WHAT’S IN OUR 2020 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?

Conservingbiodiversity

Making farming part of the solution
Photo: David Dudenhoefer

Our vision is a world where people and nature thrive in harmony. This vision is more important than ever as the 2019
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report estimates that around 1
million animal and plant species face extinction, many within
decades, unless action is taken to reduce biodiversity loss.
The main cause of this devastating loss of species is humanactivity, particularly from agriculture. The World Wildlife Fundestimates that habitat degradation and loss is the main driverof extinction for most species around the world—more thanpollution, climate change, or exploitation.

KBA’s associated conservation feature such as important animal and plant life.

While farming often has negative impacts on biodiversity, it also
has the potential to create positive impacts by incorporating
natural habitat into production systems, conserving soil life, andmore. This makes farms better able to cope with the effects ofclimate change, helping secure better livelihoods for farmers.
For these reasons, biodiversity conservation is among the main
objectives of the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Certification Program.

• Taking steps to diversify the type of crops and vegetation
grown on the farm and support functional biodiversity (i.e.
pollinators and natural predators of pests) through an Integrated Pest Management strategy.

How the new standard addresses it
Our approach aims to make biodiversity a fundamental principleof all aspects of farming and environmental protection. This is
why biodiversity conservation is woven throughout the new Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard. Several criteriain the management, farming, and environmental chapters aim atboth preventing negative impacts from farming on biodiversity
as well as fostering positive ones.
The conservation of existing natural ecosystems areas is key tothis mission. Besides not allowing for conversion of any natural ecosystems since 2014, we have also put an additionalsafeguard on High Conservation Value (HCV) areas in the newstandard. These are areas of outstanding biological, ecological, social, or cultural significance. Within our new program,
HCVs are identified according to a risk-based approach, where,depending on the farm’s risk level, different actions need to betaken. For example, if a Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farm isidentified to be in or near a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), thenspecific management actions will be required to protect theVarious requirements in the new standard aim to maximize thepositive impact and minimize the negative impact of production
on biodiversity:• Maintaining and increasing the diversity of native vegetation
through practices like agroforestry (a practice of nurturingexisting trees and planting new ones side by side with crops)and establishing wildlife corridors.

• Supporting the protection of endangered species and othernative flora and fauna by prohibiting hunting, minimizing
the spread of invasive species, and taking steps to minimize
human-wildlife conflict.
• Minimizing negative impacts from farming by improving
soil health through mechanisms like erosion control andincreasing soil organic matter.
In line with our reimagining of certification, we will harness thepower of data to strengthen assurance on these criteria—satellite imagery will help us check for deforestation, data collectedby producers will enable us to evaluate native vegetation cover,and more. Producers that demonstrate progress will also be able
to communicate their results to buyers and partners through acertificate holder profile in an effort to encourage a philosophy ofcontinuous improvement rather than a pass/fail approach.

How is this different from the previousstandards?
The UTZ Code of Conduct and the 2017 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard already aimed to conserve andprotect biodiversity. We have strengthened this in the new stan-The Rainforest Alliance 2020 Certification Program | Conserving Biodiversity

Photo: Sergio Izquierdo

Photo: Rainforest Alliance staff

JUNE 2020

Photo: Kalyan Varma

Photo: David Dudenhoefer

dard by taking a novel, risk-based approach. In collaboration withthe HCV Resource Network, we developed risk questions to define
the impact of farms on HCV areas. The questions are includedin the overall risk assessment in Chapter 1 of the new standard.
In addition, in the UTZ Code of Conduct, there are differences inrequirements for minimum native vegetation, parameters ofriparian buffers (vegetation areas next to aquatic ecosystems),
and other particulars.

Is this particularly relevant for certain crops
or countries?
Protecting and increasing biodiversity is an issue globally, especially in Key Biodiversity Areas. In every context, taking steps toconserve biodiversity can make farms more resilient to climatechange impacts and help farmers secure better livelihoods.
Shade tolerant crops such as coffee and cocoa are particularly
strong potential drivers of biodiversity as they work well withagroforestry practices.

Want to know more?
Read more about what to expect in our new certification program.
For specific questions, email us at cs@ra.org.

United States:
125 Broad Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10004
tel: +1 (212) 677-1900
email: info@ra.org

Photo: Mohsin Kazmi

Reimagining Certification and the 2020
Certification Program
Reimagining certification is our long-term vision for thefuture of certification. It is part of our wider strategy at theRainforest Alliance to drive change through our four mainareas of work.
In June 2020, the Rainforest Alliance takes the first stepon its journey towards “reimagining certification” with thepublication of its 2020 Certification Program. We’ve beenworking on this new program since 2018, when the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ merged.
The 2020 Certification Program—including a new Sustainable Agriculture Standard—is a unique opportunity to reallychange the way that certification works and how it delivers
value to the many people and businesses around the worldthat use it.
Between June 2020 and mid-2021, the Rainforest Alliancewill roll out the new program around the world, including acomprehensive training plan. Audits against the new program will begin in mid-2021.

The Netherlands:
De Ruyterkade 61013 AA, Amsterdam
tel: +31 20 530 8000
email: info@utz.org

Rainforest Alliance@RnfrstAlliance@rainforestalliancerainforest-alliance.org