The World Land Trust eBulletin Issue 40, July 2006

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In this issue:
World Land Trust – Hands across the Ocean
Towards a One-Million Acre Reserve in the Amazon Rainforest
Brazil Update: Otter Research at Guapi Assu
Blackpool Zoo helps WLT save threatened habitats
News in Brief

Stop Press! Puma sighted in WLT reserve Tapichalaca, Ecuador. Read more in next issue.

World Land Trust – Hands across the Ocean

World Land Trust and World Parks join forces to protect even more threatened habitats

On 6 July the World Land Trust Trustees, Council Members and staff met with Byron Swift and Richard Moore of World Parks, USA. A Village Hall in the Suffolk countryside might seem to be an unlikely venue for cutting edge conservation developments but that was precisely the case. Keen not to fall into the trap of so many organisations who try and fail to work hand in hand across the world John Burton and Byron Swift know only too well of the pitfalls, having been involved in international conservation for the past 30 years. Moving fairly slowly towards a shared vision World Parks is to change its name to World Land Trust-US and, by sharing information and costs, both organisations will benefit from higher profile and a wider support base.

World Parks was established in the same year as WLT (then Programme for Belize) and shares the same project criteria and are partnering Fundación Jocotoco (Ecuador), and Guyra Paraguay. US supporters can make tax efficient donations to WLT projects via the US office.

Towards a One-Million Acre Reserve in the Amazon Rainforest

Matses indigenous peoples living in the new communal reserve in the Amazonian Rainforest.

World Land Trust-US (formerly World Parks) protects Peruvian rainforest.

A project that is currently being supported by World Land Trust-US (WLT-US), in partnership with CEDIA (Centre for the Development of the Indigenous Amazonians – a Peruvian non-profit group), is the creation of a 1,129,272 acre (457,000 ha) area of Peruvian Amazon rainforest as a Communal Reserve for the Matses indigenous peoples. This reserve will protect a biodiversity hotspot area, working with the local people to create and protect the communal reserve.US$20,000 will be provided by WLT-US, who have worked with CEDIA for many years, most recently to create the Megantoni National Sanctuary, a reserve in the pristine cloud forests of Peru.

Make a donation to WLT-US
http://www.worldparks.org/pages/donate.php

Read more about WLT-US
http://www.worldparks.org/

Brazil Update: Otter Research at Guapi Assu 

The wetland at REGUA in Brazil, where, if you are lucky, you may spot Southern River otters.

Progress report from the Guapi Assu Reserve.

Reserva Ecologica Guapi Assu (REGUA), managed by WLT's Brazilian project partners with the same name, contains some of the highest biodiversity in the world, boasting 420 bird species and endangered mammals such as Puma, Ocelot and Sloths. Thanks to continuing support from WLT supporters, REGUA has been progressing in leaps and bounds with developments being made in all aspects of the reserve's work.

Fieldwork conducted by Brazilian and international researchers is continuing at REGUA with the aim of further understanding this incredible region and to provide information on how best to manage the reserve for its wealth of wildlife. Recently researchers have been investigating the otter species that inhabit the Guapi Assu River. The semi-aquatic mammal have been sighted many times and researchers have identified the species as Southern River Otter (Lutra longicaudis), and are monitoring the individual populations and compiling data sheets to assist visitors on how to recognise the river animals.

As well as ecological work, REGUA continues to conduct its community programmes and now receives more than 50 children a week in the municipality school visits program, designed to encourage the active participation of local people in the reserves activities. In addition, another 20 local children participate in the Young Guard programme where they spend a day working as a reserve ranger carrying out the day-to-day activities and admiring the wildlife.

Make a donation to the REGUA Project
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/supporting/donation.htm

Read more about the REGUA Project
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/brazil.htm

Blackpool Zoo helps WLT save threatened habitats

Blackpool zoo has become the latest supporter of WLT's Wild Spaces Programme

The World Land Trust has teamed up with Blackpool Zoo to raise funds to purchase an area of the Ecuadorian rainforest to celebrate the opening of the Zoo’s new walkthrough South American exhibit, “Amazonia”.

Blackpool Zoo is running a South American rainforest themed campaign throughout the summer and hopes to break its previous summer fundraising records.The Education team have organised events and activities to take place throughout the summer which include: a rainforest trail, colouring competition, badge making, face painting, an education stand with South American animal and plant artifacts and their smash hit game “Jungle Jeopardy”.

The campaign finale is a rainforest theme night on August 24th with tours, entertainment, raffle, buffet, and charity auction offering paintings and signed celebrity memorabilia and much more.

Funds raised will help protect critical rainforest in Ecuador so please support Blackpool Zoo and the World Land Trust’s conservation work. For more information, tickets, and auction donations contact Blackpool Zoo’s Education Department on (01253) 830805 or education@blackpoolzoo.org.uk

Read about the Wild Spaces Programme working with zoo's to protect in situ conservation
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/news/2006/06/wildlife-twinning-world-land-trust-in.htm

News in Brief

World Land Trust runners in the London 10k run.

London 10k run raises money for wildlife

The World Land Trust would like to thank the eleven runners who took part in the British 10K London run to raise sponsorship. The run took place on Sunday 2nd July and several hundred pounds were raised to buy threatened habitats. Our thanks therefore to: Richard Beckett, Oliver Blakeman, Sarah Flindall, Lydia Gosling, Elizabeth Haslem, Matthew Hickman, Lucy Jarvis, Nicholas Muat, Emma Page, Rachel Rowlands, David Scott and Emma Stuart. If you are interested in running for the WLT next year, please contact us for more information.

TravelRepublic.co.uk saves over 10,000 trees

The overwhelming success of the Carbon Balanced Programme has created a lot of interest in the travel sector, with Kane Pirie of TravelRepublic.co.uk leading the call for all travel organisations to look at environmental issues related to travel. For more information on how you or your business can become carbon neutral with the WLT, see www.carbonbalanced.co.uk.

Birdfair 2006 Rutland Water 18-20th August

If you are going along to the 2006 Birdfair please visit the World Land Trust stand in Marquee 4. The Birdfair is the biggest event of its type in the world, and all profits go to bird conservation. Visit www.birdfair.org.uk for more information. WLT will be promoting its carbon sequestration projects, and will also have several staff present each day to meet with you and tell you all the latest news and answer any queries. We look forward to seeing as many of our UK supporters as possible.

World Land Trust Events

There have been lots of WLT events over recent weeks and there are more coming up soon. Read all about what's happening at the WLT on our events page: www.worldlandtrust.org/news/events.htm

Vacancy at the WLT office

There is a vacancy for a part time Finance Officer to work at the WLT office in Halesworth, Suffolk. For more information and to apply see www.worldlandtrust.org/temp/finance-officer-vacancy.htm.