday theme as we try to beat those January blues, today we’re focusing on a long-haul destination that is popular with lots of British tourists…Mexico. For savvy travellers looking for sustainable options, Mexico is featured on our SustainableTrip.org site, and offers a range of experiences that is as large as its geographical size. Driving through vast deserts for hours, sipping cocktails by the beach, visiting authentic and colourful markets, strolling through colonial towns, and exploring Mayan ruins are all possible in this spectacular country. Mexico features a total of 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or those deemed by UNESCO to be of special cultural or physical significance. Here, we feature five of these amazing sites – if you are headed to Mexico, we highly recommend fitting at least one of them into your trip. Read the rest of this entry ?
Archive for the ‘Country’ Category
Sustainable coffee farming in Vietnam
27/10/2011
Located in the central highlands of Vietnam, Nguyen Dang Huu’s farm is one of thousands worldwide participating in a new initiative designed to make coffee production more sustainable and increase farmer income. The Rainforest Alliance is working with Nescafé, through their Nescafé Plan, to combine our expertise and provide training and technical support to farmers, helping them marry their traditional wisdom with modern science to secure a sustainable future.
Our latest slide show looks at how this programme is benefiting farmers in Vietnam. Vietnam is the world’s second largest producer of coffee. Read the rest of this entry ?
In Memory of Wangari Maathai
26/09/2011
There are many in the global conservation and environmental movement who are feeling the loss of Wangari Maathai and are grateful for the inspiration and determination she showed the world. Her Green Belt Movement, which she founded in 1977, planted tens of millions of trees. Her death was confirmed on the organisation’s website, informing us that she died of cancer on the evening of September 25th. Maathai was 71, and she will be greatly missed.
We at the Rainforest Alliance are among the thousands who will miss her and would like to share these words from Winnie Mwaniki, who works with the Rainforest Alliance in Kenya.
“She was definitely my role model and did great things with her work in conservation. I did not realize she was unwell until last evening, when I had a discussion about her with my girlfriends, and we all wondered about her disappearance from the limelight lately. A friend explained that the media recently reported that she was admitted to the Nairobi hospital. That was already shocking. For some reason, I have held her in such high esteem that I was even blinded into believing she was too strong to come down with any health condition.
“The news of her death left me in utter shock this morning.
“At a more personal level, Wangari was involved in planting trees in around my upcountry home in Kangundo, Machakos. My late mother in-law was part of the women’s group that worked on this project. I ‘inherited’ some of these trees that form part of the ‘greenbelt’ in and around my village. I will forever treasure them.
“May God rest her soul in eternal peace.”
Unexpected Ecuador – part two
23/08/2011To accompany our guest blog from the journalist Rachel Stine, Unexpected Ecuador, we are delighted to publish a series of Rachel’s photographs, taken on her Rainforest Alliance trip. We hope you enjoy then as much as we do.
The 19,347 foot peak of Cotopaxi as it emerges from the clouds. / Photo by Rachel Stine
Why Rwanda is so important on Yorkshire Day
01/08/2011
What better way to mark Yorkshire Day than with a cup of Yorkshire Tea! So go on, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up and read this guest blog from Samantha Gibson, Ethical Projects Officer at Taylors of Harrogate – the makers of Yorkshire Tea…
At Taylors of Harrogate, our experts have been buying tea from Rwanda for over 35 years. At their best, Rwandan teas have a distinctive liveliness and refreshing character, making them a vital part of our Yorkshire Tea and Yorkshire Gold blends.
Red bush tea goes green
18/07/2011
A group of South African farms growing rooibos – known as red bush tea – achieved Rainforest Alliance certification recently. Not only is this a first for this type of crop, the farms are also the first to become Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM in South Africa.
The farms in Zeekoevlei Grootport and Driefontein produce rooibos for Rooibos Ltd. Herbal Teas International is Rooibos Ltd’s marketing arm in the USA. The Rooibos range carrying the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal is now available in all major supermarkets throughout Europe and North America. Read the rest of this entry ?
International Day of Cooperatives – Interview with Edmond Konan
04/07/2011Cote d’Ivoirian Edmond Konan heads up Global Business Consulting Company (GBCC), a partner organisation to the Rainforest Alliance in Cote d’Ivoire, working with cocoa farmers and cooperatives to support them in achieving Rainforest Alliance certification. To mark this weekend’s International Day of Cooperatives, we’ve interviewed Edmond about his work and the importance of cooperatives in today’s market. Read the rest of this entry ?
International Year of Forests – The Teak Tree
30/06/2011
As part of our forestry series to mark the International Year of Forests, we’re taking a look at the teak tree. A member of the mint family reaching heights of 150 feet, the striking teak tree is found throughout much of Southeast Asia. Beneath its scaly bark is a strong, dark gold wood that turns deep brown when exposed to air and sunlight. Teak is known for its ability to withstand the elements, as well as its resistance to decay and termites. Young trees have reddish leaves that turn green with maturity. Read the rest of this entry ?
Georges and Lili Duriaux-Chavarría: Stewards of El Jaguar Private Wildlife Reserve in Nicaragua
29/06/2011In celebration of the International Year of Forests, each month we are highlighting those individuals, communities and businesses actively safeguarding the lungs of the planet.
The giant oak and fern trees on Georges and Lili Duriaux- Chavarría’s 260-acre (120-hectare) property in northern Jinotega, Nicaragua, date back to Jurassic times. The trees shelter rare and declining bird species such as the three-wattled bellbird and the golden-winged warbler, a migratory songbird that spends northern winter months in Central and South America. The couple bought the land from Lili Chavarría‘s brother 18 years ago with the intention of protecting its rich biodiversity. Today, the El Jaguar Private Wildlife Reserve and Organic Farm produces coffee, hosts ecotourists and serves as an international centre for wildlife research. Read the rest of this entry ?
All the tea in Turkey
16/06/2011
Rainforest Alliance Board Member, Annemieke Wijn recently visited Turkey with Unilever to find out how Turkish tea is progressing along the sustainability path. Here, Annemieke tells us a bit about what’s been going on…
At four cups per person per day, the people of Turkey are world champion tea drinkers. And now the farmers of Rize province, together with the people of Unilever, are working hard to make that tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Read the rest of this entry ?
