Sustainable Solutions for the Cordillera Mountains

Cordillera Conservation Trust

Tignayan para iti Konserbasyon ti Kordilyera

Traditional Kalanguya homes Lebbeng, Kabayan, Benguet

Local Livelihoods and the Environment

                 The Cordillera Conservation Trust Recognizes the role and impact of trade on the environment, trade when inequitable tends to exacerbate rather than promote sustainable use of the local ecological systems forcing local communities to exploit their environments in order to meet daily needs of food, clothing, education and a quality of life.

 

                 We believe that this pressure on the local environment arises from the imbalance of trade between farmers and downstream markets, leaving Cordillera farmers without access to markets which will properly price the produce from their farms, forcing most farmers to expand into forest areas, watersheds and continue with unsustainable practices such as monocropping and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides that increase crop yields but destroy the soil and waters that these very crops depend on leaving little hope for future generations.

 

                 Green trade envisions creating markets and opportunities for small farmers in the Cordillera to sell their produce at competitive prices, providing adequate revenue to prevent further expansion into forest areas caused by poverty and land degradation. Together with providing market venues Green trade will at the same time act as an agent and developer of greening the supply chain, sustainable agricultural strategies, and methods contextual to the local regions unique characteristics that are geared to provide local farmers with alternatives to current unsustainable farming practices.

· Lower environmental pressure due to increased profits

· Growth of more sustainable enterprises

· Reduction in pesticide use and monocropping

· Local economic development

Kalanguya Farmer: Tukucan

E-mail: Cordillera.conservation.trust@gmail.com

To contact us:

Green Trade