Welcome to the September Rainforest Trust UK Newsletter! In this edition we reflect on the fires that have been raging across the Amazon, celebrate two recent conservation successes in Ecuador, introduce our exciting new project in Laos, discuss our new Guardians of the Rainforest initiative and say thanks to a young lady who has protected over 7,000 acres of rainforest in Peru!
RAINFOREST PROTECTION IN THE WAKE OF THE AMAZON CRISIS
The devastating fires across the Amazon and elsewhere have shocked the world and made rainforest protection one of the touchstone topics of our age. This global environmental disaster has moved many people to become involved in rainforest protection for the first time, and I'd like to thank all our new supporters for taking positive action by donating to Rainforest Trust UK in the wake of this crisis. And while there are many political, economic and social factors responsible for exacerbating this situation, it's clear that creating well-guarded legally protected areas for rainforests is part of the solution.
Legally protected conservation areas such as those established by Rainforest Trust are less likely to be targeted by fire-starters, and the on-the-ground protection we provide through our work with indigenous communities, local NGOs and through our Guardians of the Rainforest programme serves as a powerful deterrent for illegal activity. Your support is vital to ensure that rainforests survive and thrive long into the future - rainforests like these ...
CONSERVATION SUCCESSES IN THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON
NARUPA RESERVE EXPANSION
Our recent land purchase adds an extra 256 acres to the existing 3,112-acre Narupa Reserve in Ecuador.
This area is home to numerous endangered species, such as the Black-and-chestnut Eagle (pictured right) - one of over 300 species of birds for which this forest is home.
BIGAL RESERVE EXPANSION
This second new land purchase in Ecuador expands the Bigal Biological Reserve and provides a vital wildlife corridor from protected highlands to lowlands. Rainforest Trust worked with a new partner, Fundación Sumac Muyu, to purchase 199 acres that are rich in biodiversity, and home to 480+ bird species, 56 large mammal species - including the Endangered White-Bellied Spider Monkey (pictured left), 77 reptile species, 64 amphibian species, 159 arachnid species and 1,396 insect species (615 of which are butterflies).
NEW PROJECT - SAVING A 115,000-ACRE RAINFOREST IN LAOS
Of course, rainforest protection is not simply about Latin America, and we are proud to announce an exciting new project in Laos, south-east Asia. Rainforest Trust aim to protect 131,000 acres of threatened rainforest in the Ammanite mountains in central Laos, preserving vital habitat for numerous endangered species such as the Critically Endangered Saola. locally known as the “Asian Unicorn” and shown below. This project also locks in over 24 million tonnes of CO2e, helping to mitigate climate change. You can find out more here.
It only costs £11 to save an acre of this precious rainforest, and all donations are doubled. To make a donation, please click on the green button below (or you can also donate via PayPal).
SUPPORTER OF THE MONTH
We would like to thank 10-year-old Ishbel Croze (pictured right), who cut off all her hair in the summer to raise money for Rainforest Trust UK. She's raised nearly £2,300 from friends, family and other supporters, which is enough money to protect 7,400 acres in our project to provide land titling for indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon (you can read about this project here). A huge thank you to Ishbel and her mum Anna for their magnificent support, and to everyone who donated to this appeal. If you want to support Ishbel's hair-raising efforts, you can donate to her JustGiving appeal by clicking here.
SUPPORT OUR GUARDIANS OF THE RAINFOREST PROGRAMME
Placing an area of rainforest under legal protection is not the end of the story. It's vital that the forests are protected by the local communities to prevent fires and illegal logging and mining. Our Guardians of the Rainforest programme provides funding for these brave men and women - people like Walter Elías Vicente Barrondo (right). Walter used to be one of the region's most successful loggers, but now works as a guard at Cerro Amay-Chimel Cloud Forest Reserve in Guatemala. You can read Walter's story here.
Please support Guardians of the Rainforest by clicking below.
Thanks again for being part of the ever-growing Rainforest Trust UK family, and for all you to do to help protect the world's rainforests and our climate. And look out for a special climate change edition of our RTUK newsletter next week as the world unites in a week of Global Climate Action.
For the rainforests!
Chris Redston
Executive Director
Rainforest Trust UK
Any questions? Please email us at UK@RainforestTrust.org and we'll get back to you.
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Rainforest Trust UK
120, Muirkirk Road, Catford
London, SE6 1BH, UK
Phone: (+44) (0)7722 929315
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