WLT's exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2010

World Land Trust: Saving the Atlantic Rainforest

The design of the WLT exhibit 'World Land Trust: Saving the Atlantic Rainforest' (left) and the finished exhibit, which won Gold Medal and Best in Section at the show. See the exhibit being set up day-by day here. (Click on the images to see larger versions.)

Brimming with life, the Atlantic Rainforest is an amazing treasure trove of biological diversity, providing essential ecological services for the health of the planet and a virtually untapped number of daily resources. It is home to the Guaraní peoples who were the original occupants of a large part of Paraguay, Argentina and southern Brazil.

The World Land Trust exhibit ‘Saving the Atlantic Rainforest’ explores the work of the Trust and its local partners in South America in the preservation of the Atlantic Rainforest. It focuses on main project areas including the Province of Misiones in northeast Argentina, which contains the largest remaining contiguous tract of southern Atlantic rainforest, working with Fundación Frontera Verde. Other important project areas are located in the REGUA (Reserva Ecológica de Guapi Assu) Reserve in Brazil and the forests of San Rafael in Paraguay where WLT works with Guyra Paraguay.

The exhibit is strongly plant-focused and includes sustainably-sourced indigenous forest species and plants used in the houseplant trade. Our Scientific Advisor is Professor Sir Ghillean Prance FRS, PPLS, VMH, Director of RBG Kew 1988-99, Scientific Director of the Eden Project and an expert on the flora of the region.
Read more about the plants of the Atlantic Rainforest »

A main focal point is the Ranger’s Hut including interpretative material and a plasma screen with a live video link into the forest in REGUA. Adjacent to the hut is a kitchen garden, with a variety of edible plants from the rainforest.
Learn more about useful rainforest plants »

There is an area representing a tree nursery, helping visitors learn about the reforestation projects taking place. Both the Brazilian and Paraguayan projects have tree nurseries. At the REGUA reserve in Brazil a tree nursery has been created from seeds collected locally. These have provided seedlings for the planting of more than 18,000 trees so far. A total of 40,000 trees are planned to be planted within the next three years.

Tree nursery at the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest project. (See a larger image.)

WLT staff will be on hand throughout the duration of the show to meet with visitors. A 16pp, fully illustrated booklet on Atlantic Rainforest biodiversity and conservation and the work of WLT will be freely available.

Bringing the Project to Life

See the exhibit being set up here »

Designers

Sally and Jeremy Seeley, Drab Ltd www.wearedrab.net

Set Build

Ed Terran, School House Design and Film Studies www.shs-filmstudios.co.uk

Overall Coordination

Elaine Shaughnessy, World Land Trust, www.worldlandtrust.org

Logistics

Jenny Chattington, World Land Trust, www.worldlandtrust.org

Publications

Viv Burton, World Land Trust, www.worldlandtrust.org

World Land Trust Chelsea Steering Committee

World Land Trust thanks all its sponsors who have helped realise the vision of bringing a tiny corner of the Atlantic Rainforest to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 2010.

More information

• WLT Events
  RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2010
• The Atlantic Rainforest
• Watch a video of Bill Oddie in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil
• The Eden Project

Help protect the Atlantic Rainforest

WLT is actively involved in Atlantic Rainforest conservation in Argentina (Misiones Province), Brazil (REGUA Reserve) and Paraguay (San Rafael). To help save Atlantic Forest habitat, please support these projects.