Costing the Earth

Fruits of the Forest


Listen Later

Can the growing of fashionable super fruits save the Amazon rain forest? Peter Hadfield meets the native farmers finding ways to profit from the forest without chopping it down.

In the dark days of the 1980s vast tracts of the Amazon disappeared every year, the trees sold for furniture production and the naked land converted into cattle pasture. International campaigns and the brave struggle of local activists eventually led to reserves being set up in which native people could harvest forest nuts, herbs and fruits without cutting down the trees.

The fruits of the forest such as acai berries, cacao and passion fruit have proven such a hit with healthy eating enthusiasts that the business is booming, attracting the attention of big international food companies. Could the reserves turn out to be a victim of their own success? Could the forest's natural bounty be over-exploited? Peter Hadfield travels along the Amazon to meet the local people trying to balance their livelihood with the health of the forest.

Producer: Alasdair Cross.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Costing the EarthBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

54 ratings


More shows like Costing the Earth

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,689 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,045 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,430 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,791 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,780 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,087 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,121 Listeners

Future Tense by ABC listen

Future Tense

74 Listeners

F1: Chequered Flag by BBC Radio 5 Live

F1: Chequered Flag

766 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

269 Listeners

The Food Chain by BBC World Service

The Food Chain

345 Listeners

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

343 Listeners

Open Country by BBC Radio 4

Open Country

89 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

483 Listeners

Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

24,240 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

4,025 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

261 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

140 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,187 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

736 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

14,428 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,616 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,115 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

2,067 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

1,017 Listeners