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Bird Friendly
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| LABEL REPORT CARD |
| How meaningful is the label? |
Is the label verified? |
Is the meaning of the label consistent? |
Are the label standards publicly available? |
Is information about the organization publicly available? |
Is the organization free from conflict of interest? |
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input? |
| Highly |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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LABEL CATEGORY:
Sustainable Agriculture |
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WHERE YOU'LL FIND THIS LABEL:
 FOOD
BEVERAGES
: coffee
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WHAT THIS LABEL MEANS:
The objective of the "Bird Friendly" program is to verify that the product (coffee) has been grown using shade management practices. The goal of the program is to foster conditions on coffee plantations that provide good bird habitats. Maintenance of the tree canopy, diversity in tree and plant species, shade at specific times of the day, and establishment of plant borders around streams or rivers are all included into the Bird Friendly label criteria.
The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) only allows organic certifiers to issue the Bird Friendly label on organically certified products. Organic inspectors must complete a “Shade Certification Check List” and sign a certificate before the SMBC will allow the use of the Bird-Friendly seal of approval.
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CONSUMERS UNION EVALUATION:
The Bird-Friendly label is meaningful and clear with standards that consistently support the concept of "bird friendly." All of the criteria must be met in order for a product to carry the Bird Friendly seal. This label is used only on products that are certified as organic. Although organic coffee grown in tropical forests tends to be shade-grown (for example, the leaf litter is used as natural fertilizer), the Bird-Friendly label sets additional criteria.
Although the SMBC has no policy regarding the source of funding, it currently has no related industry funding. Thus there is no conflict of interest and the standards are transparent.
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PROGRAM NAME:
Bird Friendly |
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ORGANIZATION NAME AND CONTACT INFO:
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC)
National Zoological Park
Washington , D.C.
20008
Phone: 202-673-4908
Fax: 202-673-4916
URL: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationandScience/MigratoryBirds/
Email Contact: rarice@igc.org
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ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:
HISTORY
The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) is a federal office and part of the National Zoo. The National Zoo is a bureau of the Smithsonian Institute. The Bird Friendly program at SMBC began in 1999.
FUNDING
Licensing fees and royalties from products sold with the “Bird-Friendly” seal of approval support SMBC research and conservation programs. In addition, SMBC receives funding through grants from foundations and international philanthropic organizations. It has also used corporate sponsorship in the past to support workshops (e.g. Mars supported a cocoa workshop).
STRUCTURE
The SMBC organization is made up of four scientists and four other staff. Since the program is administered by a government agency, there is no board of directors. Changes made to the program are made by SMBC scientists with input from external scientific experts.
ACCREDITOR
The SMBC is an accreditation organization in that it has developed a set of standards behind the “Bird-Friendly” label and authorizes the use of its label on certified products. The SMBC only allows organic certifying organizations to authorize the use of the SMBC label.
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LABEL STANDARDS AND CRITERIA DETAIL:
click here for label standard - criteria test and analysis
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
none
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