WHOLE FOREST

Whole Forest is a social enterprise that is committed to job preservation and forest preservation in the Choco Rainforest of Ecuador. Whole Forest harvests balsa from small landowners and operates a factory that produces balsa laminates used widely in the wind turbine blade industry. The business is demonstrating that slash and burn practices can be replaced by sound forestry practices when there exist long-term private markets for sustainably harvested wood. Beneficial Returns provided Whole Forest a $150,000 loan to finance its entry into the hardwood business.