Sustainable economics is a key concept in current and future conservation work. And fair trade coffee is built upon sustainable economics. Small farmers plant shade grown coffee on small pieces of property dispered throughout a region. Shade grown is better for birds than estate grown coffee. Small farmeres are stewards of their own land and prevent the development of larger estates.
Coffee is the second largest trade commodity in the world, next to oil.
If consumer demand can be created around this product, it can be replicated to other farming products that affect different ecosystems of the world, thereby improving the preservation of biodiversity. Clearly trade inequities between North and South hurt the Southern hemisphere. Fair trade builds new relationships and new ways of thinking about relationships. Be a part of this dyanmic dialogue. Help shape a new way to trade.