How María Fernanda Ghiso Of Rainforest Alliance Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice
An Interview With Monica Sanders
It takes a village. At the Rainforest Alliance, we know that to tackle systemic issues we cannot do it alone. This is true for our work with youth, which needs the participation of teachers, parents, community members, and public and private sector partners to succeed.
According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an incredibly important environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing María Fernanda Ghiso, Youth Inclusion Lead at the Rainforest Alliance.
With over 20 years of experience in youth development and environmental education, María specializes in developing educational interventions to build capacity and create opportunities for youth, including climate-specific curricula emphasizing the vital role of forests in addressing climate change. Her work spans diverse communities in Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States, collaborating closely with teachers, community members, and students.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was born in Argentina and moved to the United States at a young age where my family settled in Queens, NYC. There, I grew up surrounded by rich cultural diversity (and amazing food!).
I became interested in the environment and remember writing letters to every environmental organization I could think of to get information and learn more. A childhood friend of mine recently remembered a particular day when I brought an article about dolphins to share with her after school. I went on to receive my BA in Gender Studies and MA in Environmental Conservation Education from NYU. I have always been interested in the social side of sustainability and how we can ensure equal opportunities for all communities.
I have had the honor of working with the Rainforest Alliance for 23 years, where I now lead our work on youth inclusion and engagement. From time to time, I still enjoy answering letters from our youngest supporters, remembering how thrilled I was to receive a response to my letters years ago.
Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?
It is hard to answer with a single “why” since so much of my career has been full of inspiring moments that propel me forward. I have always believed in the transformative nature of education as key to shaping our knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards the environment around us. Just last year, I had the honor of seeing one of our youth leaders graduate with a degree in agronomy. I remember being with her when she got her first passport to leave her community to study abroad at this prestigious university. Watching her receive her diploma and return home to make a difference in her community reminded me that the future is in good hands if we give youth the opportunity to succeed and be changemakers.
You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?
At the Rainforest Alliance, our main focus is on driving significant shifts within markets to protect and restore forests and biodiversity, act on climate, and promote the well-being of rural communities. With a presence in nearly 60 countries, our alliance brings together various stakeholders — from farming and forest communities to companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together, we’re united in our efforts to drive positive change across the world’s most critical landscapes and global supply chains.
I lead the Rainforest Alliance’s work on youth inclusion and engagement. It is critical work: the long-term future of forest and farming communities cannot be addressed without considering who will be responsible for leading them in a more sustainable direction. It requires programs that eliminate or reduce the barriers preventing youth from accessing the skills, resources, and influence necessary to create prosperous farming or forest businesses in healthy landscapes. It also means programs that tackle contributing factors such as climate change and gender inequality, giving all youth the same opportunities and resilience to adapt to climate challenges.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Our organization works to support people and nature in some of the world’s most biodiverse landscapes. I have had the unique opportunity of walking through many forests; seeing coffee, tea, banana, and pineapple production up close; learning from women and youth-led businesses; and speaking with community members. One of my most recent memories was a teacher workshop in Mexico’s Selva Maya, where we visited community-managed forestry operations, learned about the potential for youth participation, and walked through an area the community had set aside for conservation which had towering ancient mahogany trees. All these experiences have taught me how interconnected we all are, how we depend on each other and the planet, and the vital role of partnerships in creating a meaningful impact.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
Some of my greatest mentors have been rural teachers. I have had the pleasure of working with teachers in communities all over the world. I am always in awe of their dedication and creativity, with little to no resources. Rural teachers were especially affected during the pandemic, having to think of new ways to engage students who had limited connectivity, reengage students that dropped out of school, and support their mental health. This is not something new, but I (like many of you, I’m sure) was reminded of the essential role that teachers play in a community.
Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?
To me, climate justice means understanding that not everyone has equally contributed to climate change and not everyone will be equally affected. It is vital that we put people at the center of climate action, ensuring that we have a holistic approach that respects rights, fosters inclusion, and provides greater access to resources to those most vulnerable.
Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?
As we look towards 2030, a year experts mark as the potential point of no return, the Rainforest Alliance has embarked on a new strategy to address interconnected challenges such as the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, systemic poverty, and human rights. Our leadership vision places a strong emphasis on putting local communities at the center of sustainability action, working to bolster regenerative agriculture, and expanding our alliance of actors needed to achieve our goal.
This commitment to sustainability extends to investing in sustainable farming and forest management, which in turn becomes an investment in the next generation of leaders, community members, and technicians. The Rainforest Alliance works to understand, reduce, and eliminate barriers to youth inclusion and engagement in agricultural and forest communities. Our goal? To create an environment where youth — especially from rural areas — can successfully transition to an independent adulthood, with all the skills, resources, and opportunities necessary to have productive and sustainable livelihoods.
In Mexico, we are providing youth with opportunities to learn and practice technical forestry skills, working with local academic institutions to ensure degree programs meet local community and employment needs, and supporting teacher leaders who are at the front lines of positive youth development.
In Kenya, we are supporting youth entrepreneurs, developing skills and opportunities for young people to diversify their income and create their own businesses.
In Ghana and Côte D’Ivoire, we are supporting greater youth participation in landscape management boards, ensuring that the needs and voices of young people are represented in collective decision-making spaces.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?
We partner with diverse allies — rural producers, companies, NGOs, and governments — around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of the world’s most critically important landscapes. Future generations play a key role in protecting these landscapes.
Ensuring inclusion and engagement of youth in rural communities requires strategic interventions tackling the barriers preventing young people from continuing their education, influencing decision-making, finding meaningful employment, and achieving their aspirations. Inter-generational dialogue at local, regional, and national levels is needed to build trust and understanding between the generations.
Governments have a key role to play in supporting diverse rural economies to flourish. They must work to ensure youth can develop independence, earn an income, are protected from exploitation, and contribute to the well-being of their community and environment. For example, governments can ensure school curriculums are suitably designed to teach young people the skills and knowledge necessary to engage in profitable and more sustainable agriculture.
Government policies about — and affecting — youth are often created without input from young people. It is critical that youth actively participate in policy platforms at national, regional, and community levels. For that, they need lobbying and advocacy skills to understand how these platforms function, what role youth can play, and how they can effectively articulate their positions. Simultaneously, public authorities and existing decision-making spaces must understand the need for the next generation to participate, allowing and encouraging youth to present their position, skills, and aspirations.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Integrating sustainability into a business isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore; it’s a smart business move. In the face of pressing environmental and social issues, consumers — and company stakeholders at large — are showing a clear preference for brands that prioritize positive impact. When businesses step up to contribute to their communities and the environment, they’re not only fostering customer loyalty and gaining access to new markets, but also improving their reputation and boosting their brand’s overall value.
For instance, businesses are in a unique position to make rural livelihoods more profitable for young people. They can use their purchasing power to create opportunities for decent work. By paying fair prices that cover production costs and provide a living wage for workers, businesses can help to foster the conditions that allow for decent work for young people — and for everyone.
Access to finance is crucial to improving the ability of young people to pursue viable careers in the agriculture and forestry sectors. The private sector can support youth by providing incentives to engage in agriculture, forestry, and agribusiness — for example, through internships, apprenticeships, and training programs to prepare youth to lead and manage rural businesses.
So, think of sustainability as a double win — driving profitability while aligning with the evolving needs of today’s ever-changing market.
This is the signature question we ask in most of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice” and why?
1 . It takes a village. At the Rainforest Alliance, we know that to tackle systemic issues we cannot do it alone. This is true for our work with youth, which needs the participation of teachers, parents, community members, and public and private sector partners to succeed.
2 . Lift-up the voices of those who don’t always have a seat at the table and let them speak for themselves. Through our Integrated Landscape Management approach, Rainforest Alliance helps build partnerships that bring all land users together — farmers, forest enterprises, local leaders, companies, and governments — to tackle complex and often interconnected challenges. Youth need to have the opportunity and space to participate. It is critical to really invest in youth people, especially those in rural communities.
3 . Issues are systemic, interconnected and rooted in unequal structures and power. The core of the Rainforest Alliance’s mission is that people and nature thrive in harmony. The most pressing issues of our time — the climate crisis, deforestation and cataclysmic biodiversity loss, poverty, and human rights abuses — cannot be tackled in isolation. We need holistic, interdisciplinary approaches and teams to work on this together.
4 . Focus on action and self-care. While the challenges may seem too large to tackle, I have always felt that the narrative of doom and gloom can be paralyzing, especially for young people. That’s why when we design educational tools and trainings, they include local success stories, self-reflection, creating intergenerational spaces, and ways to continue learning. Action includes making time for self-care, walking in a forest, breathing deeply, and grounding ourselves in the people and reasons we do this work.
5 . Sustainability is an ever-growing movement. In my over two decades-long tenure at the Rainforest Alliance, it has been incredible to see this movement take hold. I remember having to explain the importance of the issues, the key role of local communities in forest protection, and why our choices as consumers matter. Now, I can see products with our little green frog everywhere, even when I’m not looking. The youngest generations are more active in the fight against climate change, care more about what they buy, and are holding leaders accountable. This gives me more hope than ever for the future of sustainability.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
This is such a difficult question as there are so many inspiring people to choose from. I would love to meet Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. I recently read her book All We Can Save and was inspired by the collection of female voices, stories, and poetry about climate justice.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
Readers can follow our journey on Instagram (@rainforestalliance), Facebook (www.facebook.com/RainforestAlliance), and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/rainforest-alliance). For more in-depth information, they can visit our website at rainforest-alliance.org and even subscribe to our newsletter to receive news and updates about our work.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org
How María Fernanda Ghiso Of Rainforest Alliance Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.