The World Land Trust eBulletin Issue 45, February 2007

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This is the last issue of the eBulletin in its current format. From next month the e-newsletter will have a new look, be quicker to download and accessible to all readers no matter what email client they use. We are taking this opportunity to update our subscriber mailing lists, and will require all subscribers to confirm their wish to continue receiving the eBulletin. We will send more information on the changes, and the action you will need to take, in a few week's time.

In this issue:
Ecuador Update: Howler Monkeys, Inga Trees and an Award
Other Project News and Wildlife Photos
Help Create a Valentine's Day Reserve in Brazil
Artists and Authors Supporting Conservation
News in Brief

Ecuador Update: Howler Monkeys, Inga Trees and an Award

Young Mantled Howler Monkey. Photo by Mark Abel. (Published under Creative Commons licence.)

Howler Monkeys breeding at Buenaventura

On his visit to Ecuador in December, Nigel Simpson, WLT trustee and board member of Fundación Jocotoco (FJ) reported that the troop of Mantled Howler Monkeys seen on a previous occasion above the lodge at Buenaventura, appeared again and this time with two young.

Howler Monkeys are the largest of the New World monkeys and this species is black except for a fringe of long golden brown hair along their sides (a mantle). The angle of the lower jaws of howler monkeys makes it possible for them to produce their remarkable loud ‘howls’ which can be heard two miles away through the jungle, and over three miles across more open land.

Nigel Simpson with the Inga tree planted just over two years ago.

Inga trees reforest the rainforest

The photo to the right shows Nigel Simpson alongside an Inga tree that he, together with WLT trustee Jane Krish and other Ecuadorian colleagues from Fundación Jocotoco, planted as a seedling on previously cleared land at Buenaventura, in November 2004. This photograph was taken in December 2006 and demonstrates clearly the sort of growth that can be achieved in just two years.

FJ awarded for watershed protection

WLT in the UK and US raised the funds in 2006 to enable Fundación Jocotoco to complete the new Jorupe Reserve that protects the threatened tropical dry forests of the Tumbesian ecosystem of southwestern Ecuador. This forest provides habitat for 69 endemic species of birds, including the globally threatened Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, as well as the watershed of the Jorupe River, the source of clean drinking water for the nearby community of Macará, which recently awarded the foundation a medal for the watershed protection. Javier Robayo of FJ attended the ceremony and met with the Mayor. FJ hopes to complete the purchase of the entire watershed of the Jorupe River during 2007.

Mr and Mrs Barriga, who have helped expand the Jorupe Reserve by selling their land.

Jorupe, FJ's seventh reserve, is currently being expanded by 1114 acres (451 hectares), being bought from Mr and Mrs Barringa. Their land backs on to the reserve and they are very pleased to have sold it for conservation. Often the local owners who put their land into conservation go on to become park guards and local advocates for conservation.

Read more about the Tropical Forest Project in Ecuador
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/ecuador.htm

Read more about the Tumbesian region
http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/projects/tumbesian-region.html

Other Project News and Wildlife Photos

You can read more projects news, and see photos of a Sloth and a Spectacled Bear, on the WLT website in our projects update: www.worldlandtrust.org/news/projects-update-2007.htm.

Help Create a Valentine's Day Reserve in Brazil

We feel that the Brazilian rainforest deserves a gift this year. Still seriously threatened by deforestation, the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest needs our help more than ever. So step off the consumer treadmill and give something a little more meaningful to your Valentine this year: Buy a piece of Brazilian rainforest and help us create a special Valentine's Day reserve.

Last order date in the UK for delivery on Valentine's Day is February 9 for ordinary posting. For posting by special delivery, please order by 1pm (GMT) on Tuesday, 13 February and donate £5 extra to cover the cost.

Save the Brazilian Rainforest for your Valentine
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/supporting/valentines.htm

Brazilian Support for WLT's conservation work

The WLT is working with REGUA in Brazil to protect what is left of the Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica). We recently received these encouraging words from Paula Romano, a supporter in Santo André, Greater São Paulo, Brazil: "I would like to express my gratitude to your inspiring work to protect the wonders of this planet. I'm a Brazilian who lives in an already destroyed portion of Rain Forest and it is very good to find out that there are serious people struggling to increase this tiny portion that still remains. Thanks a lot on behalf of Mata Atlântica!"

Artists and Authors Supporting Conservation

Green Ink Saves more Green Forest

Artists and authors can support the WLT through Green Ink, a project that encourages anyone with books in Public Libraries to assign their Public Lending Rights (PLRs) to the Trust for land purchase projects. Many writers don’t even know that they are entitled to these funds so it is a painless way of supporting WLT’s conservation work. About 180 writers and illustrators have assigned some or all of their rights and together their assignments for 2006 raised £9,572 for WLT. If you know of any writers/illustrators who might be interested in joining us please email Viv Burton at:

Three very different artists, the same concern for the environment

World Land Trust is grateful for the support of two professional photographers and a sponsored artist all of whom are concerned about environmental degradation and are committed to support effective conservation through WLT.

Cristian Barnett is a London based photographer who is currently photographing people who live and work along the arctic circle. His wonderful pictures can be seen at www.lifeontheline.org.uk.

Like Cristian, Chris Perrett is a professional photographer. His stunning images, including some taken close to the reserve the WLT helped establish in the Osa Peninsular, Costa Rica, can be seen at www.naturesart.co.uk.

Ian Macintosh is a British artist and graphic designer specialising in acrylics. His highly distinctive 'Men With Hats' series and 'Ethereal Muses' group can be seen at www.abbeyimages.co.uk.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or corporate supporter, please contact Gerald Watts at the WLT office at

News in Brief

Wildlife news from India

The WLT's partner in India is the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), which is an extremely dynamic organisation staffed by real enthusiasts. There is always so much going on, and we would encourage anyone interested in conservation in India to sign up to WTI's electronic newsletters at www.wti.org.in/html/mailing-list.php. If any of our supporters (or any other wildlife enthusiasts) wish to support WTI's projects directly, they can make donations through the WLT, to be passed on to WTI. Please contact us for more information if you wish to do this.

Deforestation and climate change

The correct answer to last month's competition was B: About 20% of human-caused carbon emissions are caused by deforestation (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6vjhlf). The lucky winners received a copy each of the climate change documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” on DVD.

For an idea of how much an average UK citizen contributes to carbon dioxide emissions compared to citizens in developing countries, check out the World Development Movement's climate change calendar on www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/climate/calendar/index.htm.

Readers in the UK can take action against illegal logging by asking their MP to support a new logging legislation: www.wwf.org.uk/researcher/issues/forests/0000000284.asp (WWF article)

Also on the WLT website

Recycled printer cartridges raises £4000 for conservation
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/newsarchive/2007_02_01_archive.htm#4911164551679301799

WLT's Position on Goats and Goat Giving
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/about/goat-policy.htm

Zoos working with the WLT
http://www.worldlandtrust.org/newsarchive/2007_02_01_archive.htm#1817907158901619497