Saving the Rainforests
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
The world's rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate due to our selfish need for non recycled wood products. These rainforests, often described as the 'lungs of the world', really are necessary for our survival. Not only do the recycle the carbon dioxide that we produce and create clouds preventing desertification but also house some of the worlds most amazing species of plants and animals. It's not just flora and fauna to look at but these are vitally important as huge numbers of the drugs that we take to cure illnesses come form some plants only found in rainforest. As we savagely destroy this woodland the plant species are wiped out, some we have never herd of that could hold the key to curing cancer or the common cold. And what do we do with the wood? Well make furniture and paper out of it. Great - because that is just SO vitally important!
The World Land Trust was set up over 10 years ago1 to act against the deforestation by buying vast areas of rainforest thereby preventing it's destruction. The money for this is from people who care, donating it to save these vital ecosystems. Just 25 will buy you one acre of rain forest in Belize, the Philippines or Brazil, creating 'corridors' for animals to use, and generally preventing us humans devouring this precious land.
Not only is the WLT buying rainforest (and some coral reefs in the Philippines) but it is also committed to educating the local communities about their habitats and how to use them, which is just as important. This means that future generations can grow with the forests rather than against them, using but not destroying them, so that they can continue berating for the Earth.
The WLT is involved with the Rainforest Caf s in London (near Piccadilly on Shaftesbury Avenue) and Manchester as well as Wyld Court - a Rainforest created in England in greenhouses to teach visitors of the importance of these habitat. Wyld Court is near Newbury:
Hampstead Norreys,
nr Newbury,
Thatcham,
Berkshire,
RG18 0TN
If you would like to help save rainforests visit the WLT site for more information or e-mail e-mail the WLT
1With Trustees including Dr David Bellamy OBE, Christopher E Parsons OBE and the patron David Gower OBE
