Deforestation is a heated topic with many programs offering to plant trees in exchange for donations. What really happens after you give up a dollar for one of these trees? Far too often programs with the greatest intentions end up flopping because they do not embrace all aspects of the area they are working in, but sometimes someone gets it right. Sustainable Harvest International “promotes a variety of sustainable agriculture techniques that protect and restore the ecological balance of the land. These techniques enable participants to cultivate the same piece of land indefinitely, eliminating the need to slash and burn more forest. When correctly implemented, sustainable agriculture techniques improve the families’ nutrition and income by working with, instead of fighting, the natural environment.â€
Since 1997, SHI has successfully:
· Planted more than 2,000,000 trees.
· Converted 6,000 acres to sustainable uses, thereby saving 30,000 acres from slash-and-burn destruction.
· Improved nutrition through the establishment of more than 200 organic vegetable gardens.
· Increased farm income up to 800%.
· Built 165 wood-conserving stoves (saving 1,650 trees per year)
“…slash-and-burn practice is very shortsighted and damaging to forests… Removal of the vegetation not only destroys the habitat for numerous species of plants and animals, but it also can lead to soil erosion, watershed degradation, and climate change in the area. Once the vegetation is removed the rapid processes of plant growth, death, and decay that created the fertile environment are severely limited or entirely destroyed.†(1)
This boy’s family started an organic garden with SHI’s help, and they now have plenty of nutritious food to eat, and leftovers to sell for profit. “His family’s annual income was around $600 until it dropped dramatically along with coffee prices. …the second planting of their vegetable garden produced enough extra vegetables for them make $450 in vegetable sales.â€
What better way to stop slash and burn than with education in alternative farming techniques? SHI’s programs not only help out the farmers and their families, but the environment as well.
Now, did you know that it’s possible to eat yogurt, help these farmers, save forests, and get free organic chocolate and tea all at the same time? Stonyfield Farm is featuring SHI along with two other non-profits on their yogurt lids this summer. Vote for your favorite non-profit and help direct funds their way, while getting cool prizes!
Visit http://www.sustainableharvest.org/yogurt/ for more information on SHI and Stonyfield’s “Bid With Your Lid†program
(1) http://www.cotf.edu/earthinfo/camerica/CAdef.html
It is so wonderful to see organizations truly helping others in need. Having been a member of the green community for awhile, it troubles me to see so many hypocrites calling for action and not doing anything themselves. I love yogurt, so I should be able to do my part pretty easily.
Thanks for the kind words Kimberly! It’s great to see an organization not only working towards improving the fate of our environment, but also helping out people in need as well. You can’t change the environment someone lives in without also changing their lives as well, so why not make it positive?
The yogurt campaign is still going on, and with almost 3,000 votes SHI is currently in 2nd place! Every vote counts, so get them in! 🙂