Established more than 20 years ago, the Rainforest Alliance is present in more than 60 countries in which it helps organisations and companies learn and adopt new strategies in the utilisation of forest resources.

The project helped develop the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) that provides certification for companies who follow sustainable development standards. Certified groups receive the Rainforest Alliance Certified(TM) seal, which ensures consumers that products come from legal sources that minimise negative impacts on the world’s rainforests. More than 1,600 partners are certified using standards set by the FSC.

The Rainforest Alliance Project works because of the group’s extensive and global knowledge and experience working with all forest types. Guided by a team of experts that include local people who know the ground situation in their region, the project is able to assess each situation independently and competently.

Each case is analysed to ensure that forest products were harvested using sustainable methods, and that they do not originate from illegal sources or trading. If it finds that a company’s forest products are coming from illegal sources, they can help in connecting the company find new suppliers that meet FSC standards. The project works with both companies and suppliers providing preparation and support in acquiring FSC certification.

The organisation takes pride in its transparent approach and its reputation is well established. The project will help partner companies and organisation communicate their support of sustainable forestry development through use of press releases, promotional materials and other public communications. Through association with the Rainforest Alliance, companies and organisations will benefit from the goodwill generated by their efforts to protect the environment.

Also, through invitation-only workshops, training courses and other networking opportunities, partner companies and organisations will have many opportunities to interact with other groups interested in sustainable forestry development.

By working with companies and suppliers, the project’s experts have helped in developing models for the sustainable management of crops like bananas, coffee and tea. They have also helped develop standards for sustainable tourism in rainforest areas that protect the local environment and help reduce emission of greenhouse gases. Farms that follow the standards of the project are included in the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) with members located across the globe.

The Rainforest Alliance is a leader in the work of protecting the world’s rainforests, and companies and suppliers will benefit by utilising their knowledge, experience and reputation through partnership and FSC certification. The organisation has been working since 1987 in its efforts to conserve the world’s biodiversity and to promote business and land use practices that help in meeting this goal.

This article is written by Hugh McInnes, about the sustainable forestry developments by the Rainforest Alliance organisation in order to protect our rainforest from depletion.

Author: Hugh McInnes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Panasonic DMC-ZS7

• Where you stand with your current cooling and heating system.
• Your home’s efficiency overview. This details where your home is bleeding hot and cold air.
• The most efficient use of your dollars to save you money by saving energy.
• Bigger outlays of cash that will begin paying for themselves right away.

How much will the audit cost? Typically, between $250 – $400, depending on the size and complexity of your home. The good news is that you may be able to score a rebate from your local utility companies. What does the process involve?

Checking the Heating System and the Hot Water Heater

The heating system is a huge energy sink, especially for folks that live in colder regions. The first thing the auditor is concerned with here is the combustion efficiency. He gets a reading by drilling a small hole in the flue into which he inserts the wand of an electrical gas analyzer.

In addition to the combustion efficiency, this test also yields data on the draft pressure (if it’s too high, gases could leak back into the home) and a carbon monoxide concentration.

If your home has a gas-burning hot water heater, the auditor should conduct a backdraft test. This test is conducted by holding an open flame by the flue on top of the heater. If it’s operating properly, the flame should be drawn up into the flue.

The auditor should also do a visual inspection of the plumbing to verify whether or not hot water is actually being wasted. For example, one way to save is to use low-flow shower heads.

The Air Infiltration Rate Test

The rate at which your home “leaks” air has a huge impact on your energy bills. If doesn’t matter how efficient your heater and air conditioner are if your home has the swiss cheese syndrome. Most auditors call this test a “blower door test” because that’s what it involves.

The auditor first closes your windows and doors except for one door. At this doorway he places a fan and seals the entryway with sheet plastic. Once he turns the fan on, air flows out of the home, reducing the internal air pressure.

If your home is newer, it’s probably tighter than the average since this is what green building trends have been. But on older homes, you can expect to save as much as twenty percent on your energy bills. Who wouldn’t go for some of that?

But How Does He Find Those Leaks, You Ask?

The fan is calibrated so that the auditor can note the speed of the fan needed to maintain an even pressure difference between indoors and out. He then looks for suspect areas that need to be sealed better.

The auditor then employs thermography using an infrared scanner. This is similar to the pictures you may have seen that display different temperatures. The redder the color, the hotter the area. Greens, yellows, and blues are cooler. During a home audit, the auditor looks for these color differences to determine where the home is letting outside air in.

Your Report Card Provides the Scoop

With the final report in hand, it’s easy for you to prioritize the DIY projects that will help you keep more of your money. It should indicate the good/bad areas and how much you will save on each repair. It may recommend things such as:

• If you need to insulate ductwork or your water heater.
• Where you can use motion sensors to turn off lights.
• If your shower heads should be modernized (think low-flow).
• Where to seal around windows and doors.
• Which appliances should be upgraded to Energy Star rated ones.

Copyright 2007-2008 Kelly Smith All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted by notifying the author.

Kelly R Smith is a freelance writer and a journeyman carpenter. He is a strong advocate of homeowner DIY and is the owner/Webmaster of http://www.icanfixupmyhome.com and may be contacted there.

Author: Kelly R Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Pressure cooker

October brings with it not just a fun holiday, but also some unpleasant bugs that may invade your home. The pests we will focus on this month all have in common their tendency to bite humans and even draw blood. The four pests of October to look out for include: bed bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed on mostly human blood, by puncturing the skin with their elongated beaks. While their bites can be a rude awakening in the middle of the night, it has never been proven that bed bugs actually carry disease-causing pathogens, at least in the United States.

Bed bugs spread through clothing and baggage of travelers and through secondhand beds, bedding, furniture and laundry. Experts believe that the cause for the rise in bed bugs are due to an increase in global travel and mobility, the banning of DDT along with reduced use of urban pesticides. In fact, about a year ago, a wide-scale bedbug epidemic enveloped New York City. While the bed bug threat is not a red flag in Texas, homeowners should employ control methods to keep them from hiding in mattresses, clothing, and/or other bedding.

Control Bed Bugs

First, you must know where the bed bugs are hiding in order to remove them. Once you know where they are, improve sanitation by vacuuming or removing the bugs by hand. Depending on your situation, you may need to treat the infested area with an insecticide approved for this use and specifically for bed bug control. Spray or dust bed slats, springs, frame, and other hiding places in the room. Do not use any insecticide on a mattress unless the product label specifically gives directions for this use.

It is impossible to cover all bed bug hiding places, so control is not immediate. You may see living bugs for a week to ten days after application. After this timeframe, you can apply a second treatment to kill the newly hatching bugs. The pesticides used for bed bug control have a short residual life, and so this second application is always needed.

Some additional prevention/control methods include:

• Store all your accessible food in rodent-proof containers such as glass or metal
• Bag up all clothing in plastic garbage bags, which must be sealed airtight.
• Dry-clean garments. Chemicals in dry-cleaning can kill bedbugs; washers and dryers will kill them only at temperatures above 140 degrees Farenheit.
• Bag books, papers, pictures, most loose objects and contents of closets to exterminators have access to all cracks and crevices in the home.

If your bed bug situation is serious and will not be solved by do-it-yourself methods, please contact a professional to assist you.

Mosquitoes

While bed bugs do not carry diseases, mosquitos are a whole other story. Besides the annoyance factor, mosquitoes can also transmit many disease-causing organisms to humans and animals. They spread such diseases as West Nile virus, encephalitis, dengue, yellow fever, malaria and filariasis. Mosquitoes are also responsible for transmitting heartworm in dogs.

Mosquito Control

The TX Cooperative Extension provides many ways to prevent mosquitos from invading your home and biting you and your family:

Eliminate breeding sites for larvae

• Reduce standing water that provides breeding sites. Eliminate containers such as old tires, buckets, cans and bottles that collect and hold rainwater and become good breeding sites for mosquitoes. Drain water from flower pots, bird baths, rain gutters, rain barrels, birdbaths, pet dishes, livestock watering troughs, etc. at least once a week.
• Empty your plastic wading pool weekly and store it indoors when not in use.
• Fill holes or depressions in trees with sand or mortar, or drain them after each rain by drilling holes into the tree.
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.

Reduce adult mosquito populations

• Mow tall grass or reduce the amount of brush and other foliage in your area to reduce the resting sites for adult mosquitoes.
• For temporary relief in yards or high traffic areas, use fog treatments or surface treatments of insecticides that are labeled for that use and apply them following directions on the product label. Avoid contact with mosquitoes.
• Use screening in your homes and pet kennels. Keep the screens in good repair and be sure that they seal around the frames of the door or window.
• Schedule outdoor activities during times when mosquitoes are not active. Mosquito species that are active at dusk and dawn can often be avoided. Species that bite throughout the day are more difficult to avoid.
• Wear long, loose-fitting clothing to avoid mosquito bites. Use head nets when mosquitoes are abundant.
• Use repellents whenever in a mosquito infested location.
• For short-term relief in outdoor areas such as patios and picnic areas, use a fogger and citronella candles or punks as a deterrent.
• Protect your pets with heart-worm treatments, which can be purchased from grocery stores or pet specialty stores.

Ticks

Ticks can be found on both humans and dogs. In urban areas, the most common tick is the brown dog tick. Dogs can become seriously infested with ticks to the point where it can be fatal, due to heavy blood loss. Ticks usually feed on more than one host during their lives, thus, they are able to transmit diseases to both humans and animals. Some transmitted diseases can be similar to the flu while others result in rashes, fever, or joint stiffness. If you experience any abnormal rash or illness after being bitten by a tick, the best thing to do would be to seek a doctor for treatment.

Ticks can cause many ailments. Some of them include: itching and inflammation of the skin, swelling around the bite, infections, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia (a disease that affects the lymph nodes and causes fever), and lyme disease-a disease that can cause arthritis and nervous disorders.

Cattle pastures, brushy areas and the edges of forests and fields are the best places for ticks. Ticks stick themselves to your skin when they bite. Using hot matches or grease will not remove ticks from your skin and can even increase the risk of infection. Instead, to remove ticks, grasp the tick as close to the head as possible with tweezers. Remove it with a firm, slow pull without twisting. Do not touch it or crush it with your bare hands because you may pick up germs or be at risk for infection. Apply an antiseptic to the skin after removing the tick. You can follow the same steps to remove ticks from a pet.

Tick Control

Protect yourself and your pets from tick bites by following some of the control methods the Cooperative suggests:

• Make it harder for ticks to enter clothing by tucking shirttails inside pants and wearing long pants and shirts.
• Use duct tape or wide masking tape to seal pants cuffs to boots. Tucking your pants legs inside your socks is also effective.
• Avoid sitting on the ground or on logs in brushy, tick-infested areas. Ticks often crawl around on a host for hours before biting. When in tick-infested areas, have a friend check you frequently for ticks before they attach.
• Around the home, keep tall grass and weeds cut short. Ticks like to climb vertical surfaces to rest after feeding. When treating yards for brown dog ticks, spray the siding of the house, fences, trees and other hiding places as well as the lawn.
• When using insecticides, follow label directions carefully and do not apply more than is recommended. Tick insecticides can be dangerous to pets and children if misapplied.

Fleas

The last of the four blood suckers is the tiny and wingless flea. While small and almost microscopic, fleas ironically cost Americans almost $9 billion a year to control them. In Texas, the most common flea problems are caused by the cat flea, which feeds on cats, dogs, and wildlife. This particular type of flea does not normally live on humans, but do bite people who come in close contact with infested animals.

Flea bites cause small, red, itchy bumps, usually on the ankles and lower legs. People with allergies to flea bites suffer from hives, rashes or generalized itching. Allergic reactions usually appear 12 to 24 hours after a bite, and may last a week or more.

Fleas that have fed on rodents may transmit diseases, including plague and murine typhus. Protect yourself from these diseases by avoiding close contact with wild rodents such as squirrels, rats, and prairie dogs. On the other hand, cat fleas do not carry plague.

Flea Control

The Cooperative suggests keying in to an integrated flea control program to prevent and eliminate fleas from the home.

Sanitation: Change pet bedding regularly and vacuum thoroughly. Vacuuming removes up to 30 percent of the larvae and up to 60 percent of flea eggs from a carpet, as well as the larvae’s food supply of dried blood. Vacuum under furniture, cushions, chairs, beds, and along walls. Discard vacuum cleaner bags at least once a week. Fleas can continue to develop inside vacuum cleaner bags and re-infest the house.

Treating Pets: Your pet’s first line of defense against fleas is a flea comb and a good bath. Soap acts as a gentle insecticide and helps control light infestations on your pet. Though time consuming, combing helps reduce the need for insecticides. Flea combs have fine teeth that remove adult fleas from fur. Most dogs and cats seem to enjoy this treatment – pay special attention to the face and neck, and the area in front of the tail. Dip the comb frequently in soapy water or an alcohol solution to kill fleas removed from the pet. Insect growth regulators, or IGRs, are a safe preventative treatment for fleas. Spot-on treatments (pesticides applied to one or more spots on the animal’s back) control adult fleas effectively. Natural oils on the fur also help transfer the pesticide to all parts of the pet’s body.

Got Fleas, but No Pets?

Just because your home doesn’t have pets does not mean that you are 100% safe from fleas. Homes can become infested with fleas when no pets are present. Wild animals such as bats, roof rats, squirrels, raccoons, and wild dogs and cats around the home, especially if you live in a highly wooded and forested area, may be the source of an infestation.

Call a pest control professional to seal off any openings that wildlife and rodents may use to enter your home.

While October may be a month of Halloween and fun festivities, make sure you know how to control bed bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, before they control your home, family, and pets!

Fran Phalin is a freelance editor and writer specializing in home improvement topics. She is based in Austin, TX.

For professional pest control assistance, please contact Anteater Pest and Lawn. Visit them at http://www.anteaterpestandlawn.com Anteater covers ALL crawling pests!

Author: Fran Phalin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Often, the push to go green, to try alternate energy sources is based, not only on our want to protect the environment but also our want to save on our bills. Regardless of the reason, going green is good for the environment and it can be, but is not usually, good on your pockets.

One of the best ways to go green is in our energy usage – in addition to reducing our usage we need to generate our own energy from inexpensive renewable sources. There can be great future financial savings in energy generation from renewable sources but before you can start seeing the savings from going green the challenge is getting your system up and running in the least expensive way possible.

You can get a professionally installed system for over $30,000 and then have to live in the house over 15 years to break even. Even with changing all appliances to energy Star and all the bulbs in your home to compact fluorescent light or those CFL bulbs you will still have to wait that long for your installation to make sense. There is another way.

You can do it yourself even if you have little technical skill. For under $200 you can build a solar system large enough to power one or two household appliances in only one weekend. For even less you can build yourself a nifty wind turbine that does the same too. Doing it your self can save you thousands over a professional unit the same size system if you have the right guide.

Many plans out there are missing steps, require you to purchase multiple e-Books and still miss out on the essential information a typical DIY’er needs. You just have to find a good plan that details even the most simple steps. With the perfect plan and the know how you can create and install a system large enough to generate over 1 Kw of power.

For the most popular plan that had even newbies building and installing their own systems as effortlessly as possible click here.

Author: Alexa Summers
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How to choose a blood pressure monitor

This may sound very complicated, but it’s not! Word lists are intuitively simple. So, let’s start with a simple example.

Let’s say you’ve been given an assignment to write about gardening. The first way to start generating topics is to free associated and brainstorm different words associated with gardening.

So a simple word list would look like this:

- gardening
- plants
- perennials
- gardening equipment
- drought-resistant plants
- rain barrels
- seeds
- Burpee
- heirloom plants
- bulbs
- soil preparation
- composting

Anyways, you get the idea. From this simple brainstorming session, you may end up getting some great ideas for topics or for the outline to an ebook from a few minutes of using a word list creatively. But, we’re not done! We’re going to use a more complex word list to eventually target research and articles already written on the Internet in a very precise way. Before we create the complex word list, let’s think about the case where you are faced with a blank sheet of paper and a topic that has you mystified.

Figuring Out Word Lists From Scratch

Don’t panic! Even if you got a subject that frightens you, we will show you a ridiculously easy way to get past the initial terror that seizes you with an unfamiliar topic. All you have to do is be able to cut and paste, basically, to have the skills to generate words that go with this topic. That’s because you’re going to let other people build the lists for you. All, you’re going to do is plug in the original topic term into the Google search engine and find relevant articles. After you’ve got a list of URLs with relevant topics, you can start to use them to generate a frequency word list.

A frequency word list is like a simple word list, except that it tells you how many times a word is used in a piece of text or article. This is really valuable information if you are trying to generate a word list for research purposes or to find out what keywords Internet marketers are targeting on their websites. The higher the frequency of a word, the more important it is to search engine and to the marketer. So, you can bet that some of these words that pop up the most are actually Google Keywords too, at times.

If you are in Firefox, you can facilitate this next process by using the tabs feature. You would open up a URL in one tab for a relevant article, and then in the other tab, you will open up the Build Your Word List program at www.buildyourwordlist.com. You can even use keyword searching tools that are available online to build a frequency word list instead of this tool. There are many different types of frequency word searchers online. They work about the same. Then, you would simply cut and paste the article text into the Build Your Word List tool and see which words are used the most. These can help you start to build word list without even knowing one thing about the subject! You just use what other people are using to get a starting point in your research.

You will find that in a lot of ways this process is even easier than brainstorming. Some of the tools, besides the Build Your Own List tool, will even give you the frequency of phrases. That way, it can help you to brainstorm combinations of words that are powerful, either because Google likes them or because the marketer has decided they attract attention. And, just because you did a little brainstorming to start finding articles doesn’t mean you can’t use this step too to refine your word list even further.

By the way, do you want to learn more about using articles like this to drive traffic to your website and increase online conversions?

If so, I suggest you check this out: article marketing traffic.

Author: Sean R Mize
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low Cost Prototype PCB

True, it ain’t sexy. Insulation is not colorful or plush. It doesn’t entertain (adults or the kids) and is a bit boring. Add in that the attic is not a fun place to hang out, and you’ve just convinced yourself to repaint and redecorate the bathroom instead.

Well, why you may end up with a rockin’ bathroom, it’s not a place where you’ll get a lot of value overall. Adding new insulation to your attic, sadly, is a project that will pay you back in the long run while you inhabit your house and when you try to sell it to someone else. Plus, it’s really less expensive than you might think so maybe you can still do the bathroom after you take care of your priorities.

Insulation is one of those things that can get overlooked or marginalized because it’s hard to wrap our arms around its effect in concrete terms. Other factors weigh in, like air sealing, efficiency rating of windows and doors, the temps we keep our houses set to, etc. But generally speaking, insulation is one of the best investments you can make, both in your own personal comfort and in the saleability of your home.

The first step is to take an assessment of what insulation already exists and the condition its in. Check out your attic and make notes, then head outside and look for a way to discover what’s going on behind exterior walls. If you’re not comfortable making determinations, call your local utility provider. Most offer a free home energy audit and can give you a good understanding of what you need and a respective priority (read: impact) for each.

Although a hassle, insulation is relatively easy to install and can be done over a weekend. It’s helpful to have another set of hands to help cut down on going up and down your stairs.

Lincoln is a resource for homeowners seeking to save energy, lower their utility bills with attic insulation, and improve the life of their HVAC system. As an experienced residential carpenter, Lincoln gained firsthand experience with improving the quality and efficiency of homes in his Midwest community. Seeking a more effective way to heat and cool his home, he discovered radiant barrier foil insulation and now spends his time helping others do the same.

Author: Lincoln Miller
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Retirement plan

Many homes these days still use home heating oil to keep their houses warm in the wintertime, as well as to heat the water in their hot water tank or for their washer and dishwasher. As everyone has probably noticed, anything that is made of an oil product has been going up in price on almost a daily basis.

The cost of your home heating oil depends on the cost of crude oil are, so the higher the price then the higher oil costs will be. Because of this, it behooves home owners who use heating oil to do what they can to save money. With just a little effort you can save between five and 10 percent on your oil costs.

There are a lot of ways you can save on your home heating bills. Some of these include things like checking your home for leaking cold air from the outside, especially if your home is old. Most people remember to check their storm windows for leaks, but did you also think about the crack under your doors? A lot of air can get through this seemingly small area. You can block the flow of cold air with a rolled up towel or a draft snake laid up against the door threshold.

Another place you might not think to check for air leaks is your electric wall or light switches. You can put insulation behind these to cut down on the flow of air.

It’s also a good idea to change the air filters in your furnace monthly so it has a clean filter. If the filter is dirty, the air is blocked and your furnace will have to work harder to heat your home, thus causing you to use more home oil.

Another simple trick is just to turn down your thermostat at night on both your home and on your oil-fired hot water heater. Remember, the furnace isn’t the only gadget in your home that may use home heating oil. You can buy a programmable thermostat for this so you don’t have to remember it yourself. Or, try washing your clothes in cold water more so you use less home heating oil.

Another good way to save money on home heating oil is to have a professional cleaning and inspection done every year on your furnace and your oil burner. If it’s clean, it will run much more efficiently. You can also call your utility provider and ask for a home energy audit, these are usually free and can give you some good recommendations on saving on energy, and thus using less home oil.

These simple tips and tricks could save you hundreds of dollars on your home heating oil because you will be using less of it. Besides these ideas, you can also try shopping around to see which company can give you the best price per gallon in your area. You can usually find this information on their website, or by calling them.

To read more about heating oil go to: Heating Oil Partners

To get unique content written for your own website free of charge go to: Free Unique Content

Author: Will Thurman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Assisted living

There has been a surge of demand for green homes of late. More and more people are becoming concerned about the environment. Many homebuyers nowadays consider eco-friendliness as a major determinant in choosing their new homes. Aside from minimizing the residents’ impact on the environment, a green home can also prove to be more cost efficient when it comes to maintenance.

Outwardly, an environmentally friendly home may not look very different from traditional houses. The differences show in the materials used for the new home’s construction. Homebuyers looking for a greener place to live will know they’re on the right track when they find accreditations from eco-friendly organizations such as the Environments for Living program and Energy Star.

Green homes that meet the Diamond Level requirements of the Environments for Living program are guaranteed to have the least impact on the environment. Such homes utilize sustainable design technology and get their construction materials from environment friendly sources.

The Energy Star seal is widely recognizable to today’s consumers. More known for being tied with household appliances, the blue and silver seal is given to all eco-friendly consumer products, even new homes.

Homebuyers looking for eco-friendly residences are also met with a bombardment of acronyms on their new house plan. Terms such as SEER, MERV, and IAQ, on their plans, all connote that the house has been constructed with energy efficiency and eco-friendliness in mind.

There are many who believe that green homes are the way of the future. A long history of exploitation has led to dwindling natural resources and harsher environmental conditions. By joining the movement for greener lifestyles, Man would come one step closer to redeeming himself from past environmental mistakes.

Resource Box:

The new home builders of David Weekley Homes keep up with the times by providing greener solutions to home building. Its green homes are of the same high quality as its traditional housing projects, with the added assurance of reduced impact on the environment. For more information about the company and the services it offers, visit DavidWeekleyHomes.com or call 800-785-3238.

Author: Jack M Patterson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
iPad games

Promotional clothing has been around for many years but you will be happy to know there are now eco friendly organic options available to promote your company or organisation. Going green has never been easier. Eco friendly clothing may be slightly more expensive but it is well worth the additional expense! It will also show your target customers that you are concerned about the state of the environment we all share and they will appreciate your effort.

As with all corporate clothing, eco clothing is an excellent way of getting your message in front of the public. Ask your promotional gift supplier to assist you with your design, add a catchy strapline and you’ve got a marketing campaign that will get you noticed. By printing your logo on the front of an organic t-shirt or trendy pullover, you can expect your logo and details to be seen so often your promotion may actually pay for itself. Think about it, every time someone wears one of your promotional garments, your logo could be seen by literally hundreds of people.

Eco friendly clothing is here to stay and as it becomes increasingly more popular you will find a much larger clothing range than ever before possible. You may even choose to reinforce your environmental message with a selection of equally popular less expensive gifts such as eco pens, key rings and bags. With all this fun new merchandise to promote your company or organisation it would be easy to jump right in and start purchasing. It is recommended, however that you take your time. Eco friendly clothing is a specialist area so please ensure that you look around and find a promotional gifts supplier that knows and understands the environment gift industry.

Dan Toombs is the Managing Director of CompuGift Limited, the UK’s first internet based promotional gift supplier. The company was established in 1997 and is a leading supplier of promotional items and business gifts to businesses in the UK and Europe. CompuGift’s website features a good selection of eco friendly clothing and other promotional gift items.

Author: Dan Toombs
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
iPhone/iPad accessory

The Rainforest Alliance Project was founded to promote sustainable forest development and to help protect the world’s vital yet diminishing rainforests.

Established more than 20 years ago, the Rainforest Alliance is present in more than 60 countries in which it helps organisations and companies learn and adopt new strategies in the utilisation of forest resources.

The project helped develop the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) that provides certification for companies who follow sustainable development standards. Certified groups receive the Rainforest Alliance Certified(TM) seal, which ensures consumers that products come from legal sources that minimise negative impacts on the world’s rainforests. More than 1,600 partners are certified using standards set by the FSC.

The Rainforest Alliance Project works because of the group’s extensive and global knowledge and experience working with all forest types. Guided by a team of experts that include local people who know the ground situation in their region, the project is able to assess each situation independently and competently.

Each case is analysed to ensure that forest products were harvested using sustainable methods, and that they do not originate from illegal sources or trading. If it finds that a company’s forest products are coming from illegal sources, they can help in connecting the company find new suppliers that meet FSC standards. The project works with both companies and suppliers providing preparation and support in acquiring FSC certification.

The organisation takes pride in its transparent approach and its reputation is well established. The project will help partner companies and organisation communicate their support of sustainable forestry development through use of press releases, promotional materials and other public communications. Through association with the Rainforest Alliance, companies and organisations will benefit from the goodwill generated by their efforts to protect the environment.

Also, through invitation-only workshops, training courses and other networking opportunities, partner companies and organisations will have many opportunities to interact with other groups interested in sustainable forestry development.

By working with companies and suppliers, the project’s experts have helped in developing models for the sustainable management of crops like bananas, coffee and tea. They have also helped develop standards for sustainable tourism in rainforest areas that protect the local environment and help reduce emission of greenhouse gases. Farms that follow the standards of the project are included in the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) with members located across the globe.

The Rainforest Alliance is a leader in the work of protecting the world’s rainforests, and companies and suppliers will benefit by utilising their knowledge, experience and reputation through partnership and FSC certification. The organisation has been working since 1987 in its efforts to conserve the world’s biodiversity and to promote business and land use practices that help in meeting this goal.

This article is written by Hugh McInnes, about the sustainable forestry developments by the Rainforest Alliance organisation in order to protect our rainforest from depletion.

Author: Hugh McInnes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
iPhone/iPad apps