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World Land Trust Press Releases
Press releases from the World Land Trust, an international conservation organisation working to preserve the world's most biologically important and threatened lands.
This page shows the most recent World Land Trust press releases. To see older press releases, use the press release archive in the navigation bar on this page.
Press releases on this page:
World Land Trust Launch Urgent Bid to Save Orang-utan Habitat in Borneo
Paraguay Government and World Land Trust Announce Management Partnership
The Ultimate Green Machine!
'Fashion for Forests'
Elephants Reclaim their Land in Kerala, India
WLT joins criticism of Government Carbon Kite Mark
Sir David Attenborough and the World Land Trust Launch Ecuador Webcam
Dreaming of a Green Christmas!
World Land Trust Launch Urgent Bid to Save Orang-utan Habitat in Borneo
Press Release dated: Monday, July 28, 2008
July 2008 - The World Land Trust (WLT) and LEAP Conservancy (an NGO based in Borneo) are combining forces in an urgent bid to save critically endangered Orang-utans in Borneo. The Orang-utan is one of the most threatened animals in the world, and it is endangered mainly because its habitat is being destroyed catastrophically with the ever-increasing global demand for palm oil.
WLT is a UK charity (established in 1989) which works internationally to help create nature reserves, by funding the purchase of privately owned land that has high conservation value. In this case, the ownership and management of the reserve will be vested in LEAP which will ensure the commitment of the local people who will protect the Orang-utans, and their forests, in perpetuity, supported by legal protection.
Because of the demand for palm oil the price of land in Borneo is increasing almost daily, but WLT has a window of opportunity to fund the purchase of a vital piece of land for Orang-utans which connects two already protected government-owned reserves. This protected corridor will create a viable reserve for Orang-utans to live in. If we fail to secure it, and the forest is cleared, the Orang-utan population will be split into two smaller populations, and a further decline in their numbers would be inevitable.
WLT needs to raise £343,364 over the next six months. This will give a future to the estimated 604 Orang-utans currently depending on these forests; this works out at a mere £568 per individual. And in addition to Orang-utans, the reserve will protect many other rare and threatened species, including the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, the Proboscis Monkey and several species of hornbill together with all the other biodiversity in the forest.
The WLT's patron, Sir David Attenborough has stated, 'Every bit of the rainforest that is knocked down is less space for Orang-utans. They have been reduced very seriously in the past decade, and we must do all we can to reverse this devastation. I fully support World Land Trust in its bid to save this important land!'
Your donation, whether it is £25 or £25,000 will make a real difference - and if we raise more than the immediate £343,364 needed for this we will be able to create more corridors to save the lives of Orang-utans, and other unique wildlife that lives in the fragments of forests in Borneo.
ENDS -
Editors Notes:
- The Borneo Orang-utan is classified as endangered.
- The wild population is currently estimated to be between 40-50,000 (half the number recorded 20 years ago).
- The Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation has warned that the rapid rate of deforestation caused by the palm oil industry means that the orangutan could be virtually extinct in the wild by 2012.
- Throughout Sumatra and Borneo the palm-oil industry has been responsible for the clearance of over 6.5 million hectares of rainforest and other vital orangutan habitat to make way for oil-palm plantations.
- Palm oil is one of the most valuable sources of biofuels, and Indonesia and Malaysia are responsible for producing 83% of it globally.
- The oil palm industry could be responsible for 50% of the noticeable reduction in orangutan habitat between 1992 and 2003.
- A UN report states: 'Today, the rapid increase in [oil palm] plantation acreage is one of the greatest threats to orang-utans and the forests on which they depend. In Malaysia and Indonesia, it is now the primary cause of permanent rainforest loss. The huge demand for this versatile product makes it very difficult to curb the spread of plantations.'
- With the western world becoming increasingly preoccupied with healthy eating, palm oil is an attractive alternative to trans fatty acids. Palm oil is now found in 1/10 of supermarket products in Britain and Britain import tonnes of it annually. Unfortunately it is very difficult to avoid palm oil in products as in many of the items it is used in ingredients are not listed.
- FOE claim: "Almost 90 per cent of orang-utan habitat has now disappeared. Some orang-utan populations have been halved in the past 15 years, and from a total remaining population of less than 60,000, an estimated 5,000 are lost each year. If this rate of decline continues the orang-utan will be extinct within 12 years."
For further information please contact:
Emma Stuart at PA Media on 01279 844 099/ emma@pamedia.co.uk
Kirsty Burgess, Conservation Programmes Manager at World Land Trust on 01986 874 422/email kirsty@worldlandtrust.org
www.worldlandtrust.org
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Paraguay Government and World Land Trust Announce Management Partnership
Press Release dated: Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Environment Minister of Paraguay, Arq. Carlos A. Lopez Dose, has announced a dramatically innovative initiative to form a shared-management partnership with British conservation charity the World Land Trust. This remarkable management handover will protect 2,500,000 acres of endangered forests mostly in the northern Chaco of Paraguay and is testament to the World Land Trust's ability to expertly manage projects overseas with tact and diplomacy. In 2005 the World Land Trust formed a partnership with Guyra Paraguay, one of Paraguay's foremost conservation NGOs and immediately embarked on a programme of land purchase to create a network of private nature reserves. Most of the land outside of Paraguay's National parks is privately owned, and the remaining forests are seriously threatened by the rapid expansion of agriculture, which in recent years has been driven by the demand for soya and biofuels. The World Land Trust's partnership with Guyra Paraguay has proved incredibly successful and to date and WLT has provided US$725,000 for land purchase in Paraguay. This has resulted in Guyra Paraguay now owning and protecting reserves in the Atlantic Rainforests and grasslands of southern Paraguay, 70,000 acres of wetlands in the north east and over 10,000 acres of dry Chaco. It is a direct result of these activities that the Government of Paraguay has recognized the importance of wildlife heritage and has approached Guyra Paraguay and the World Land Trust to sign a shared management agreement to protect what is believed to be one of the largest protected areas to be managed by NGOs anywhere in the world. The World Land Trust's principal role is raising the funds for land purchase to enable the purchase of key tracts of land to strategically compliment the 2,500,000 acres and to raise additional funds for its protection. Although the dry Chaco is a relatively hostile environment it is home to rare wildlife and is also inhabited by groups of indigenous Amerindians, some of which have remained in isolation, so remote is the area. Another objective of the shared management project is to protect the lands that these groups rely on from unwanted intrusion. According to the World Land Trust's CEO, John Burton, "This is certainly the biggest challenge that the WLT has faced in its 20 year history, and I believe that it is vital that we rise to the challenge, to do as much as we can for the future of the world's wild places. We MUST save this wonderful habitat, and we must work with the people who live there." -The End- *** John Burton is available for interview and would be pleased to discuss any points raised. For further information please contact:
Emma Stuart at PA Media on 01279 844 099/ emma@pamedia.co.uk
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The Ultimate Green Machine!
Press Release dated: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
This week sees the long awaited return of The Incredible Hulk, looking bigger and better than ever before! The Hulk, played by Edward Norton, is sure to have cinema goers glued to the screen but Universal Pictures and the World Land Trust hope the Hulk's greenness will impact fans in more ways than one!
The World Land Trust and Universal Pictures have specifically developed an 'Incredible Hulk Carbon Calculator' to encourage film fans to go online and balance their carbon emissions. By visiting www.carbonbalanced.org/incredible-hulk/calculator you can choose to balance flights, transport or household emissions. To put things in perspective the average UK person can balance their daily electricity, fuel and transport use for one whole year with a mere £68 donation. However even if people were to simply balance their flights it would make a significant difference to the World Land Trust who are hugely successful in halting the destruction of some of the most critically endangered habitat around the globe.
All funds raised from the 'Incredible Hulk Carbon Calculator' will go directly to the World Land Trust's Paraguay project. Interestingly, Paraguay is a meeting point for several major habitats, including lowland rainforest, grassland, wetlands, dry and humid forest ecosystems. These unique habitats are home to 117 species of mammals, including Pumas, Jaguars, Giant Anteaters and 600 species of birds.
There is no need to rip your shirt off before turning green, simply visit the calculator and offset your CO2. If only someone would tell the Hulk it's that easy!
-End-
For the World Land Trust please contact Emma Stuart at PA Media:
01279 844 099 or emma@pamedia.co.uk
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'Fashion for Forests'
Press Release dated: Thursday, June 05, 2008
Dower & Hall are proud to launch the new, 'Fashion for Forests' Charm Bracelet, to help raise crucial funds for the World Land Trust. The WLT is an International conservation charity, working from the UK, which is having huge success in halting the destruction of some of the most critically endangered habitat around the globe. One of their patrons is no other than Sir David Attenborough.
World Land Trust projects range from saving the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil to protecting Elephant corridors of India, and every 'Fashion for Forests' bracelet sold saves one whole acre of habitat forever. Each acre is guaranteed to protect the home of some of the planets most endangered species.
Dower & Hall designed the charm bracelet with the WLT's projects in mind and therefore features prominent animals from a wide range habitats. Preserve your fashion credentials and the planet by having a conscience free shopping spree at Dower & Hall!
-The End-
For further information:
Emma Stuart for Dower & Hall
at PA Media
Tel: on 01279 844 099 email: emma@pamedia.co.uk
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Elephants Reclaim their Land in Kerala, India
Press Release dated: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
India is home to 60% of the remaining Asian elephant populations, making their survival in India critical to the survival of the whole species. It is for this very reason that the World Land Trust is partnering the Wildlife Trust of India, who have identified vital corridors as a fast-action bid to protect the Elephants that are left.
The WLT and WTI are now working hard to safe-guard traditional migratory routes for Elephants so that they can move safely between National Parks and other protected areas. Elephants need large areas in which to feed and breed and habitat loss, leading to the fragmentation of their forests, is perhaps the greatest threat the Asian elephant faces. This results in small, isolated populations of elephants just managing to survive, but if they stray outside protected areas in search of food they are likely to come into conflict with humans as elephants destroy their crops and cause damage to their habitations. Persecution of elephants can be in the form of huge trenches being dug to stop them crossing, firecrackers to scare them away and, in some cases, poisoning.
Inevitably, in many of the identified corridors there are human settlements, but so far the local people who WTI are working with have been keen to move to safer locations where their crops, houses and children aren't threatened by Elephants. Working hand-in-hand with the local people the main goal of this project is to acquire and protect the land within the corridors and to work with the local people to relocate them in suitable new areas, build them new houses and help with establishing their small holdings.
A recent success story...
These images clearly show the destruction to paddy fields and coconut palms caused by elephants migrating through what once were traditional routes. This corridor covers a portion of the Wayanad district in Kerala and forms an important pathway for Elephants moving between Begur and Brahmagiri reserve forests. This was identified as a priority area and the local community, consisting of about seven houses, were keen to be relocated away from the threat of elephant conflict.
Four families have been relocated so far and this image shows the official handing over ceremony of a part of the Kerala corridor. The families have been provided with alternative land and houses with funds from the World Land Trust and can now grow their crops without fear of elephant damage. As part of the programme WTI organises workshops for local people to assist them in developing sustainable livelihoods and, in many cases, they are employed as wardens and park guards.
It was just two weeks after the four families who used to live in this section of the Tirunelli-Kudracote corridor in Kerala had been relocated before the elephants and other wildlife started moving back in. The electric fences, fire crackers and trenches were all removed and the elephants re-claimed back the land as theirs.
Local journalist, Jose Louies, was there watching the elephants as they moved back and he reported, "It looked like a battle field. Coconut palms hanging and gashes in the trunk as if someone had repeatedly stabbed them. A heap of branches mixed with mud where the coffee plantation once stood. Deep footprints and mounds of elephant dung in the paddy fields where elephant's wallowed. The massage was clear: This is our home and trespassers are not welcome!"
Ensuring the survival of 'flagship' species like the Asian elephant requires the protection of their entire habitat, which means the initiative will also benefit other wildlife that rely the forests for survival.. The corridor is not only home to elephants but is also inhabited by Tigers, Clouded Leopard, Jungle Cat and Barking Deer to name but a few.
Once the whole corridor has been purchased, it will be registered as a reserve forest which will provide it with legal protection. WTI will replant trees in areas which will not regenerate naturally and will protect and monitor the corridor to ensure its security for Elephants and the other biodiversity to live, move and breed without threat.
For further information please contact:
Emma Stuart at PA Media on 01279 844 099/ emma@pamedia.co.uk
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WLT joins criticism of Government Carbon Kite Mark
Press Release dated: Monday, February 25, 2008
The World Land Trust, which was one of the first UK charities to develop a carbon sequestration programme, is strongly critical of the government's recently announced kite mark for carbon offset projects. Although the WLT would welcome a system which defines a code of best practise and helps the public identify credible offsetting organisations, they feel DEFRA has made a grave mistake refusing to acknowledge incredibly important voluntary schemes often located overseas in areas of high biodiversity and most likely to be affected by climate change.
According to Roger Wilson, the World Land Trust's consultant on restoration ecology "the Government proposal for a carbon offsetting kite mark is deeply flawed unless it takes account of Voluntary Emission Reduction (VERs). These schemes are often innovative and offer individuals and businesses a way of directly addressing their emissions. VER projects also help tackle environmental and social issues in countries and communities that will suffer most from climate change, but had little or no part in precipitating the problem. Some 20% of global emissions come from deforestation ? this is not even covered by the Kyoto Protocol but can be recognised through voluntary approaches. Preserving and restoring forest is clearly a top priority and is precisely what WLT projects aim to do. Any government code must recognise the importance of Voluntary Emissions Reductions and deforestation if it is to offer a meaningful approach to climate change".
For the past 19 years the World Land Trust has been involved in a wide range of projects with direct relevance to mitigating carbon emissions including funding the purchase and protection of tens of thousands of acres of tropical forest and other threatened habitats. WLT is also involved in restoration projects across several South American countries, and is funding the creation of tree nurseries for future projects.
The World Land Trust's approach to carbon sequestration has received widespread support from leading conservationists, including the Trust's patron Sir David Attenborough. According to John Burton, the Chief Executive of WLT:
"Our website is among the most comprehensive on the web dealing with carbon sequestration and projects related climate change. We pride ourselves on having in place a fully accountable monitoring system and we have received considerable support from a wide group of businesses. We feel the government has not taken into account the importance of tropical rainforests as a carbon sink and are disappointed as this will undermine the credibility of voluntary programmes such as ours without really offering a credible alternative. Furthermore, international standards for voluntary emissions reductions have already been developed. These meet all the concerns and take into account the biodiversity, environmental and social co-benefits produced by carbon sequestration projects. Hillary Benn challenges us to establish a clear voluntary standard. WLT will be glad to work with others to develop them. Meanwhile the government must clearly make room for them in its code."
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Sir David Attenborough and the World Land Trust Launch Ecuador Webcam
Press Release dated: Friday, January 11, 2008
On the 17th January the World Land Trust and their Patron, Sir David Attenborough, will launch Webcam in the Forest at the Linnaean Society of London, as part of its ongoing programme of showing to the world at large, conservation in action.
This new initiative by the World Land Trust involves installing live streaming web cams in the middle of the Ecuador rainforest within one of their Fundación Jocotoco reserves. The webcam will focus on a hummingbird feeder in an area where, so far, 32 species of hummingbirds are known to occur. To celebrate this exciting launch the World Land Trust are offering a week's accommodation at the Umbrella Bird Lodge in the heart of the Buenaventura Reserve in Ecuador for the first person who can freeze frame a new species of hummingbird identified by the webcam.
The World Land Trust is the first conservation charity to achieve high quality live streaming direct from the rainforest and the pilot project has certainly been a challenge. Despite the fact that it has taken six months to install the equipment and establish satellite connection, the WLT is confident that this initiative will increase support for its projects by making the reality of the rainforest accessible to all.
The WLT hopes, eventually, to be able to implement similar webcams in the other countries around the globe where they have projects; these include vital corridors for Indian Elephant to the Atlantic rainforests of Brazil. John Burton, CEO of the Trust, says: "I am confident that these webcams will ultimately become a vital tool for World Land Trust and its education programme and we can't wait to be able to offer virtual rainforest tours to our supporters".
Webcam in the Forest enables World Land Trust to highlight firsthand the very real problems facing critically threatened wildlife and their disappearing habitats to a world wide audience.
-The End-
Update 1st Feb. 2008: The webcam will go live today on Wildlifefocus.org.
For further information on the World Land Trust please contact:
Emma Stuart at PA Media
T: 01279 844 099
E: emma@pamedia.co.uk
Evening reception sponsored by:
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Webcam in the forest project sponsored by:
Puro
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Dreaming of a Green Christmas!
Press Release dated: Monday, October 22, 2007
Father Christmas should be a shining example to us all this year. Whilst he is dashing around on his low-carbon sleigh pulled by eight eco-friendly reindeer, we are melting the ice caps around his Arctic home and upsetting the local polar bears and snowy owls with our excessive carbon emissions! So to show Santa a little appreciation the World Land Trust has created a range of gift acres for an eco friendly Christmas.
The World Land Trust work tirelessly to protect and manage natural ecosystems of the world; purchasing endangered land and working with local communities to prevent deforestation and loss of critically endangered wildlife.
The WLT have made it possible to earmark your donation for a specific project. For example a mere £50 can purchase an acre of Elephant corridor in India or save one acre of pristine tropical rainforest in Ecuador or Brazil complete with natures rich tapestry of wildlife - all dependant on that specific acre. You could also protect the Giant Otters or Jaguars in Paraguay by purchasing an acre in the Chaco Pantanal for £50. The World Land Trust buys real acres in real places so it's possible to visit your acre on a reserve or simply track the good work being done on your behalf on the WLT website.
The list is endless and there really is something for everybody who wants to ease their conscience this Christmas. The World Land Trust gift options allows you to protect an acre of rainforest in the knowledge that you will be saving an abundance of animals ranging from lazy Sloths, bejeweled butterflies, and vibrant tree frogs to the stealthy Jaguar himself! Your gift package will contain a personalised certificate, WLT Christmas card for your message and other information on your acre and the work of the World Land Trust.
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