Assistance for agricultural and forestry products certified as sustainable
PRODUCTS CERTIFIED AS SUSTAINABLE BY THE USAID-RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Rainforest Alliance, the U.S. government is providing $1.25 million in 2006 to help Nicaraguan producers of agricultural andwood products comply with the requirements for sustainable certification, which could substantially increase their incomes while protecting natural resources. The Alliance for Products Certified as Sustainable is a regional alliance (Central America and Mexico)
that includes USAID, Rainforest Alliance, and over 20 companies. The three-year project, which began in April 2004 and willcontinue until April 2007, promotes the sale of wood, bananas, and coffee certifiedas being produced in a sustainable manner.
WORKING WITH RAAN COMMUNITIES
The USAID-Rainforest Alliance project, together with regional authorities and Nicaragua’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), is working with indigenous communities near the Bosawás Reserve to produce wood using forestry management plans and to obtain certification under the international regulations of the Forestry Supervisory Council (FSC). The agricultural component of the project provides assistance to banana and coffee producers in the Departments of Nueva Segovia, Jinotega, and Matagalpa.
OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW MARKETS
Currently, certified sustainable products are a $5 billion market worldwide, and continue to grow. Nicaragua has great potential for entering this lucrative market with certified wood products. In other countries of the region, producers of certified wood have sold their products at 10 times the price that is paid for conventional wood. In addition to helping producers obtain certification, the USAID-Rainforest Alliance project creates contacts between Nicaraguan companies and communities and international manufacturers and distributors such as IKEA, Gibson Musical Instruments, Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble, Millstone and Chiquita Brands.
PROJECT RESULTS TO DATE
- 16,727 Hectares of certified wood
- 542 Hectares of certified banana
- 3,336 Hectares of certified coffee
- $3.8 million in sales of certified bananas
- $5.0 million in sales of certified coffee
