Butterfly Foundation
Friends of Butterflies and the Rainforest Foundation
“We are raising awareness of the Butterfly Industries’ sustainable impact on the world’s rainforests and their inhabitants. We inspire individuals and empower communities, near and far, to build a thriving economy without depriving ecology.”
Our History: Friends of Butterflies and the Rainforest Foundation is a non profit partner to The Butterfly Palace. Established in 2018 by The Butterfly Palace to help send more money to butterfly farms in the Rainforest!
Our Vision: At Friends of Butterflies and the Rainforest Foundation, our vision is to foster a sustainable future where butterfly farming becomes a thriving industry that not only conserves the rainforests but also uplifts the communities and wildlife that depend on them. We believe that by empowering butterfly farmers with the tools and financial support they need, we can help them create a model of conservation that values the beauty of nature while ensuring the well-being of those who live within it.
Our commitment to education and outreach will cultivate a deeper understanding of the rainforest’s vital role in our planet's ecosystem and hopefully inspire individuals in what role they can play in preserving it. We work to show that economic growth and environmental preservation can go hand in hand. For as the poet Baba Dioum wisely stated:
“For in the end; We will conserve only what we love, We will love only what we understand, We will understand only what we have been taught.”
Through our collaborative efforts, we aim to teach, inspire, and empower, leading to a harmonious balance between sustainable farming, the protection of biodiversity, and the prosperity of local communities.
Our Partners
Heliconius Butterfly Works - A Butterfly Farm in Ecuador which has been exporting some of the best quality pupae since 1996. The farm specializes in Heliconius species of butterflies. Located in Mindo, Ecuador the economy used to be based on logging which contributed to the deforestation of Ecuador’s rainforests but has since become more geared towards ecotourism. The farm is not open to the public but provides jobs to locals in a way that is compatible with conserving the forest. The farm employs 10 families. To learn more, watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JyRpwJO8NM.
The foundation spends over $10,000 per year purchasing butterflies from this farm, which helps support the farm so they can carry out their mission of saving the rainforest and creating a sustainable income for local families.
The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure - The Butterfly Palace is a for-profit attraction in Branson, MO which imports thousands of butterflies from farms all over the world. The farms rely on the purchase of pupa to carry out their mission of conservation, education and species preservation. Just by visiting the Butterfly Palace, YOU are helping save the rainforest.
