From Forest Certification to Agroecology Innovation: SAN Members in Action

This week, SAN members were on the ground, in classrooms, at community halls, and across supply chains — turning sustainable agriculture and conservation commitments into real, measurable action. Here's a look at what's happening across the network.

Deforestation-Free Supply Chains and Forest Certification Milestones

Preferred by Nature made significant strides on multiple fronts this week. In Colombia, the FIT for FAIR Colombia team reviewed 57 existing compliance tools for EUDR and CSDDD before designing their own — and their research revealed a clear gap: strong environmental coverage, but weak social and legal dimensions. That insight shaped six practical guides now available to support businesses navigating compliance.

Meanwhile, in China's Manzhong Village, Preferred by Nature helped launch a new eco-friendly rubber latex collection station — built with GPSNR Shared Investment Mechanism support alongside Linglong Tire and local communities. The station features clean toilets (a meaningful step for female farmers), wastewater recovery, EUDR-ready digital traceability, and is now community-run. It serves more than 50 households and is part of a broader phase covering over 1,500 hectares of FSC-certified rubber forest and training for more than 300 farmers.

On the certification front, Preferred by Nature also launched PEFC Forest Management certification in Lithuania and Ukraine — now offering both FSC and PEFC through one body. Lithuania certified its largest PEFC forest management area yet: 27,467 hectares held by 183 private forest owners. In Ukraine's Zhytomyr region, a state forestry enterprise became the first to earn PEFC FM certification, carefully verifying which of its 78,264 hectares were safe to include.

Indigenous Knowledge, Wild Honey, and Cocoa's Collective Future

Rainforest Alliance CEO Santiago Gowland visited Chumbaquihui, an Indigenous Kichwa community in the Amazon, and drew on the ancient principle of minka — collective labor for the common good — to explore what it means for the future of the cocoa industry. Shared roads, restored watersheds, conserved forests, and collective bargaining power: this is what centuries-old wisdom looks like applied to modern supply chains.

In southern Mexico, Rainforest Alliance and Mexico's CONANP presented Origen Selva Maya — a wild honey born in over 1.4 million continuous hectares of tropical rainforest, spanning the biocultural corridor Mexico shares with Guatemala and Belize. A new kind of ambassador for forest conservation taking flight.

Sustainable Cotton: Women Farmers, Traceability, and Brand Partnerships

CottonConnect marked the International Year of the Woman Farmer by affirming that women are central to the future of sustainable agriculture — calling for recognition of their knowledge, stronger participation, and real leadership opportunities in farming communities 2026 07 13 Weekly Report.docx.

CottonConnect also joined The White Company's Sustainability Week to share the story behind their Egyptian cotton sourcing journey. Over four years, the partnership has focused on connecting the brand directly to the farming communities behind its collections — covering Egyptian cotton's unique heritage, digital traceability, and climate-resilient practices on the ground.

Agroecology in Action: Innovation, Training, and Land Rights

Pelum Uganda spotlighted the power of agroecology training with the story of Diana Annet Nannono, a KCOA KHEA Project trained multiplier who turned organic fungicide innovation into real-world success. This is what happens when training meets ingenuity.

Pelum Uganda also participated in the 10th Land Awareness Week 2026, organized by the Ministry of Lands in partnership with local governments of the Rwenzori Region, civil society land actors, and non-state stakeholders — spotlighting land rights as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture.

Biodiversity Conservation: Community Groups, Scientific Research, and Eco-Education

Nature Kenya held community meetings at Gatwe ACK Hall Grounds in Kirinyaga County, bringing together three community groups as part of an on-the-ground assessment for forming a new Site Support Group. Discussions were lively and engaged, with communities showing clear commitment to protecting nature while sustaining livelihoods. The three groups elected a temporary committee and took their first steps toward formal partnership with Nature Kenya.

Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihood Association (MBLA) shared three major scientific contributions focused on the conservation of High Atlas bio-cultural heritage — including the first comprehensive IUCN Red List assessment of High Atlas flora, a gender-inclusive study on cultural landscapes integrating the insights of local Amazigh men and women, and a crucial analysis of land rights among the Amazigh people.

Pro Natura Sur continued its "Education for the Landscape" eco-education program at the Transylvanian Mountains eco-destination, now reaching more than 25 schools. Last week's workshop for teachers and nature educators brought together more than 25 participants for field visits, hands-on activities, and interactive methods — each leaving with an educational kit and fresh ideas for their communities.

Pro Natura Sur also celebrated the Tree Festival 2026 (July 8–18) in San Cristóbal de las Casas — a city recognized in the World Tree Cities Network — by planting trees in their Arboretum at the Moxviquil Ecological Reserve and Orchid Garden, adding rare species to a space dedicated to conservation, research, and education.

Integrated Approaches: People, Health, and Environment

This week also highlighted integrated programming from the field. A field visit to Adaba Woreda provided participants with first-hand insights into the APHEET Adaba Pillar Project, showcasing integrated Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) interventions in Ejersa and Wesha Kebeles.

Conclusion: Radical Collaboration for People and Planet

From FSC-certified rubber forests in China to wild honey in Mexico's Selva Maya; from community land rights in Uganda to High Atlas biodiversity research in Morocco — this week's SAN member activities reflect what's possible when organizations with deep local roots act together as part of a Global Impact Network. Each story is a thread in a larger fabric: building food systems and landscapes that are equitable, resilient, and regenerative. This is SAN's purpose — and our members are living it every day.