Our farmers are active forest protectors. With this project we want to recognize their job and active forest stewardship. We propose to integrate the whole plant production value chains to reinforce their fight against Amazonian deforestation and forest degradation.

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We believe that through communication, co-creation, and co-education, we all win in this fight. Biodiversity, the climate, and both, farmers' & endusers' wellbeing. We ask companies invested in the value proposition of Amazonian non-timber forest products to take an active part in making this project sustainable over time. We propose to engage all players in a common vision, requiring honesty, ingenuity, and compromise with the result of inspiring the end users by presenting a product resulting from CO2 neutral production. We hope to create a common understanding about the product, leading to conscious use of resources through an active participation in the value proposition. 

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On a planetary scale, we all recognize the Amazonian forests as most valuable due to their combined contribution to climate regulation and hosting a huge diversity of animals, plants and fungi. Many of its species, especially fungi and insects, are yet to be discovered. A treasure in its own right, known and unknown biodiversity also holds commercial potential on the food-medicine continuum. Its genetic diversity enables us to breed climate-resilient crops. But as a result of human activities, worldwide 2 out of 5 plants are estimated to be threatened with extinction.

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Land use change poses the biggest threat to biodiversity. Locally, large swathes of Amazonian forests are at risk of being converted to monoculture cropping systems. We can halt local species extinction by using the forest sustainably. Yes, at the heart of forest protection are people who rely on it for their livelihoods. Adding visibility and support to our farmers engaging in agroforestry is the best way to protect the remaining primary and secondary forest areas from less sustainable users. We propose to do exactly this by engaging all stakeholders of selected value chains.

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Peru's cacao sector is growing. Internationally recognized for some of the most exquisite tastes, the production is booming. This trend will significantly increase the pressure on the species-rich forests, which are already experiencing disturbance and deforestation, some even occurring in natural protected areas. By supporting farming practices that are deforestation-free, carbon-positive, biodiversity-aware and soil- and people-friendly, we can all engage in active, and crucially, in long-term forest protection.  

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Are you interested? Please contact us at hmb@q-organic.dk with your questions so we can have make a video conference and together take action, Join us!

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Sources:

Antonelli, A., Fry, C., Smith, R.J., (.. + ..) & B.G. Zhang (2020) State of The World's Plants and Fungi 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Cardoso, D., Sarkinen, T, Alexander, S. (..+..) & R. Campostrini Forzza (2017) Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list. PNAS Biological Sciences Vol. 114 (40).

Oliveira, P.J.C., Asner, G. P., Knapp, D.E., Almeyda, A., Galvan-Gildemeister, R., Keene, S., Raybin, R.F., & R.C. Smith (2007) Land-Use Allocation Protects the Peruvian Amazon. Science Vol. 317 (6843): 1233-1236.