WYCD #12 - Protect an Acre of Tropical Forest

What You Can Do #12 - Protect an Acre of Rainforest.

Did you know:

• every 4 hours an area the size of Manhattan disappears?
• the burning of forests amounts to 20% of global carbon emissions?
• every year an area the size of England disappears?
• climate change could lead to the extinction of a third of all species by 2050?
• the burning of forests releases more carbon than all cars, trucks, and planes combined?
• the 10 deadliest disasters of 2007 were climate related?

The tropical forests of Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America are the heart of nature's gifts.  Theses jungle ecosystems teem with life - from mysterious plants and insects to majestic gorillas, elephants, and jaguars - and provide countless resources and services depended on by people everywhere.  Yet, we are destroying tropical forests at a rate threatening their very existence.  An area the size of Manhattan disappears every 4 hours. 

When tropical forests are burned and cleared, it affects every one of us.  The burning and clearing of forests pours at least 20% of climate-changing greenhouse gases into our atmosphere - more than all the world's cars, trucks and airplanes combined!

Fortunately, there's a simple solution.  Protecting tropical forests slows the production of greenhouse gases, sustains life by providing homes for thousands of species of plants and animals, and ensures the livlihood of millions of people with fresh air, clean water, traditional remedies, and storm protection. 

Over the past 3 years Conservation International has conserved 143 million acres of tropical forest - equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road.   We can all help stop the burning and clearing of these forests. 

It only takes $15 to protect an entire acre of forest, including the wildlife and people it supports, and it's impact on our future climate.  Learn where your money goes.

Protect a few acres today and help stop climate change.  Your generosity means the world to everyone. 

 

And here's some more helpful, and simple, ideas.