Oro Verde

For over a decade, the Oro Verde initiative has been working to empower and improve the lives of Afro-descendants living in the Chocó region of Colombia, while protecting one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world through the commercialization of Fairtrade and Fairmined precious metals (ecological gold and platinum). The Oro Verde initiative has accomplished a great deal through its challenging, yet rewarding work. The initiative´s bottom-up model inspired the creation of the "Fairtrade & Fairmined" international certification label for artisanal and small-scale mining in 2009. As a result, 15 million miners worldwide now benefit from market access and improved social conditions. Today, Oro Verde represents the following- 114 Fairtrade & Fairmined certified artisanal mining family units (in the municipalities of Tadó and Condoto)- 377 artisanal miners certified and over 1,800 indirect project beneficiaries- 4,500 hectares of protected tropical rainforest in a global ‘biodiversity hotspot’ - US$1.29 MM in sales to ethical jewelers; generated in additional income to invest in community development. Oro Verde is the world’s only source of Fairtrade & Fairmined Ecological certified gold and platinum.