Empowering Smallholders to enter into the Mainstream Global Natural Rubber FSC Market

85% of all natural rubber world-wide is produced by smallholders. There is a general perception in the market that FSC is too difficult and expensive for smallholders to embrace and has led to <5% of the total rubber area being FSC certified. Today there are initiatives afoot in various geographies that has shown that smallholder certification can be simple, affordable and thus scalable at national level. By engaging across many countries, the smallholder in rubber industry can be empowered to trade the bulk of their product in the mainstream compliance market. Furthermore, a strong agroforestry approach will bring significant advantages when backed by payment for ecosystem services approach.