Rainforest Protection
Protecting the lungs of our planet
Tropical deforestation accounts for up to 15% of net global carbon emissions each year – the same as every car, truck, bus, plane, ship and train on the planet. Safeguarding existing rainforests is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to fight climate change, as every acre safely stores over 100 tonnes of carbon that could otherwise enter the atmosphere as the greenhouse gas CO2. Studies have shown that halting tropical deforestation and allowing for regrowth could mitigate up to 50% of net global carbon emissions in the next 30 years – yet rainforests are still being cut down at a rate of 70,000 acres a day. To date Rainforest Trust reserves have protected over 18 billion trees and stored over 4.1 billion metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents, helping to protect our planet against further climate change.
BIODIVERSITY
ENDANGERED SPECIES Over 500 species of land mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians face imminent extinction, with fewer than 1,000 individuals of these species surviving in the wild. Tropical rainforests cover only 8% of the planet’s surface, but support over 50% of the world’s species, many of which are critically endangered. The reserves established by Rainforest Trust in the last 30 years have provided safe havens for 296 endangered and vulnerable mammal species, and 456 endangered and vulnerable bird species.
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Rainforests are home to thousands of indigenous communities who rely on the forests for their food, water and economic prosperity. Many of these communities and their forests are under threat from illegal logging, mining, oil and gas extraction and agriculture. Rainforest Trust works with trusted local NGOs to protect these forests by having them designated as Community Reserves or National Parks. The charity has also helped indigenous communities in Latin America obtain legal land titling rights to their ancestral lands, which allows the communities to manage their forest resources more sustainably.
Rainforest Trust is one of the world’s most respected and successful conservation charities and works in partnership with trusted local NGOs and indigenous communities to save the world’s most threatened rainforests and tropical ecosystems. Rainforest Trust has been protecting rainforests for over 30 years and has already placed over 24 million acres of threatened habitat under permanent protection. All donations to Rainforest Trust are doubled by a generous supporter through the charity’s SAVES Challenge.
Rainforest Trust UK is a British charity working in partnership with Rainforest Trust in the U.S. to protect the world’s most threatened rainforests and other tropical ecosystems. Rainforest Trust UK guarantees that 100% of all donations are directed towards direct conservation action, as all its operating expenses are covered by its board members and Gift Aid.
