The World Land Trust eBulletin Issue 25, January 2005

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Don't forget Valentine's Day 14 February!
Instead of flowers, save an acre of rainforest for your loved one.

In this issue:
See Bill Oddie in Patagonia on BBC2
The Aftermath of the Tsunami
Ecuador Update: WLT Helps Fundación Jocotoco Purchase New Land
WLT News in Brief
Get Involved: Visit a WLT Conservation Project

See Bill Oddie in Patagonia on BBC2

Nature programme filmed in WLT's reserve broadcast Sunday 30 January, at 5.30pm, BBC2

Bill Oddie in Patagonia.

Bill Oddie, together with a BBC TV crew, visited the Ranch of Hopes Wildlife Refuge in Patagonia last autumn, assisted by John Burton, WLT’s CEO. The BBC funded trip resulted in a programme entitled Bill Oddie with Penguins, Parrots & Whales, which captures the beauty and important diversity of this, one of the world’s great wilderness areas.

Much of the programme was filmed on the Ranch that WLT supporters enabled the Trust to fund. The land has now been paid for and is being protected by our partner organisation, Fundación Patagonia Natural. However, the Trust still urgently needs more funds to protect and manage the reserve to ensure that it is maintained as a safe haven for guanaco, Geoffroy’s cat, puma and other wildlife that depend on this coastal steppe habitat for their survival. Funds are also needed to develop ecotourism as a sustainable income for local people.

Also for your diary:

The WLT has booked the Lecture Theatre at the Royal Geographical Society, Kensington Gore, for the evening of Wednesday, 2 November when Bill Oddie and Stephen Moss will be talking about the filming and you will have an opportunity to see the film on a big screen. More news on this nearer the time.

Read more about WLT's project in Patagonia
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/patagonia.htm

The Aftermath of the Tsunami

WLT to establish a Reef and Mangrove Appeal

The boxing day tsunami, caused by an underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean, has focussed world attention in a way that few other events have done. But what can be done to mitigate natural disasters such as this? There were two principal reasons why the death toll was so high:

1. The human population of the region is high.
2. Many of the coastal areas are unprotected against such surges.

Mangroves are an essential buffer that protects coastlines. But mangrove forests have disappeared at an alarming rate over the past few decades, in order to make way for beach developments and shrimp farms. A second protection are coral reefs, which in areas such as Thailand are often mined as a source of limestone for cement making.

After the Christmas holidays we received donations from members of the public asking that we use the money for mangrove conservation. This has prompted the WLT to establish a Reef and Mangrove Appeal. The funds raised will be used to support the work of our partners in conserving and restoring those habitats.

Long-time supporters of the WLT will remember that we funded the purchase of an island in the Philippines, fringed with mangrove, and surrounded by coral reefs. As part of that project we also helped nearby villagers plant some 200,000 mangrove seedlings. Our partners in India are currently assessing the conservation needs of the Andaman islands, and of course Belize, WLT's first project country, is home to the New World’s largest barrier reef.

We have the contacts, and we are identifying the needs. This is a long term solution, but just as important for future generations. If you feel strongly about these issues, please do consider supporting the World Land Trust’s new appeal. If you donate online, don't earmark you donation, but in the box for additional information, (step 8) type RAMA (or Reef And Mangrove Appeal). Thank you.

Make a donation to the Reef and Mangrove Appeal
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/supporting/donation.htm

More information on the tsunami from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

Poll: Impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami

Do you think long term solutions such as mangrove planting should be part of the relief efforts in dealing with tsunamis? Take part in WLT's web poll, which will run until 20 February. You can also leave comments on the topic of mangroves and coral reef as coastal protection systems on the poll message board.

Take part in the poll here
http://www.worldlandtrust.org

Ecuador Update: WLT Helps Fundación Jocotoco Purchase New Land

Money raised by WLT supporters purchases 400 more hectares at Jatunpamba.

In September the seventh Fundación Jocotoco reserve was created at Jatunpamba, on the border with Peru, near the town of Macara. This land purchase comprised about 400 hectares of high quality deciduous forest in the 'Tumbesian' habitat zone. And, at the end of the year, WLT Trustees authorised a further transfer of US$60,000 from funds earmarked for Ecuador to purchase an additional 400 hectares adjacent to the original parcel.

The Tumbesian forest, a dry habitat type which extends from south west Ecuador into northern Peru, is dominated by statuesque Ceiba trees and is a conservation priority because much of it is already cleared or badly degraded. The area contains many species of globally threatened and endemic birds, such as the Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner.

Read more about WLT's project in Ecuador
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/ecuador.htm

WLT News in Brief

Ecology's new headquarter features a sedum nature roof, dry-stone walling, rainwater harvesting and photovoltaics. New WLT sponsor: The Ecology Building Society The WLT has established links with the Ecology Building Society, which specialises in residential mortgages to rescue, renovate and recycle derelict property and for ecological self-build. The Ecology have set up an initiative by which money is donated to the World Land Trust for every new inquiry generated by family and friends of existing members. The Ecology practices what it preaches and has recently moved to new “low impact” and energy-efficient headquarters, built as far as possible from recycled or renewable materials.

How does WLT decide where to buy land?

One of the most frequently asked question the World Land Trust receives is how the Trust decides what projects to get involved with. The answer is that projects suggested to the Trust are put through an evaluation process, based on a set of criteria including the biodiversity value, the level of threat, and possible risks associated. A summary of the these criteria is now available on our website.

WLT Project Selection Criteria
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/criteria.htm

Visitors' lodge in WLT's Ecuador reserve at Tapichalaca.

Get Involved: Visit a WLT Conservation Project

We encourage supporters to visit the areas they have helped save and those who have done so say it gave them a great sense of achievement seeing what a difference their donation had made. Most of our project areas are open to tourists and you can now find more information and contact details on our website to help you plan your trip. Why not consider a visit to the rainforest as a great honey moon or anniversary present?

More information on visiting WLT's conservation project areas
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/visit.htm