Rainforest Action Network (RAN), with offices in San Francisco and Tokyo, has been working since 1985 to protect rainforests and the human rights of those living in and around the forests. RAN’s mission includes education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action for the worldwide rainforest conservation movement.

RAN has helped to protect millions of acres of forests in Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, Chile and other countries.

Protecting habitat for plants and animals, reducing global warming, protecting human rights of those living in or near ecosystems, energy conservation and green energy, and sustainable businesses using green practices are focus issues for RAN.

Specific campaigns target:
* America’s oil addiction.
* Reducing America’s reliance on coal.
* Global finance campaign to challenge large banks to stop funding the world’s most destructive industries and start funding renewable energy.
* Companies and industries that engage in outdated, destructive logging.
* Challenging industrial agriculture that threatens tropical rainforests.

The growing demand for biofuels has caused many businesses to establish soy and palm oil operations in tropical forests around the world. Palm oil plantations alone are expanding at a rate of 2.5 million acres per year in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Soy production has become a major contributor to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

RAN shares information and works with environmental and human rights groups in 60 countries.

Marketing campaigns are conducted to align the policies of multinational businesses with widespread public support for environmental protection. “We believe that logging ancient forests for copy paper or destroying an endangered ecosystem for a week’s worth of oil is not just destructive, but outdated and unnecessary.”

RAN has helped convince corporations such as Home Depot, Citigroup, Boise Cascade, and Goldman Sachs to change their practices, and has congratulated those that have taken positive steps in preserving the rain forests.

RAN convened the first international rainforest conference that was attended by activists from 35 organizations. Additional international conferences have helped unite the growing worldwide rainforest movement.

Additional information on donating, learning about the issues, or participating in programs can be found on their website.