Fixing Deforestation and the Issues Around It - Experienced California Executive Alicia Procello Maddox

In much of the developing world the people are still heavily reliant on the environment. A far cry from the modern luxuries many of us are used to now, the people of these areas rely on the fertile soil, forestry and seasonal crops to make a living and feed their families. However, as a result of deforestation many of these regions have been left in ruins and the people that inhabit these regions can no longer survive as they have for hundreds of years before. As with many of their projects, the Avery Dennison Foundation and its president Alicia Procello Maddox, have made it their goal of bringing back the forest and helping the people in these areas regain their financial independence. When you think about the financial benefit to the corporations responsible for deforestation, it is a very difficult task. But Alicia Procello Maddox and the foundation have resolved many disputes and created a middle ground for the parties involved. The foundation’s grants have not only planted trees in many of the devasted areas in South America and Asia but they have also funded workshops to the people, teaching better, more sustainable forestry practices. After three years of hard work we have finally seen much the foundations work pay off. The foundation has helped add 80,000 additional hectares of mahogany and other, more lucrative, hardwood trees. Forestry-related business has seen a huge increase, adding over 650 permanent jobs and creating a larger market for diverse species of timber. Alicia Procello Maddox’s workshops have single handedly taught the people of these regions better more efficient ways to the forestry business.