Buy a rainforest, save a life

We have all seen these signs on the side of our freeways that say Adopt-A-Highway and then highlight whatever business has contributed money to keeping that section of freeway clean. Well, there is a similar program in effect that adopts rainforest acreage.

When I heard of this my inner-skeptic said ‘yeah, I’ll bet the money goes to saving the forest’

Okay, once I settled him down and began investigating I learned that there actually are some very helpful well-meaning organizations that do put the money to good use. And by good use, I don’t mean lining their own pockets. For instance, Yachana Foundation (formerly Funedesin) has been able to purchase 4,300 acres of rainforest in Ecuador from the approximately 4.3 million dollars collected in donations and other sources. This land was later declared by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment as a protected forest.

Now 4,300 acres is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what is being lost on a daily basis. See Rainforest Facts.

Yachana understands that just adopting a rainforest is not going to save it from destruction. Through their dedication to educating native Amazonian youth and the money they raise through ecotourism and sales of cacao chocolate they were able to establish the Mondana Medical Clinic, 17 community banks and 21 schools throughout the Ecuadorian Amazon.

These are pretty impressive accomplishments for anyone. To ensure continued financial support in order to buy more forest land, they developed an eco-tourist trade that attracts thousands of international visitors each year. Their Yachana Lodge, built amidst 4,000 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, allows guests to view thousands of species of exotic plants and animals in their natural habitat. Their dining room serves local dishes prepared from locally grown ingredients.

They grow what is billed as the world’s purest and healthiest chocolate. Yachana Jungle Chocolate, sold under the Yachana Gourmet label, is made from all-natural ingredients such as “cacao nacional”, the most aromatic and rich variety of chocolate bean on the planet. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Yachana Gourmet is recognized by the Fair Trade Federation as a responsible operator and 100% of profits support the rain forest conservation and sustainable development programs.

They also produce Jungle chocolate with Pineapple, Macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, Coffee, and Coconut. For more information click here.

My inner-skeptic is beginning to relax.

But then I read about tree theft and wonder if we are ever going to get serious about saving our planet. Rainforest Action Network tells of trees being stolen from U.S. National Forests by companies such as Weyerhaeuser.

The Rainforest Alliance is trying to help by raising funds for conservation groups in tropical countries that work to stop rainforest destruction. they are currently supporting groups in Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicarauga.

They have a learning site filled with free, complete lesson plans stories, presentations, articles, posters and background descriptions of conservation projects for schools to bring awareness to kindergarten through sixth grade age children. Through their multidisciplinary curriculum they teach the importance of protecting the world’s natural resources while providing students with opportunites for direct action.

The Nature Conservancy has the Adopt an Acre® program to help protect the dense forest of Costa Rica’s Osa Penisula.

A site called Hope For The Rain Forests provides a list of organizations dedicated to protecting endangered rain forests through monetary contributions.

EcologyFund is set up so that if you click on a button describing the wild land or rain forest project you want to see saved, advertisers will donate to that project. You can only donate one time per day to each project. Personally, I am too skeptical to believe this works without me actually giving any money but I cannot find anything derogatory about its legitimacy. If you find something, please let us all know.

We all know the importance of saving the rain forests but we hear so much of it that after awhile we tend to block it out. But, if you are willing to do something, hopefully I have been able to enlighten you as to a few organizations that seem worthwhile to donate to or buy from. Try some of that Jungle Chocolate, it is really good.

If you know of a fraud, concerning one of these organizations, or some other organization. Or, if you suspect you are the victim of a fraud of any kind, tell the world and check out these sites. These sites also give you tips on how to avoid fraud.

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