Buy Rainforest
If you have ever been to a rainforest then you will know what an amazing habitat it is, full of life, thick with vegetation and hot and humid. Rainforests come in a variety of types; tropical and temperate rainforests, cloud forest, lowland rainforest, hill slope rainforest all of which can be either primary or secondary in nature. One thing all these types of rainforest have in common is that they are all in decline. Primary, lowland, tropical rainforest is the habitat most people know as "Jungle" and is the one that is most endangered as it is often the most fertile and most easily cleared; in many parts of the tropics rainforest only now exists on inaccessible hill slopes and the lowland wildlife has vanished.
Countries that possess large areas of rainforest often see these areas as "wasteland" and the wood contained within them represents a potential source of income. For many countries where farmland is in short supply, rainforest clearance represents a way of unlocking valuable agricultural land. However, with rainforests disappearing at an alarming rate, and with them the species that depend upon them it is becoming increasingly important to protect the remaining rainforests.
Conservationist can help save the rainforest if they buy rainforest.
Have You Been To A Rainforest?
Buy Rainforest With The World Land Trust
The World Land Trust is a conservation organisation that has assisted in the purchase and protection of over 300,000 acres of rainforest and other threatened wildlife habitats around the globe. You can help in their work; £50 saves an acre of rainforest.
Help The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Help Rainforest Species In Indonesia
The RSPB in Sumatra
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a UK conservation body which has had the foresight to involve itself in rainforest conservation in Sumatra.
The RSPB in conjunction with Birdlife International and Burung Indonesia have launched a project to protect and restore rainforest in Sumatra in order to protect resident and migratory birds as well as all the other animals and plants within the rainforest.
Save The Rainforest With These Organisations
Links for saving the rainforest
A number of charities now allow conservation-minded people to buy small areas of rainforest to be protected by local people and/or non governmental organisations. This type of scheme perhaps offers the most effective way of protecting rainforest, particularly in countries where the government has a poor history of wildlife law enforcement.
Although it is not possible to transport your piece of rainforest to your back garden, any rainforest you buy will continue to provide a sanctuary to the species that live within it; some of these species may, as yet, be unknown to man!
A number of charities now allow conservation-minded people to buy small areas of rainforest to be protected by local people and/or non governmental organisations. This type of scheme perhaps offers the most effective way of protecting rainforest, particularly in countries where the government has a poor history of wildlife law enforcement.
Although it is not possible to transport your piece of rainforest to your back garden, any rainforest you buy will continue to provide a sanctuary to the species that live within it; some of these species may, as yet, be unknown to man!
Here are some links to organisations who allow individuals to buy rainforest in order to protect it.
Aventura Forestal - Save rainforest in Costa Rica; $5 per 100 metres squared for 1 year.
Nature Products Network - Land management partnership in Yunnan, China.
Rainforest Concern - Rainforest reserve in Ecuador (1 acre = £30, 10 acres = £250)
World Land Trust - Rainforest projects in Asia and South America (£25 saves 0.5 acre forever)
Rainforest Heroes - Donations to help local landowners manage rainforests sustainably.
Fundesin - Adopt an acre of Ecuadorian rainforest for $15 per month.
Rainforest2Reef - Protecting Rainforest in Mexico ($45 = 1 hectare)
Take A Long Look At The Beauty Within The World's Rainforests
Rainforest
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 05/23/2012)
This fantastic book features glorious photographs of various types of wildlife from rainforests around the world. This stunning collection of photographs by Thomas Marent are a wonderful way to convince people that rainforests are worth saving.
Fair Trade Products - Another Way Of Saving Rainforest?
"Fair Trade" is a term that many of us are now familiar with and some fair trade products provide local people with an income that depends upon rainforest protection. Fair Trade often supports non-intensive methods of land management, including shade-grown coffee, low-level collection of forest plants and, often, ecotourism.
Whilst fair trade is not a solution to deforestation, indeed some fair trade products originate from deforested land, there is plenty of potential for fair traders to benefit in tandem with rainforest management.
Buy Rainforest
However, some say that interventionist economic policies such as fair trade are doomed to failure. Find out more about Fair Trade.
Rainforest Photo Vote
Vote for your favourite rainforest photos below by clicking the tabs below the pictures
Rainforest Destruction
This video shows what was once an area of beautiful rainforest, full of flowers, insects, birds and other animals, being reduced to a smouldering mass by fire. This is a common sight throughout the tropics and land is cleared for palm oil production and other agricultural products.
This is the very distressing reality of rainforest destruction in order to provide us with products such as beef, palm oil, rubber etc.
Why Save The Rainforest 1: Rainforest Biodiversity
Anyone who has spent any time in rainforests will recognise how difficult it is to identify trees, birds, insects and other living things due to the fact that there are so many different varieties, many of which look very similar, in such a small area.
There are many reasons for this high level of biodiversity, and it is still not clear exactly what is responsible for so many species being present in rainforests, but higher energy levels, high number of evolutionary niches, age and the concept of biodiversity begetting biodiversity are thought to be most influential.
Whatever the reason for such high levels of biodiversity, rainforests deserve protection as a wonder of nature; to allow all of these fantastic species to be wiped out is, quite frankly, a criminal act. Imagine defacing a work of art, burning all copies of a classic piece of literature, eradication of an entire culture - allowing the complete destruction of rainforest is worse than all of those destructive acts put together.
Listen To Rainforest Biodiversity
If you are not able to get yourself into the rainforest to witness the huge level of biodiversity yourself, you can at least hear it with one of these CDs; close your eyes and listen to the many incredible (and relaxing) sounds of the rainforest.
Some Rainforest Plants
These rainforest plants show just a tiny sample of the profusion of plant life in a rainforest in Thailand. These photos were all taken by myself and can be used on squidoo lenses and other websites/blogs, royalty free; please just credit me as the photographer and link back to this page.
Click on the images to see larger versions.
Some Creepy Crawlies Of The Rainforest
Here are a few photographs of various insects of the rainforest in Thailand; they provide another tiny insight into the biodiversity of the rainforest. These photos were all taken by myself and, once again, can be used on squidoo lenses and other websites/blogs, royalty free; please just credit me as the photographer and link back to this page.
Click on the images to see larger versions.
Why Save The Rainforest 2: Rainforests Lock Up Huge Amounts Of Carbon
Climate change has alerted us to another reason to protect rainforests (as if protecting them for their own beauty and biodiversity was not enough). With global climate change likely to be influenced by carbon emissions, rainforests serve a valuable purpose as carbon sinks.What this means is that huge amounts of carbon are locked up in the wood of rainforest trees as they use carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Furthermore, when rainforests are destroyed, they not only stop sequestering carbon, but they release the carbon stored within them: this carbon is then free to contribute to climate change.
Often, when rainforests are destroyed, there are vast amounts of greenhouse gases released from the soil as it disturbed for the first time in millions of years. This process means that where forests are destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations which supply oil for biofuels, more damage is done through deforestation than the benefit obtained from the use of biofuels.
Just one more reason to buy your own piece of rainforest.
Strangler Fig
In many Southeast Asian rainforests, strangler figs become the mightiest of trees - the size they reach, and vastness of their canopies can be quite awesome.Usually strangler figs begin life as parasitic vines which originate on the boughs of an existing tree, sending tendrils down to the ground. At one point the tendrils anchor themselves into the ground and begin to thicken, "strangling" the host tree until it dies and gradually decomposes surrounded by the thickening trunks of the strangler fig until there is nothing left of the host tree.
The result is an amazing tree such as this one pictured.
The Secret Life of Trees
Wonderful information about trees of all families
Secret Life of Trees
Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 05/23/2012)
The Secret Life of Trees is one of the most enlightening books I have ever read. Whilst a lot can be learned about the evolution, ecology and diversity of trees in this book, there is a lot more than just trees in this publication.
The Secret Life of Trees discusses evolutionary processes, conservation and lots more besides - I found it one of the most useful books I read whilst studying for a degree in Conservation.
Anyone interested in wildlife of any sort should read this book - it is superb.
Why Save The Rainforest 3: The Release of Methane
One of the biggest threats to lowland rainforests in Southeast Asia currently is conversion to oil palm plantations. It is ironic that the oil from these plantations is often used to produce biofuels which are supposed to reduce carbon emissions. As well as completely destroying the rainforest ecosystem and all life dependent upon it, vast amounts of methane have been shown to be released from the soils after forest clearance. Considering that methane is a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, this is yet another reason to take care of what rainforest still exists and to pay people to look after it for us. Some Interesting Rainforest DVDs
Why Save The Rainforest 4: Medicinal Plants
Another Reason to Save Tropical Rainforests
These plants are often vital to the poor peoples who live in or near rainforests as they frequently do not have enough money buy modern manufactured drugs. It is also a sad fact that many of these modern drugs use chemical compounds from rainforest plants but the inhabitants of the forest who have been using these plants for generations get no compensation for the "theft" of their historical intellectual rights whilst chemical corporations get rich.
Anyway, rant over with, here is a nice book about medicinal plants from the rainforest.
Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest : Over 50 Powerful Herbs and Their Medicinal Uses
Amazon Price: $61.76 (as of 05/23/2012)
.A superbly-written and interesting account of fifty medicinal plants of tropical rainforests and their value to humans - ideal for those advocates of saving the rainforest for that which has to be discovered within them.
Some More Rainforest Medicine Books
Can We Save The Rainforest?
Can rainforest destruction be halted or even reversed?
What do you think? Can we save the rainforests or are they all destined to be logged and turned into pastureland, rubber plantations or palm oil plantations for the great environmental saviour, biofuel.
I think they can be saved, but not until we have lost a lot more than we already have.
Can rainforests be saved?
Yes
RenaissanceWoman2010 says:
There is always hope, but it will take serious action.
GrandMemories says:
Yes they can but we must act NOW
supercibor says:
This is a great lens which helps to save our planet. Yes we can save the the planet by uniting our efforts and raising
DavidDove says:
WE aren't destroying the rainforests, our politicians are - lobby your politicians and make them aware of your feelings, link their selfish interests to saving the rainforest through tougher legislation on imports of timber for example
EmmaCooper says:
If we destroy all the rainforests, we will have destroyed ourselves, but the forest will regenerate once we're gone.
nickupton says:
Fortunately rainforests regenerate much faster than anyone previously imagined, so if sufficient land can be procured, reforestation is an option.
wfi says:
I think many rainforests can best be saved as well as enhanced by realizing their economic value as a multiple use resource using responsible long term forest management including woody biomass and timber production.
Nikita says:
?? ?????? ????...
aj2008 says:
Yes, we must, we have to!
Sporty Gay says:
Yes, yes, yes. We have to.
No
Richard3331 says:
We all have to plant lots of trees in our own countries not expect another country to do it for us
aesta1 says:
A logger once told me that the best way is to guard it. More use of forest land for agriculture is the main culprit. If we just draw the forest line and guard that, the forest will take care of itself. But we just can't leave it alone. And we can't.
skiesgreen says:
No, only money and greed controls this world now. The rate of destruction and the pollution these anti-social mongrels are causing has more support in government than people power has. Unfortunately death to everyone is less important than money and power. I hope they can breath their money when it comes to their survival because they won't be breathing oxygen.
Save Rainforest With These Organisations
Waiting for governments to save the rainforest is the same as doing nothing. Take saving the rainforest into your own hands and buy rainforest yourself.
I repeat the list of organisations that help you buy rainforest; this is the best way that conservation-minded people can make a difference quickly in rainforest protection.
Rainforest Poll - What Do You Think Is The Best Way To Save Rainforest?
Featured Rainforest Lenses
Other great Squidoo lenses about rainforests.
Rainforest News
- MTH is in Everyday Life; Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Response to the Greenpeace ...
- As far as APP products are concerned, MTH does NOT come from the felling of virgin tropical rainforest trees in Indonesia. APP has strict policies and practices in place to ensure that only residues from legal plantation development on degraded or ...
- KFC accused of using rain forest wood for packaging
- ?They're keeping their chicken fresh with packaging from rainforests. The last rainforests of the world are ending up as trash on our streets. It's a needless tragedy.? Indonesia is home to about 10 per cent of the world's remaining tropical forest, ...
- More Adventures: Whitewater Rafting Costa Rica's Pacuare River with Rios ...
- The warm water, cascading waterfalls, and opulently lush rainforest with its brilliantly colored plants, animals, and birds make this trip exquisite for everyone's senses. Add in the exciting Class III - IV whitewater rapids, and this tropical ...
- '90 Days of Summer' kicks off at Beardsley Zoo on Memorial Day
- Highlights include an indoor Tropical Rainforest exhibit, New England Farmyard, a walk-through aviary (including a new bald eagle exhibit),?Wolf Observation Learning Facility, carousel and Victorian greenhouse. It is owned by the nonprofit Connecticut ...
Save The Rainforest Feedback
Please leave your comments here and links to any more rainforest protection websites. Thanks.
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ragini bhatnagar
Mar 5, 2012 @ 2:08 am | delete
- pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee save the forest
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Oct 17, 2011 @ 7:36 am | delete
- Congrats on your shiny new Purple Star! Well deserved. :-)
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Sep 30, 2011 @ 2:33 pm | delete
- This is such a critical issue. Thank you for featuring one of the most pressing environmental emergencies that exist. If we don't act now to save the rainforests, it will be too late. **Blessed**
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nickupton
Oct 16, 2011 @ 11:36 pm | delete
- Thank you. And many thanks for the purple star nomination.
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Jul 16, 2011 @ 7:50 am | delete
- Thanks for the great lens. We need to save the rain forests... so we better "hop to it" right now! http://www.cafepress.com/Grand_Gifts.525658628
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About The Lens Author
by nickupton
I have been visiting rainforests in Southeast Asia since 1996 and currently spend a lot of time birdwatching in rainforests in Thailand.
It is worrying...
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See The Rainforest
IMAX Presents - Tropical Rainforest
Amazon Price: $1.56 (as of 05/23/2012)
This wonderful documentary attempts to transport the viewer into a rainforest to enjoy the plants and animal biodiversity within it.
Another Way to Help Wildlife
Adopting animals is another way for conservationists to help threatened wildlife
Conservation Careers
Career Opportunities in Conservation and the Environment
Amazon Price: $12.07 (as of 05/23/2012)
Find a conservation career and become an environmental saviour!
