The Tropical Forest Foundation, or TFF, is a non–profit organization that aims to educate consumers on tropical
forest conservation. They have earned a reputation for being a leader in sustainable forestry practices through training
schools and demonstration models that teach the principles of reduced impact logging. TFF is operated by a Board of Directors
that includes representatives from fields such as conservation, government, industry and science. All board members have one
objective: to actively promote renewable and sustainable forestry worldwide.
Representatives on the TFF Board of Directors come from many different organizations including:
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
- International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
- United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
- International Union for the Conversation of Nature (IUCN)
- Sarawak Timber Association
History of TFF
TFF was founded in 1990 out of a need for global protection of tropical forests. Initially, they were responsible for
improving tropical forest management, enhancing the fiscal value of tropical forests and encouraging relationships between
different industry groups. In 1993, TFF established Reduced–Impact Logging, or RIL, in Brazil. Since then they have
promoted RIL methods throughout the Amazon, Asia and even Africa.
The Importance of Rainforests
Many people wonder whether rainforests are really important in the grand scheme of things. The TFF answers this in two
ways.
- Industries can be affected since many companies have some reliance on, or interest in, rainforests. Depletion of
rainforests is happening at a staggering rate and this loss of resources will in turn affect industries.
- The impact of the damage to rainforests, on personal and global levels, occurs every day. Loss of species and other
planetary effects of deforestation will likely eventually affect all countries – not just those with rainforests.
