Save Rainforest: Buy An Acre of Rainforest
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. One of the most effective ways of protecting rainforest is to buy it.
World Land Trust
The RSPB in Sumatra
Other Charitable Organisations that "Sell" 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!
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)
High levels of Biodiversity
Rainforests contain some of the highest levels of biodiversity (that is biological diversity) of any habitat on earth and although they cover just 2% of the earth's surface they contain over half the species.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.
Great Rainforest Stuff
Echoes of Nature: Rainforest
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/06/2009) 
Tropical Rainforest
Amazon Price: $5.49 (as of 07/06/2009)
Frog Mug , Frogs Mug Color Changing Coffee Mug
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Rainforest Destruction
Rainforest Destruction
!!!THIS IS NOT A REAL ORGANIZATION!!! This is a commercial I did for a Civics Project. Our project was to create an NGO (Non-Government Organization) from a list of topics. My group and I chose to do our NGO on Rainforest Destruction, my mark for the project is still unknown. This ad was only for a school project, in which the goal was to get the other students to donate their 'money' to our organization. Please visit here: http://www.freewebs.com/clickforcharity/environmentalcharities.htm Your click can make a difference. Song is 'Requiem For A Dream' by Clint Mansell, from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. If you would like to help save the rainforest, check out http://www.wwf.org/
Runtime: 1:00
18853 views
10 Comments:
Rainforests Are Valuable Carbon Sinks
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.
Save Rainforest with these Organisations
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)
Sounds of the Rainforest
Healing Sounds of Nature: Tropical Rainforest At Night, Waterfall and Crickets
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Virtual Relaxation: Escape to the Rainforest
Amazon Price: $12.49 (as of 07/06/2009)
Sounds of the Earth: Birds In Rainforest
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 07/06/2009)
30 Minutes of Tropical Rainforest Sounds
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Sounds of the Tropical Rainforest
Amazon Price: $2.98 (as of 07/06/2009)
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. Rainforest Trees
This tree is in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand and is probably one of the most photographed trees in the country - it is very impressive.
The Secret Life of Trees
The Secret Life of Trees (Allen Lane Science)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
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.
Rainforest News
- BARBARA KELLY: The year of the rainforest
- I feel I am qualified to discuss this, as I have spent time in two tropical rainforests (Kauai and P...
- Biology prof gets National Science Foundation award
- Why are there more species in the tropical rain forest than there are in Texas, for example, or in W...
- Government of Mozambique says it plans to protect the Monte Mabu ...
- ... commercial interests out of a recently discovered area of virgin tropical rainforest, said envir...
- Forest campaigners deplore knighthood for Asian logging magnate
- ... businessman to be stripped of his knighthood after claiming that his fortune has been built on t...
Some more great Rainforest products
![Amazing Animals Video: Rainforest Animals [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/712P19YW1BL._SL75_.gif)
![National Geographic's Rain Forest: Heroes of the High Frontier [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5139VKSFAJL._SL75_.jpg)
![Tong Tana:Journey into Rainforest [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21FQ7Z56R7L._SL75_.jpg)
Featured Rainforest Lenses
Other great Squidoo lenses about rainforests.-
Rainforest Lapbook
-
The tropical rainforest is a fascinating topic for a homeschool unit study! Just the botany and zoology alone could take weeks to cover. There are also the history of the rainforest, the indigenous peoples of the rainforest, and the economy of the ra...
-
A walk in a tropical rainforest - tropical rainforest plants and sights
-
Experience a walk in the tropical rainforest in D'Angular National Park, Mount Glorious. This rain forest is 20 minutes drive from the city of Brisbane. This lens is designed to enable you to feel as if you are a part of the tropical rainforest biome...
Can We Save the Rainforests?
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?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes
Paul Brown says:
Yes. As well as the impotant biodiversity conatined within them, there is the potential for the discovery of new and potentially life saving drugs. I heard someone say they were 'natures medicine cabinet'.
Posted June 20, 2009
ronpass says:
It is critical that we do and your efforts combined with those of millions of others who love rainforests will make it happen.
Posted April 24, 2009
sharonguy says:
Yes. It is imperative that we do as much as possible. Even small actions make a difference if enough people do them.
Posted February 19, 2009
Jordan says:
Rain forest are important, we get most of our medicine from the rain forest and many animals are dying with the rainforest, the rain forest cant be replanted like most forests. we need to save the rain forest
Posted February 14, 2009
Bobby wood says:
YES!! But we have to be smart and buy acres and NOT let the idiots destroy the RAINFOREST!!!!!
Posted October 06, 2008
nickupton says:
They can indeed be saved but only if those who care put their money where their mouth is an either buy rainforest or pay poorer countries to conserve it. Left to market forces ALL lowland rainforest (the most biodiverse type) will disappear under pastureland and plantations including plantations for biofuel products.
Posted July 02, 2008
spirituality says:
Well, we have to try. If we say no - than we can be sure they won't be saved.
Posted June 17, 2008
No
Fair Trade Products - Another Way to Protect Rainforest?
"Fair Trade" has become a term that many of us are familiar with and many fair trade products (although not all) provide local people with an income that is dependent on protection of rainforests. The idea is to support non-intensive methods of land management, including shade-grown coffee (which maintains the rainforest canopy), low-level collection of forest plants and often ecotourism.
Whilst fair trade is not a final solution to rainforest destruction, indeed many fair trade products are produced on deforested land, there is plenty of potential for fair trade traders to benefit in tandem with protecting the rainforest, particularly in terms of handicraft manufacture.
However, some say that interventionist economics such as fair trade is doomed to failure. Find out more about Fair Trade.
More Rainforest Stuff
Is this lens helpful?
- Rate this lens:
- Email it
- Favorite it
- Lensroll it
Reader Feedback
Please leave your comments here and links to any more rainforest protection websites. Thanks.
lifeinsurancerd wrote...
This is a nice lens. and this is a great topic.This is useful for every one.
life insurance
Posted June 07, 2009
sharonguy wrote...
Posted February 19, 2009
M_Jefferson wrote...
Hey There, Thanks for visiting my lens! After viewing yours I can only say you set the bar with this one as it has great information and you can tell you have a true desire to help save our rain forest. (now I must go revise mine so and hope they can be as informative!) 5 stars to you!!!
Posted December 03, 2008
EagleScoutMom wrote...
Beautiful lens - 5 stars! Over the years I have planted many trees with the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. I've planted several on my own property. Trees and rain forrests and a major link in the chain of life and as we destroy trees we destroy life. The Boy Scouts have always had an "Outdoor Code" that the entire world should adopt. Here it is
Outdoor Code
Definition "As an American, I will do my best to
Be clean in my outdoor manners
Be careful with fire
Be considerate in the outdoors
Be conservation-minded"
I will put a link to your lens on mine with the meaning of the Outdoor Code as well. Keep up the good work ! http://www.squidoo.com/boyscoutsofamerica
Posted December 01, 2008
About The Lens Author
Lensmaster nickupton, aka nick upton, has been a member since June 23 2007, has rated 77 lenses, favorited 62, and has created 49 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Thailand Travel Advice: 10 Things To Avoid Doing In Thailand". See all my lenses
by nickupton
Having been a birdologist since the age of seven I am something of an ornithological recluse. However, I managed to gain adulthood, if onl... (more)
Related Topics
nickupton Recommends...
- Causes, Effects and Dangers of Global Warming: Learn How You Can Prevent, Stop or Slow Global Warming -- Small Changes Can Make a BIG Difference
- Birds and Birding in Costa Rica
- A walk in a tropical rainforest - tropical rainforest plants and sights
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cause Global Consequences
- How to Reuse & Recycle Envelopes Using Sticky Labels
- More...
