The following three stories are from the Fair Trade Federation and discuss what individual producer groups from the Fair Trade Federation are doing for the environment around them.

Habitat Integrated- Pakistan

Habitat Integrated Pakistan is a non-profit, non-government organization that works to improve the lives of people through the protection of the flora, fauna, biodiversity, environmental protection and sustainable development. They do this by working to promote the crafts of gypsy women in Punjab, Pakistan.

One of their specific programs is to teach students in Murree Pakistan about the importance of forest conservation their program entitled, “Awareness on rehabilitation of Murree Hills.” This program, taught to students in five schools, focused on raising tree nurseries and planting methods. HIP has also produced and distributed materials on this issue to teachers and students throughout Murree Hills.

Visit Habitat Integrated’s website

Conservation through Poverty Alleviation International - CPALI

This organization believes that in order to protect the world’s remaining forests we must first develop a way for the people who live in and around those forests to thrive. If they can make a living from the forest instead of from cutting it down and farming the land then we can gain their support for protecting these delicate and valuable ecosystems. They currently have a project going on in Madagascar, an important area for biodiversity as many of its species are found only in that region. In this region 80% of the population are substance farmers practice slash and burn methods, with only 10% of the original rainforest left CPALI believes it is time to create an alternative source of income for some of these farmers. With this goal they have worked to develop crops that are valuable, resistant to price fluctuations and will not harm the remaining forests. One such product is the collection and harvesting of wild silk. This high value crop can be harvested in remote areas and easily transported, providing extra income for farmers in the region.

Visit CPALI’s website

Y-Development Cooperation- Thailand

Y-Development Cooperation is a supplier of Bambootique’s from Thailand, they create traditional handcrafts which Bambootique markets in the USA. All their goods are made from renewable, naturally occurring resources, such as bamboo or mulberry bark, ensuring that local biodiversity is not damaged. Through promoting these goods Bambootique works to preserve indigenous Thai culture, provide a steady source of income to the artisans and support rural development.

Visit Bambootique’s website