Responsible Sourcing Cluster in the Amazon

Partners

• The Nature Conservancy (Lead partner)
• Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC)
• Instituto de Proteção Ambiental da Amazônia (IPAM)
• Instituto Sócio-Ambiental (ISA)
• Instituto do Homem e do Meio Ambiente da Amazônia (IMAZON)
• Aliança da Terra (AT)
• Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV)

This initiative is based on the assumption that, although Brazil has some of the most progressive environmental laws in the world, most farmers in the Amazon region are not in compliance with the Forest Code's legal criteria that require setting aside 80 percent of their land as protected forest preserves. In addition, the region has being targeted for expanding soy and agribusiness activities. This initiative builds on TNC's previous experience working since 2004 with Cargil, with a view to conserving forests in soybean growing areas near Cargill's port in Santarém, Pará.

The Responsible Sourcing Cluster brings TNC and its partners (IPAM, WHRC, AT, ISA, ICV and IMAZON) to work together to:

(1) Improve social and environmental performance of production systems in the Amazon;

(2) Consolidate the achievements already made in demonstration field projects in Mato Grosso and Pará by strengthening and expanding alliances between NGOs, government agencies, and the private sector to embed Forest Code compliance in supply chain management and rural licensing systems; and

(3) Disseminate information on environmental licensing and monitoring systems, best management practices, commitment of main agribusiness sectors to environmental responsibility, implementation of agreements, and forest restoration to local, regional, national and international audiences.