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World Land Trust eBulletin - Conservation News

World Land Trust eBulletin April 2008

Cover Story:

WLT, Guyra and Government to conserve 2.5-million acres in Paraguay

This aerial photo shows the extensive soil erosion in the Dry Chaco, caused by deforestation and (in this case) subsequent grazing by cattle.

WLT is currently funding the purchase of three very different habitats in Paraguay, each is unique and all are threatened, primarily by the spread of agriculture, and in particular the growing market for biofuels and soya.

Even the Dry Chaco, a seemingly impenetrable habitat, isn’t safe, as a new, dry-adapted variety of soy has been developed and trials are already taking place in the Chaco. But there is good news: In March the Government of Paraguay signed an innovative co-management agreement with WLT and Guyra Paraguay, which will conserve over 2.5-million acres of threatened habitat in Paraguay.
Learn more: Paraguayan government to conserve over 2.5-million acres thanks to WLT donors »

Also in this issue:

* Funding needed for urgent sheep fencing removal in Patagonia
* Mexican Partner visits the UK
* Meet the WLT team at London Aware '08
* News in brief

Funding needed for urgent sheep fencing removal in Patagonia

Guanacos at Ranch of Hopes Wildlife Refuge

Funds are urgently needed to remove old sheep fencing and corrals from the Ranch of Hopes Wildlife Refuge, Patagonia, to enable guanacos and other wildlife free movement across the refuge.

Sheep ranching at Ranch of Hopes helped establish support from the other estancias in the area, but the aging fences are a hazard to wildlife and will therefore be removed. For more information and to support this urgent work, see Coastal Steppe Project, Patagonia - Current Work

Mexican Partner visits the UK

Roberto Pedraza Roberto Pedraza, Technical Advisor for Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, (GESG) WLT's partners in Mexico, recently spent three weeks in the UK thanks to a bursary from the Cambridge Student Conference for Conservation Science.

Roberto worked with WLT staff at the Halesworth office and attended local events such as Greener Fram, a community initiative to encourage carbon reduction in the town of Framlingham in Suffolk.

At the House of Commons Roberto gave a presentation to Lords and MPs, as well as invited corporate sponsors of the WLT, about the range of activities that GESG carries out, including environmental education, land conservation, environmental services and community development. The feedback from this event was extremely positive; it raised the profile of GESG and WLT, and their respective causes, gaining more support.
Learn more about the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Mexico »

Meet the WLT team at London Aware '08

London Aware '08UK's first ever environmental awareness exposition is being held at the Barbican Centre in London on Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th. WLT will be there, showcasing its Carbon Balanced programme - come and see us!
Learn more: LONDON AWARE '08 »

News in brief

Visits to WLT project areas

Ecuador Minister of Tourism at hummingbird feederMinister of Tourism in Ecuador visits Jocotoco reserve
Recognising the wealth of wildlife protected by Fundación Jocotoco Reserves, Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism, Veronica Sion de Josse, together with her husband and son, recently visited the Buenaventura Reserve.
Read more about the visit here »

Other visitor accounts from WLT's project areas
Surprises in the forest: Simon Barnes (The Times) on Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, Belize.
A visit to two totally different potential reserve sites in Ecuador: WLT Chairman Renton Righelato on his visit to Ayampe and Antisana.
John Sparks visits the Jocotoco Foundation's reserves in Ecuador: The former Head of BBC Natural History Unit on his trip to Buenaventura and Tapichalaca.

JustWalk: Last chance to register

Four WLT walkers are taking part in the Justwalk event - a sponsored walk across the South Downs - on 10th May. If you'd like join in you have to be quick: You need to sign up by the 2nd of May.
Learn more: Just Walk - and raise money for conservation

Carbon Balanced achieves top marks

Top Marks for World Land Trust in Which? Magazine

WLT urges government to reconsider biofuel targets

Letter from WLT to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding biofuels

Projects updates: New camera trap images

More wild cats - and other animals - captured on camera (Mexico)
First camera trap photo of Mountain Tapir (Ecuador)

Correction: Sizes of Guyra Paraguay reserve

In the Feb/March issue in the news item about recent land purchases, we gave some incorrect figures. The Dry Chaco purchase was for 3,500 hectare and represents Guyra’s first purchase in this region. The next phase is the purchase of 3,000 hectares with the aim to eventually secure 13,000 hectares.

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