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The urgency of this biodiversity crisis is real and our work to protect life has never been so important, and you are part of the solution.
In 2019, we protected actively in the field no fewer than 267 species. These included urgently imperiled species in Africa and South Asia including western gorilla, Asian pangolin, hawksbill sea turtle, horned frog, and brain coral. We continue to safeguarding wildlife beyond borders.
Five countries in Asia (China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) are estimated to account for as much as 60% of the plastic waste entering the ocean. ESI focuses on the Coral Triangle (Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia) to remove plastics and stop them entering the ocean. In 2019, we intensified our fighting against plastic pollution at many levels including education, law enforcement, and drastic plastic removal from ocean and their proper disposal. We removed no fewer than 290 tons of plastic debris including deadly floating nets saving uncontainable number of wildlife species from slow agony and death.
In 2019, we successfully protected and restored significant rainforest hot spots despite the grave news from Brazil and Borneo where deforestation is soaring drawing international attention and sadly inaction. However, this year we kept supporting the creation of natural protected areas covering large areas of rainforest and vital habitats for so many plants and animals. Further, we planted no fewer than 140,000 indigenous tropical trees and monitored their survival and growth. As more and more habitat is protected and restored, species around the world are being brought back from the brink and biodiversity thrives again.
We won’t rest against rainforest destruction, ocean depletion and pollution, plastic contamination, and the titanic decline and loss of plant and animal species. And I know you won’t rest either. Too much is at stake, our future as humanity is a stake. Because of you, our members and supporters, the truth is: we make astonishing progress. Thank you for being part of the solution.
Yours in protecting all life on earth,
Pierre Fidenci
Founding Director
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