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Two-thirds of global forest cover loss is occurring in the tropic and subtopic regions of the world, where vast clusters of deforestation fronts are destroying the important ecosystem services forests provide and killing millions of animals. Stopping tropical deforestation would also slow viral emergence and reduce carbon pollution into the atmosphere.
While progress has been made in halting forest loss and degradation, both continue at alarming rates mostly in the tropics and sub-tropics. The later account for at least two-thirds of global forest cover loss from 2000 to 2018 and where forest fragmentation is significant.
The solution is clear: create new protected areas to protect the forests that will protect humanity. Therefore, unprecedented financial resources must go to rainforest conservation and restoration. Currently only 3 percent of philanthropic giving goes to the environment and 1 percent to rainforest. That’s clearly far to be enough. A global investment of $30 billion a year into projects to protect rainforests, would halt the wildlife trade, and would be enough to offset the cost of preventing future pandemics. The annual cost of protecting rainforest is roughly comparable to 2-3% of annual military spending by the world’s 10 wealthiest countries. Spending $9.6 billion a year on global forest protection schemes could lead to a 40% reduction in global deforestation in areas at the highest risk of virus spillover. This could include incentivizing the people living in and making their living from the forests, and banning widespread logging and the brutal commercialization of the wildlife trade.
However, we can’t wait another decade or more for governments to act for the common goods to protect rainforests. Every day, rainforest losses ground and tribal people suffer and vanish. It’s the priority of Endangered Species International to save and restore rainforests. This year, we have embarked in new exceptional field projects to protect at least 500,000 areas of rainforest. Together, with your generous support, we can achieve this goal, before year ends. Empowering indigenous peoples and local communities is a priority for ESI, as well as supporting their efforts to secure the tenure of their ancestral lands and safeguard their cultures. Indigenous groups are the best protectors of their lands and have always been the best friend of ESI. ESI has been working hand-in-hand with more than 32 tribal groups to protect rainforest.
ESI is able to allocate 98% of donations to conservation action in the field where it is needed to most to protect rainforest. No board member receives financial benefit. Join us and make a monthly donation to save the rainforest!
To discuss your support further and learn more about rainforest conservation program, you can contact us at info@endangeredspeciesinternational.org
Endangered Species International is a U.S.-based, international organization, and a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Your donations are tax deductible under U.S. laws.
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