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Ian Smith & World Land Trust
Saving Some Of The World's Last Tropical Forests
The World Land Trust has been raising funds to purchase and protect critically threatened habitats for 20 years and during that time has saved over 400,000 acres of tropical forests and other endangered wildlife habitats that would no longer exist had the WLT not been able to step in to save them. Ian Smith has already supported the creation of wildlife reserves in Ecuador and Borneo and is now helping WLO, whose patron is Sir David Attenborough, to save some of the last Atlantic Rainforests in Argentina.
Atlantic Rainforest
The Atlantic Rainforest of South America once stretched continuously from the Atlantic Ocean of Brazil north of Rio de Janiero, southwards through Uruguay, inland over the Misiones Province of Argentina and into Paraguay, covering 1 million km2. But over the past fifty years loss of forests has accelerated dramatically and the original forests have been reduced to less than 7% of their original extent. They have been cleared for timber, agriculture and urban development and now only survive in very fragmented patches. WLT has projects running in Brazil and Paraguay to save what is left of the Atlantic Forests in their countries and has just introduced a new land purchase project to save forest in Misiones Province, Argentina.
"The rainforest of Misiones is the largest remaining fragment of the Atlantic Rainforest in South America. It is full of unique plants and important animal species and it is vital to preserve the best sample of this ecosystem." Sir Ghillean Prance, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Scientific Director of the Eden Project and advisor to the World Land Trust
The Reserve
The Misiones Province, located in NE Argentina protects one of the last strongholds of undisturbed rainforest which is home to an incredible wealth of wildlife including top predators such as Jaguar, Puma and Ocelot and other important mammals such as Lowland tapir, Giant Otter and Giant Anteater. There is a huge diversity of reptiles and amphibians, and bird species number nearly 550, including the stunning Harpy Eagle.
WLT is working with local partner organisation Fundación Frontera Verde to purchase strategically important tracts of Atlantic Rainforest in Argentina, in an urgent bid to protect these critical habitats as nature reserves for the future.
Every time you recycle your used Inkjet and Toner cartridges through Ian Smith's Recycling Programme you will be helping save Real Acres of tropical forest in Real Places.
"The World Land Trust's policy of buying and protecting land is the most direct and certain road to conversation. It deserves the support of all who care about the survival of the wild places of the world." Sir David Attenborough, Patron of World Land Trust
Contact us for more information, or learn more at the World Land Trust website.
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