We all have heard of the Amazonian rainforests but there is other biologically diverse areas in South America being logged that also need your help and attention.
The Atlantic Rainforest / (Mata Atlântica) is the third
largest brazilian biome that stretches for about 4.000 km along the Atlantic coast between Rio Grande do Norte and Rio Grande do Sul.
It contains an estimated 250 species of mammals, 340 amphibians, 1.023 birds and approximately 20.000 trees. The site provides also an important refuge for jaguar and puma, the largest cats in the Western Hemisphere.
The Atlantic Rainforest Southeast and Discovery Coast Reserves were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1999.
Despite growing international concern, rainforests continue to be destroyed at a pace exceeding 80,000 acres (32,000 hectares) per day. World rainforest cover now stands at around 2.5 million square miles (6 million square kilometers), an area about the size of the contiguous 48 United States or Australia and representing around 5 percent of the world's land surface.
However, this destruction can be slowed, stopped, and in some cases even reversed.
The problem with this traditional park approach to preserving wildlands in developing countries is that it fails to generate sufficient economic incentives for respecting and maintaining the forest. Rainforests will only continue to survive as functional ecosystems if they can be shown to provide tangible economic benefits.
Five Basic Steps to Saving Rainforests
"TREES" is a concept originally devised for an elementary school audience but serves well as set of principles for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world.
Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests.
Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.
Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.
Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife.
Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment
HOW ELSE TO HELP?
The Atlantic Rainforest Southeast and Discovery Coast Reserves were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1999.
Despite growing international concern, rainforests continue to be destroyed at a pace exceeding 80,000 acres (32,000 hectares) per day. World rainforest cover now stands at around 2.5 million square miles (6 million square kilometers), an area about the size of the contiguous 48 United States or Australia and representing around 5 percent of the world's land surface.
However, this destruction can be slowed, stopped, and in some cases even reversed.
The problem with this traditional park approach to preserving wildlands in developing countries is that it fails to generate sufficient economic incentives for respecting and maintaining the forest. Rainforests will only continue to survive as functional ecosystems if they can be shown to provide tangible economic benefits.
Five Basic Steps to Saving Rainforests
"TREES" is a concept originally devised for an elementary school audience but serves well as set of principles for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world.
Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests.
Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.
Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.
Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife.
Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment
HOW ELSE TO HELP?
Funding rainforest conservation efforts
When out in travels always opt to support conservation efforts such as:
Ecotourism—Ecotourism can fund efforts both through park entrance fees and employing locals as guides and in the handicraft and service sectors (hotels, restaurants, drivers, boat drivers, porters, cooks).
Bio-prospecting fees—Rainforest countries can earn revenue by allowing scientists to develop products from the island's native plant and animal species. The pioneer in this area was Costa Rica, which entered into an agreement with the American pharmaceutical company, Merck, to look for plants with potential pharmaceutical applications. Under the agreement, a portion of the proceeds from compounds that do prove commercially valuable will go to the Costa Rican government, which has guaranteed that some of the royalties will be set aside for conservation projects. Similarly, in 2001 Givaudan, a Swiss fragrance and flavor company, sent a team to look for new exotic smells and flavors in Madagascar. Following their survey, Givaudan researchers "reconstituted" 40 aromas that could be used in commercial products.
When out in travels always opt to support conservation efforts such as:
Ecotourism—Ecotourism can fund efforts both through park entrance fees and employing locals as guides and in the handicraft and service sectors (hotels, restaurants, drivers, boat drivers, porters, cooks).
Bio-prospecting fees—Rainforest countries can earn revenue by allowing scientists to develop products from the island's native plant and animal species. The pioneer in this area was Costa Rica, which entered into an agreement with the American pharmaceutical company, Merck, to look for plants with potential pharmaceutical applications. Under the agreement, a portion of the proceeds from compounds that do prove commercially valuable will go to the Costa Rican government, which has guaranteed that some of the royalties will be set aside for conservation projects. Similarly, in 2001 Givaudan, a Swiss fragrance and flavor company, sent a team to look for new exotic smells and flavors in Madagascar. Following their survey, Givaudan researchers "reconstituted" 40 aromas that could be used in commercial products.
THINGS TO DO WHILE ON VACATION
Turn down the heat and turn off the water heater before you leave.
Carry reusable cups, dishes, and flatware.
Make sure your trash doesn't end up in the ocean... don't litter beaches.
Don't pick flowers or keep wild creatures for pets... leave plants and animals where you find them.
Don't buy souvenirs made from wild or endangered animals.
Watch out for wildlife... give consideration to all living things you see crossing the road.
Build smaller campfires, and make sure they're completely out before you leave.
Stay on the trail... don't trample fragile undergrowth
For more information and to learn how you can help
Turn down the heat and turn off the water heater before you leave.
Carry reusable cups, dishes, and flatware.
Make sure your trash doesn't end up in the ocean... don't litter beaches.
Don't pick flowers or keep wild creatures for pets... leave plants and animals where you find them.
Don't buy souvenirs made from wild or endangered animals.
Watch out for wildlife... give consideration to all living things you see crossing the road.
Build smaller campfires, and make sure they're completely out before you leave.
Stay on the trail... don't trample fragile undergrowth
For more information and to learn how you can help
please visit: http://www.ecotourism.org/
1 comment:
Thank you Oliver, I am glad you have enjoyed the blog and that it has been informative. Please tell your friends. Thanks!
We do it for people like you!
-Green IS Global
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