By Virginia Cross A traditional chilli pepper found on tables across the Peruvian Amazon is on its way to the U.K, thanks to the English non-profit Plant Your Future. Spicing up dishes with some of this Amazon heat connects straight back to farmers working to restore the rainforest. This tiny pepper, known as ají charapita, […]
Versión en español aquí Versão em português aqui Article by: Jacob Olander, Gabriela Albuja, Kevin Moull, Chris Meyer, Juliana Splendore and Karina Bautista Introduction When properly supported, indigenous communities can make significant contributions to rainforest conservation. Legally recognized indigenous territories (ITs) cover over one fifth of the Amazon and, because they tend to […]
This article by Chris Meyer was originally published by the Environmental Defense Fund Amazon indigenous communities have made huge strides in the last two decades to secure legal recognition for their ancestral lands – territories which play a major role in efforts to conserve rainforests and stabilize the global climate. But there is still […]
By Jacob Olander Chocolate may be heavenly, but macambo seeds – from a cousin of the cacao tree – may be the most exciting rainforest superfood that you’ve never heard of. Macambo packs a hefty dose of protein, fiber and antioxidants into a delicious, crunchy nut-like package. Theobroma literally means “food of the gods,” […]
By Jacob Olander On the table of Amaz, an award-winning restaurant in Lima, with a natural-meets-urban-sophistication vibe, a small bowl of dark dipping sauce and crispy cassava-flour tortillas (casabe) is brought to the table before the meal proper begins. The sauce is a rich, slightly tangy surprise that fills the mouth with flavor. For […]
Por Jacob Olander El precio de la vainilla ha alcanzado un máximo histórico. Con precios de US$550-600 el quilo de vainas de vainilla, esta preciada especia tiene mayor valor, libra por libra, que la plata. Una restricción global de la oferta está poniendo presión en empresas que dependen de este ingrediente – y está […]
Read More… from La vainilla tan valiosa como la plata, ¿oportunidad para agricultores?
By Jacob Olander The price of vanilla beans is at a record high. With prices hitting $550-600 per kilogram of black vanilla beans, this precious spice is now worth more, pound-for-pound, than silver. A global supply crunch is putting pressure on companies that rely on the ingredient – and creating new potential opportunities for […]
Read More… from With vanilla as valuable as silver, opportunities for farmers?
By Gabriela Albuja With CanopyBridge.com we aim to make it easier for buyers and sellers to find each other and connect on line – but at some point there´s still no substitute for meeting face to face. Building on the success of last year´s “Forest Economies” prize, we launched a competitive award to provide […]
Read More… from Sealing the deal: Winners of our 2017 Forest Economy Awards
By Jacob Olander For years, the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) has been emblematic of the idea that we can conserve the Amazon rainforest by using its valuable products wisely. No other product of the Amazon rainforest generates as much revenue, for as many people – this nut can be an economic lifeline for forests. […]
Read More… from Still Standing: Revisiting the ‘cornerstone of Amazon conservation’
Iván Ulchur-Rota Açai (Euterpe oleracea) is a small black fruit that hangs from tall palms of the lowland regions in the Amazon. In the archipelago of Bailique, in the northeastern part of the Brazilian Amazon, farmers harvest the fruit by binding their feet together to form a stirrup that grips against the trunk of […]
