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1. Good news for forests in Belize from the World Land Trust

   Posted on 7:00pm Saturday 8th Feb 2020

   The World Land Trust has great news for forests! On 16 January 2020, the Governement of Belize signed the declaration of North-eastern Biological Corridor of Belize.  It covers an area of nearly 70,000 acres and links the northernmost nature reserve in Belize with more central natural habitats. It’s really important, because it’s the first step towards achieving a total North-South corridor crossing the whole country as the map shows! ©World Land Trust It’s a tremendous example of public-private partnership:  the government of Belize, local NGOs, private landowners and many international donors – including the World Land Trust – have been involved. UNITED FOR CONSERVATION, WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE BETTER The corridor connects a system of three protected areas in one system.  Deforestation has caused the loss of over 25,000 acres of forest in tihe last 10 years. This will now allow big animals such as jaguar and Baird’s Tapirs enough space to move freely between protected areas and so ensure their long term survival!  It will also help build climate resilience into Belize’s network of protected areas. Why was this acquisition necessary? In Belize, about 50% of the country is under natural vegetation cover.  About 35% of the country is under some form of protection.  So it is still possible to create biological corridors between protected areas. It’s vital that these acquisitions take place, and speedily, because agricultural development are increasingly encroaching on forest. How did supporters of the World Land Trust – people like you & me – help in this achievement? The World Land Trust mobilised its supporters and inspired new ones to raise funds to support this land acquisition.  It included 2018’s Big Match Fortnight Jungle for Jaguars campaign, and another Buy an Acre opportunity a few months after that.  (The Big Match Fortnight normally comes in October when donations are matched for a specific appeal – it is incredible how much and how speedily this builds up.) Donate in memory of someone special I donated to this campaign during the Big Match Fortnight (actually in memory of my wonderful Dad as his birthday is in November and I plant a tree or do a buy an acre on his birthday and at Christmas for him, as Dad loved trees).  Ask someone to donate as a gift for you I asked my husband to also donate as my early Christmas present and it was by far the best present I had.   It really meant something to me.  We had made a difference. I cannot tell you the glow and warm feeling I have in my heart when I think of my jaguar roaming the biological corridor.   I call him “my jaguar” – he obviously isn’t, and I’m never going to meet him – but it’s lovely to think that because I donated and my husband has too, we’ve helped him and lots of other animals. Please do donate to the World Land Trust if you can, and keep an eye on their website.  I often post news of their new appeals here, so you can watch this space as well.  They are a wonderful charity and it’s good to give a meaningful gift which will last, so if you’re looking for a gift for a wildlife lover, making a donation could be a great way to do something to really make a difference – a win, win, win all round! This was the You Tube Video for Jungle for Jaguars – it raised £532,000 in the Big Match Fortnight (normally early October) alone and hit the £600,000 target by Christmas, helping to save 8,154 vital acres.  A further 1,818 acres were saved a few months later.

2. Four Paws change the lives of animals in 2019

   Posted on 9:00pm Thursday 2nd Jan 2020

   International charity Four Paws have put a video together to show their achievements in 2019! Do take a look - it's an excellent example of how people can change animals' lives for the better.     Take action and make a difference

    

3. Double your money with a donation to ZSL by 31 December 2019

   Posted on 3:00pm Sunday 15th Dec 2019

   Saving wildlife starts with people. ZSL have established a project to help both people and wildlife on the edges of national parks in Nepal and Kenya. Life is very difficult here. Elephants trample crops; tigers attack livestock.   Families risk their lives as they enter the forest to gather firewood and graze their cattle.  These activities damage wildlife habitats. Unfortunately, some people become involved in wildlife crime, such as hunting bushmeat, to feed their families.  Worse, they can be exploited by the international illegal wildlife trade. For People For Wildlife So ZSL are tackling the problem with a project to help people – and so help wildlife – with a project For People For Wildlife ZSL are teaming up with communities to help them establish sustainable livelihoods.  They will help with start-up costs e.g. training nature guides, fencing to safeguard crops, starting a salon – and also develop ways to live alongside wildlife peacefully. The plan is that families will then have a reliable, sustainable income and escape poverty, and thus be better placed to help protect the forest and its wildlife, and indeed to help it survive and thrive. The donations will help tackle various threats to people and wildlife.  And they will help wildlife through science, education and conservation. £1 really does = £2 if you donate by 31 December 2019! Donate here You can help by making a donation - and for every £1 donated by 31 December 2019, the UK Government will MATCH your donation, up to £2 million.  Find out more and DONATE here

    

4. Match funder for African Wildlife Foundation - deadline 20 December 2019

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 15th Dec 2019

   There’s a match funder going on until 20 December for the African Wildlife Foundation.  In other words, your gift will double if you donate by 20 December 2019. This could be a great gift for anyone who loves elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos etc. The AWF protects nearly 40% of Africa’s elephants, and your gift can support their programmes to stop elephant poaching and ivory trafficking, for instance. The need to help is more urgent than ever:  if they haven't got enough threatening their survival through poachers and the demand for their skin and ivory, Africa's elephants are facing a devastating natural disaster. 200 elephants recently died due to a horrific drought in Zimbabwe.  Giraffes, hippos, rhinos, and other  species are at risk too.    To double your impact, donate by 20 December 2019 AWF can continue providing incentives to locals to prevent hunting cheetahs whose numbers have declined by 90% - there are about 9,000 left compared to the 100,000 in 1901.   Lion populations once stood at over 100,000 but there are now less than 25,000 of them AWF protects large carnivores and the communities that live near them. What does the African Wildlife Foundation do? The Foundation "provides conservation solutions that balance the needs of people and wildlife" and they do this by (and I quote from their website):  Equipping wildlife rangers, deploying sniffer dogs, and training law enforcement officers to stop wildlife crime. Enabling wildlife conservation-friendly community empowerment. Enabling wildlife conservation-friendly community empowerment. Building conservation partnerships and spreading awareness across the continent — and the world. Applying research to our wildlife conservation strategies. CLICK HERE to join the herd and donate to make it a million by 20 December 2019

    

5. Plant a Tree to Save the World is on Channel 5 tonight, 28 November 2019, at 8pm

   Posted on 6:00pm Thursday 28th Nov 2019

   Tonight on Channel 5 at 8pm, take a look at Plant a Tree to Save the World. Chris Packham and a number of guest presenters are aiming to raise enough money to plant 100,000 across Britain.  The amount they are looking to raise is £150,000. You can donate in between items such reducing pollution around schools and the best trees to plant in a small garden. You can find out how you can do your bit – there are tips on planting trees at home.  Every tree will make a difference. The Woodland Trust and Channel 5 are aiming to raise this money and you can donate on the Woodland Trust’s website. John Humphrys, Clare Nasir, Martin Hughes Games and JB Gill join Chris Packham, together with experts from the Woodland Trust.  Dame Judi Dench is also behind the partnership. The documentary talks about the essential role that trees play in fighting climate change;  and the programme looks at the science of trees, the impact of deforestation around the world (including in the UK) and how trees can help by locking up carbon, fighting flooding and making landscapes more resilient. Donate at the Woodland Trust's website