The World Land Trust eBulletin Issue 37, April 2006

Sent to WLT supporters and eBulletin subscribers every month. The WLT never sends unsolicited emails and will not pass on your details to other organisations. See bottom of email for instructions on how to unsubscribe.

Please send your comments on the eBulletin to Helena on

In this issue:
Brazil Update: A Sanctuary for the Woolly Spider Monkey
Educational Tours at Rainforest Cafe Save Tropical Forests
Hand-made Greeting Cards Support Wildlife
WLT News in Brief

Please help us improve the eBulletin by completing our online questionnaire if you haven't already done so. You don't have to answer all questions - any feedback is welcome. Go to www.worldlandtrust.org/ebulletin/ebulletin-survey.htm The questionnaire will remain online until May 31st, after which we will go through the responses and use these as the basis for improving the newsletter.

Brazil Update: A Sanctuary for the Woolly Spider Monkey 

The Guapi Assu reserve, where conservation measures are protecting the Woolly Spider Monkey. Photo © John Willsher

Endangered primates find safe haven in WLT reserve.

Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Assu (REGUA) – World Land Trust's latest project – is home to an estimated 12-18 individuals of the Woolly Spider Monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides), according to a recent expedition carried out by the Muriqui Conservation Project (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro).

The Woolly Spider Monkey is known locally as the Muriqui-do-sol (Southern Muriqui) and is native to the Atlantic Rainforests of Brazil, but is endangered due to hunting and habitat loss. Scientists believe that there may be fewer than 1000 woolly spider monkeys surviving in the wild, but active conservation measures at REGUA are contributing to the protection of the primate. André de Almeida Cunha from the Muriqui Conservation Project reports:

"The existence of marked tracks, rangers, logistic facilities as well as vehicles and the success in the observation of this target species makes REGUA an important place for the study and conservation of the most threatened primate of the Americas, the Muriqui-do-sol."

More information and images of the Woolly Spider Monkey can be found on ARKive: www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Brachyteles_arachnoides/more_info.html

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

Make a donation to the Brazil project
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/supporting/donation.htm

Educational Tours at Rainforest Cafe Save Tropical Forests

School classes wanting to learn about tropical forests can take a new, exciting tour at The Rainforest Cafe and help save a piece of real rainforest at the same time.

The new educational tour at The Rainforest Cafe in London has been developed by the WLT and is aimed at children aged 5-13 years. Participants are presented with facts and stories about the rainforest environment and wildlife, focussing on elephants, gorillas, jaguars, parrots and frogs. They are also treated to a two course set lunch. What's more, a donation to the World Land Trust is included in the package, enabling us to purchase and protect more threatened forest habitat. For more information and to make a booking, call The Rainforest Cafe on 020 7437 1799.

Read more about the educational tour
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/sponsors/rainforest-tour.htm

Hand-made Greeting Cards Support Wildlife

Organicard. A pack of five cards with five different designs cost £8.

Organicards are beautiful, hand-crafted cards made from at least 75% post-consumer waste paper, and for every card sold a donation is being made to the World Land Trust.

"Our artwork is inspired by the wonderful flora and fauna of the United Kingdom but we wanted to make a contribution to the conservation of biodiversity worldwide", says Alison Daniel, one of the designers.

Organicards are blank so they can be used for any occasion and are sold in packs of five cards with five different designs. Packs can be ordered from allthingsgreen.net or by contacting organicards@yahoo.co.uk

WLT News in Brief

Penguins sensitive to chill factor 

A recent report from WLT project partners, Fundación Patagonia Natural, indicates how some species can suffer from a change in sea temperature of just one or two degrees – a grave indication of how biodiversity may fare through climate change.

In February this year, communities south of Buenos Aires reported an unusually high number of dead juvenile magellanic penguins, diagnosed as having died of starvation. Further investigation showed that this phenomenon also occurred as far south as the coastlines of Chubut, the location of WLT’s Ranch of Hopes reserve, and Punta Tomba, home to a half-million strong colony of magellanic penguins. The root of the problem turned out to be a small drop in sea temperature, causing a change in distribution of fish shoals. These shoals normally provide a large proportion of the penguins’ diet, so when the fish move elsewhere the birds struggle to obtain enough food to feed their young.

Save an acre for the best dad in the world this Father’s Day

For Father's Day (Sunday 18th June), the WLT will be producing special gift packages which include a personalised certificate and card for you to write your own message, and details of the land and wildlife you will be saving on your father's behalf.

£25 purchases and protects one acre in perpetuity for your dad, and as always when you donate through the World Land Trust you will be saving real acres in real places that you and your dad could even visit. You can choose to save tropical forest in Ecuador or Brazil or elephant corridors in N E India and Kerala and make your donation either via our secure website (http://www.worldlandtrust.org/supporting/donation.htm) or over the phone using your credit card: 01986 874 422.

The British 10K London Run

The World Land Trust has three spare places for the British 10K London Run which is taking place on Sunday 2nd July. This is a lively, friendly run and the route goes past many of the capital’s most famous landmarks. Details of the event can be found at www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk.