Planting Empowerment Takes Award in Tropical Forest Challenge

Company recognized as having an innovative solution to conserve tropical forest biodiversity

Download the full publication (PDF, 1.9 MB)

Washington DC, Dec. 18th—Planting Empowerment, a sustainable agroforestry company working in Panama, announced today that it won the Startup category in the WWF Switzerland Tropical Forest Challenge.

Designed to discover global for-profit enterprises having a positive effect on tropical forest biodiversity, the WWF Switzerland Tropical Forest Challenge was managed by Ennovent, and honored businesses in Startup and Company categories. Winners went through a selection process that included a popular vote, pre-selection by a panel of experts, and a final challenge jury.

“We’re honored to be selected by WWF Switzerland” said Planting Empowerment advisory board member Emil Herkert. “As part of the growing movement to increase local control of tropical forests, Planting Empowerment has the potential to positively impact both the environment and local livelihoods in a big way. That they won this award speaks to the fact that human well-being must be at the heart of sustainably managing our natural resources.”

WWF Switzerland’s mission is to stop the global destruction of the environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. The Tropical Forest Challenge was managed by Ennovent, whose mission is to accelerate sustainable innovations for low-income markets.

The winners of the challenge will receive global visibility, networking opportunities and capacity building.