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The Amazon Rainforest, one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.
Its trees and plants produce 20% of the world's oxygen and fresh water.
Over 25% of the world's medicines are derived from rainforest plants.
Who knows what riches have yet to be discovered?
But the Amazon rainforest and the biodiversity it contains face many threats,
including illegal logging and gold mining.
But wait - what's that?
Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
No! It's a...
...Brazil nut?!
How can you help save the rainforest?
By buying Brazil nut products,
the Brazil nut tree, and the forest it lives in, is worth more standing
than if it is cut down and sold for timber.
But what's so special about Brazil nuts?
The oil in the nut is perfect for use in soaps,
shampoos, conditioners and skin creams.
The minerals and vitamins they contain
help to maintain a healthy nervous system.
Is that why they're so good to eat?
Brazil nut trees are only found in the Amazon,
and they can only produce nuts in undisturbed rainforest
due to the complex ecosystem they need to thrive in.
Even if Brazil nut trees become protected
if the surrounding forest isn't,
the Brazil nut trees won't fruit, the nuts won't grow
and the locals can't earn money harvesting them year after year.
Brazil nut trees flower once every 14 months.
And only one type of bee that lives in the forest
is capable of pollinating the flowers.
The bee's magic work turns the flowers into pods is capable of pollinating the flowers.
The bee's magic work turns the flowers into pods
each containing between 12 to 24 Brazil nuts.
During the rainy season
they become wet and heavy and fall to the ground.
Agoutis are the only animals in the forest with strong enough teeth
to gnaw through the Brazil nut pods.
After the Agouti has eaten some of the nuts,
he buries the rest for later
and those that he forgets about
become the next generation of Brazil nut trees.
They grow to around 45 metres high
and 2 metres in diameter.
The trees can live for 500 years or more.
Some have been known to be as much as 1,000 years old.
And in that time
a single tree can produce a lot of Brazil nuts!
Brazil nut trees are found in primary rainforest,
so nut gatherers have to travel long distances
to reach their individual concessions
located deep in the heart of the forest.
The many pods that the Agoutis don't open
are harvested from the forest floor.
Nut gatherers search the undergrowth
and collect them from the base of each tree.
The pods are collected together
and the harvesters begin cracking them open by hand
to remove the Brazil nuts inside.
Once the nuts are ready to transport,
the journey begins to carry them back to the forest communities
where the nut gatherers live.
Many of these communities
have depended on the Amazon forest for their livelihood for centuries,
and nut harvests are an important source of their income.
One group who works with these communities is Candela Peru,
formed to help find forest resources
that could provide local people
with a steady income without damaging the rainforest.
At Candela's processing centre, the nuts are dried out for 46 hours
They are then steamed for 1 minute
to loosen up their tough shells
and once this process is completed,
they are ready to be hand cracked, one by one.
Candela work with over 280 Brazil nut gatherers
to process and export the nuts and the oil to international markets
By working with organisations like Candela,
The Body Shop's Community Fair Trade programme
supports the environment and livelihood
of people like the Peruvian nut gatherers.
The Body Shop now works with thousands of farmers and producers worldwide
who supply us with 18 of our ingredients,
including Brazil nut oil,
as well as many gifts and accessories.
By buying Brazil nut oil for the last 20 years
The Body Shop and its customers
have helped to protect thousands of acres of rainforest
And every time you buy Brazil nuts
or products containing Brazil nut oil,
you're doing your bit to help protect the rainforest
giving us all
a happier
healthier planet.