FALL 2012
RAINFOREST BULLETIN Saving Real Acres in Real Places
A NOTE FROM THE CEO We wanted to create this newsletter as something special for our most loyal friends and supporters: an all-access pass to what’s going on at WLT-US. In this issue (and future ones) we’ll give you a peek at upcoming conservation projects and news, updates and inspirations from the field, ways you can get further involved with WLT-US, and more. In this issue we are proud to report the success stories of the new Las Tangaras Nature Reserve and Tucuman Parrot Reserve, as well as our efforts to save the Fuertes’s Parrot and Esmeraldas Woodstar. With your support we’ll save even more threatened rainforests forever. I hope this behind-the-scenes look piques your interest and gives you a sense of our world... stay tuned for more to come,
Dr. Paul Salaman CEO, World Land Trust-US P.S. Is there anything you want to know about? Send me your questions or comments psalaman@ worldlandtrust-us.org.
IN THIS ISSUE fall 2012 A Brief History ........................................ 1 Sneak Peek: New & Upcoming Projects .... 2 Schools Saving Rainforests ....................... 2 Project Updates ........................................ 3 In the Field .............................................. 3 A World of Wild ...................................... 3 Kids 4 Rainforest ..................................... 3 2011 Electronic Annual Report ............... 4 Social Media: WLT-US on Pinterest ........ 4 4-Star Charity Navigator Rating .............. 4 1.800.456.4930 | info@worldlandtrust-us.org | www.worldlandtrust-us.org
World Land Trust-US: A Brief History On January 5, 1989, WLT-US, originally known as World Parks Endowment, was incorporated in New York State as a not-for-profit organization and held our first board meeting. In September 2006, we formed a partnership between World Land Trust (based in the UK) and changed our name from World Parks Endowment to World Land Trust-US. Immediately following our 1989 inception, WLT-US started supporting major land protection initiatives, such as buying 11,000 acres (at $4 an acre!) in Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala. WLT-US has never wavered from our core land protection mission in our 24 years. The diversity of projects undertaken has been outstanding, including buying and protecting several islands in the Falkland Islands, expanding key protected areas like Tortuguero National Park and Mondeverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica, establishing three major indigenous reserves in Peru, and over 500,000 acres of critical lands purchased outright for reserves across Central and South America. In total, 4,272,767 acres have been saved thanks to WLT-US support of in-country partners across Latin America. For 24 years, WLT-US has been steadfast to the mission of saving critical lands for conservation through land purchase and protected area designations. Less than 3% of our income has
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
World Land Trust-US has saved over 4 million acres— staying steadfast to our mission to purchase threatened rainforests and protect endangered wildlife through community engagement and local partnerships. been spent on administrative overhead. WLT-US has played a central role in the creation of 67 new protected areas in 17 countries WLT-US works with local organizations to purchase and conserve critical lands with Endangered or threatened species and rich in biodiversity. WLT-US protects REAL acres in REAL places. ■
CONTACT US
John Mitchell, Chair Beneficia Foundation
Dr. Paul Salaman, Chief Executive Officer psalaman@worldlandtrust-us.org
Dr. Gerard Bertand, Vice Chair BirdLife International
Nichole Baker, Director of Donor Relations nbaker@worldlandtrust-us.org
Sally F. Davidson, Treasurer Clyde’s Restaurant Group
Janis Golden, Operations Manager jgolden@worldlandtrust-us.org
Dr. Wayt Thomas, Secretary New York Botanical Garden
Deanna Johnson, Finance Manager djohnson@worldlandtrust-us.org
Robert Giles Demeter Bio-Resources
Jaclyn Sharratt-Smith, Communications Director jsharratt@worldlandtrust-us.org
Frank F. King Willis Corroon Corporation
Unsure of who to talk to? Contact info@worldlandtrust-us.org
Nancy L. Weiss, M.D. Surgeon
MISSION OF WLT-US: to purchase threatened rainforests and protect endangered wildlife through community engagement and local partnerships
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RAINFOREST BULLETIN
FALL 2012
Sneak Peek: WLT-US New and Upcoming Projects Saving the Atlantic Rainforest: Saving the Golden Poison Frog: Saving Serra Bonita: Paraguay Colombia Brazil The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots due to the high number of endemic species found there. It is home to nearly 1,000 different types of birds, including some found nowhere else in the world. It is also home to over 20,000 plant species, 40% of which are endemic. The once extensive Atlantic Rainforest is now reduced to a series of fragmented forest islands. This means that wildlife is increasingly threatened due to the loss of their rainforest habitat. The forests that do remain are surrounded by mono-culture plantations, mostly vast fields of soy. This severe deforestation has left less than 7% of the Atlantic Forest still standing. Jumping into action to help save this area, WLTUS raised over $20,000 in ten days to purchase and protect 753 acres in San Rafael, thanks to a generous offer by Dr. Urs-Peter Stäuble, who matched each donation dollar for dollar.
The Critically Endangered Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is the most poisonous animal on Earth. The frog occurs in an area of rainforest roughly the same size as Washington DC, located on the Pacific coast of western Colombia. This amazing amphibian was labeled “Terribilis” because its skin is drenched in alkaloid poison which prevents nerves from transmitting impulses and causes death within minutes. Sadly, the Golden Poison Frog is at severe risk of extinction as a recent surge of illegal gold mining is ravaging the lush rainforest on which this species depends. WLT-US aims to protect this remarkable frog through land purchase and an innovative community-based conservation effort to create a 176,000 acre conservation corridor of Chocó rainforest. The Chocó constitutes the most biologically unique region on earth, straddling the Equator and rising from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the high peaks of the Andes. These unique forests also support the single greatest concentration of endemic birds, amphibians and orchids on the planet.
The Serra Bonita mountain range of Bahia, Brazil, part of the Atlantic Rainforest, is known for its tremendous biodiversity. Ecological surveys have found 458 species of trees, more than 680 species of plants, 400 species of birds, and the world’s greatest diversity of moths and butterflies with a staggering 5,000 species. Many of the plants and animals in this area are new to science. WLT-US wants to increase the current protected area by purchasing and protecting 333 acres in five private properties adjacent to the existing protected areas. Through the incorporation of these new lands this project will prevent the further destruction of priority forested properties, increase the biological integrity of the current protected area, and significantly increase the long term effectiveness of the reserve by protecting this region’s unique biodiversity.
Students Saving Rainforests: Schools Making a Difference In 2012 Lohrenz and Skees implemented the project a second time, and again the students did an exceptional job, raising $2,000 in one week! This year, the 6th graders chose to save 5 acres each of the Atlantic and Tapichalaca rainforests and 10 acres in Ecuador to protect the Esmeraldas Woodstar hummingbird.
In 2011, Llewellyn Skees, a 6th grade Geography teacher at Middletown Area Middle School (MAMS) in Pennsylvania, found the World Land Trust-US Web site and thought it would be a great institution to collaborate with on a project. With the help of Wayne Lohrenz, who was brought in for his student teaching assignment, Skees found an innovative way to connect the curriculum of South America and save real acres in real places. The project was for the 6th grade class to sell root beer float tickets to students and teachers and ask for donations from the public to raise funds to buy rainforest acres. The students raised $1,000 and protected 10 acres of rainforest. The 6th graders voted on the areas they wanted to save and chose 5 acres each from Las Tangaras and Sierra Caral.
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Llewellyn Skees (left), Wayne Lohrenz (right), Middletown Area Middle School teachers and creators of the Rainforest Project.
The students went above and beyond our expectations. Llewellyn Skees and Wayne Lohrenz
In the second year of the project, the rainforest theme was elevated to a new level and incorporated into all 6th grade classes. In a group directed study, each teacher integrated rainforest material into their curriculum. For example, the math teachers created a series of stations that included rainforest topics in math problems– the students spent time at each station solving them. The language arts department had students read a specific story about rainforests. The science department applied rainforest examples to teach lessons. This was all tied in with Earth Day and turned out to be a great learning experience for the entire 6th grade. “The rain forest project gave students an opportunity to learn about the planet and influence others to help save lands from destruction,” says
Skees. “Through this project, students get the chance to show their passion for conservation while representing themselves and their school in a professional manner.” “By empowering the students to be spokespeople, one gets to see not only their desire and enthusiasm to be stewards of their planet, but also their pride and joy at achieving such an accomplishment and making an impactful difference in the world,” says Lohrenz. WLT-US looks forward to seeing the success of MAMS next year as they come up with new ideas to continue to save rainforests forever. ■
Jared, 6th grade student at Middletown Area Middle School, top seller of root beer float tickets in 2012.
FALL 2012
IN THE FIELD
WLT-US PROJECT UPDATES
New Reserve to Protect the Tucuman Parrot in Bolivia
Fuertes’s Parrot receives Protection in Colombia
WLT-US supported the purchase of 44 acres to establish a new nature reserve in Bolivia to protect the threatened Tucuman Parrot. This reserve protects part of an important fragment of surviving conifer trees in the region, which are vitally important as nesting sites for the parrot. The strategic purchase of this forest by our local partner Asociación Armonia preempted a local sawmill that was attempting to gain logging rights to the land, so our decisive action came just in time.
Thanks to WLT-US donors, the Critically Endangered Fuertes’s Parrot, one of the world’s rarest birds, and eleven other globally threatened species of birds, mammals, and amphibians will receive greater protection. Facing imminent threat from one of the greatest gold discoveries in recent decades, your support helped our partner purchase and protect a vital 356 acre cloud forest property, doubling the size of the Giles-Fuertesi Nature Reserve and protecting one fifth of the Fuertes’s Parrots’ global population.
Protecting One of the World’s Rarest and Smallest Birds
Endangered Species, Indigenous Communities Protected
The Esmeraldas Woodstar, measuring 2½ inches is an Endangered hummingbird that is gravely threatened by habitat loss. Recently, researchers discovered its only known nesting site near the village of Ayampe, Ecuador, an area that was previously unprotected. WLT-US immediately stepped up to support the purchase of 38.6 acres and establish the first nature reserve for this amazing species.
Your support has allowed WLT-US to buy and save 7,076 acres of the highly threatened Chocó rainforest in Colombia. This year, we launched the new Las Tangaras Nature Reserve, protecting one of the most unique rainforests on earth. Over a dozen properties were acquired to create a buffer zone against colonization and strengthen the protection of adjacent indigenous communities.
To read about these stories and more, visit www.worldlandtrust-us.org
KIDS 4 RAINFOREST Students are a valued part of the WLT-US network and have continually raised significant funds to save real rainforest acres. In 2011 over $7,000 was raised by schools. Funds received by these schools purchase rainforest— not toys or t-shirts. If you, your friends, or your classroom sends us a donation, 100% of the funds will be spent on the conservation project of your choice. Actually, make that 200%— WLT-US will match each donation, dollar for dollar to double the acres you purchase and protect. If you are interested in learning more about Kids 4 Rainforest contact info@ worldlandtrust-us.org today or check our Web site this fall for ideas and inspiration!
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A WORLD OF WILD WLT-US will be attending the annual Wildlife Conservation Expo being held on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, CA. Experience the wild through the eyes of nineteen conservation game-changers as they share their experiences saving the world’s most endangered animals. Hear first-hand their stories of pioneering conservation science and working with communities in some of the most remote places on earth. Visit the WLT-US booth and find your own wild inspiration. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EXPO October 13, 2012 10AM to 6PM Mission Bay Conference Center San Francisco, CA For information or to purchase tickets visit: www.wildnet.org
Meet Dr. Paul Salaman, CEO of WLT-US, and learn more about his recent trip to our projects in Colombia Dr. Paul Salaman In August 2012, Dr. Salaman visited several WLT-US funded reserves in Colombia, South America to review progress on land purchase and protection efforts. Read below to learn more about his trip: Q: Tell me about Colombia. What’s special about it? A: Colombia and Brazil are the two most biodiverse nations on earth. Unlike Brazil, Colombia has been overlooked by conservationists and donors for decades because of security concerns. Q: How is WLT-US involved in conservation work in Colombia? A: Since 2005, WLT-US has been supporting the purchase and protection of a dozen critical rainforest sites across Colombia. WLT-US is one of the most important international organizations supporting action in Colombia and saving Critically Endangered species, like the Magdalena Spider-monkey. Q: Can conservationists from anywhere come to visit WLT-US reserves? A: We have supported our Colombian partner, Fundación ProAves, to establish five wonderful eco-lodges and an ecotourism program that is helping sustain the protection of each reserve as well as directly engage and employ local people. So yes– everyone is very welcome to come visit these wonderful reserves and see amazing wildlife! Just drop me an email and I can help arrange a visit: psalaman@worldlandtrust-us.org. Q: What do you say to people when they say, “How can I help?” A: YES YOU CAN HELP! Colombia, like some other tropical countries, has critical rainforest lands being sold for approximately $100 an acre to developers. We act swiftly to save these areas, but we depend on the generous support of our donors to make this happen. Having just visited these wonderful sites, I know we are making a real difference and together we’re securing a brighter future for humanity and for life on earth. ■
View Trip Photos! Check out photos from the trip www.flickr.com/wltus
Dr. Salaman, middle, talking with local kids about rainforests at Paujil Reserve in the Magdalena Valley of Colombia.
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RAINFOREST BULLETIN
2011 Annual Report Now Available Online! Eager to learn about what went on at WLT-US last year? Well, you’re in luck! The 2011 Annual Report is now available online in an easy-to-read, click-through format. 2011 was a year of growth and innovation for the organization. With a quick click you’ll have access to everything that was WLT-US 2011- right at your fingertips. ■
FALL 2012
View WLT-US Annual Report Read all about WLT-US in 2011 www.issuu.com/worldlandtrust
WLT-US is on Pinterest! www.pinterest.com/wltus Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the interesting and unique pages you find on the web. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people and organizations, such as WLT-US. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new ideas and get inspiration from others who share your interests. Check out our Pinboards today! ■
n more o lear Scan t ! WLT-US about
4-Star Charity Navigator Rating What this means to you... Loyal supporters like you already know WLT-US adheres to good governance, is committed to accountability and transparency, and practices sound fiscal management… but it’s nice to have independent confirmation! For yet another consecutive year, WLT-US has earned a four-star rating (out of a possible four stars) from independent nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator. “This ‘exceptional’ designation differentiates WLT-US from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust,” said Ken Berger, Charity Navigator’s CEO. ■
25 Horner Street Warrenton, VA 20186 www.worldlandtrust-us.org