With Your Support Today the Next 20 Years Could Be Our Last
It's hard to know quite how one should feel about this year reaching the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Rainforest Foundation. We've calculated that, altogether, we have helped to get more than 100,000 square kilometres under protection, by helping local indigenous communities gain legal rights to their land.
Most charities would 'celebrate' such an event, but the reality is that our continued existence means that we have still not succeeded in completely halting the destruction of rainforests, or protecting the rights of the many people living in them.
In addition, we now face a future where dangerous climate change cannot be prevented unless deforestation is halted.
The strongest hope of conserving rainforests and our planet lies with local communities living in and around the forest. However the harsh reality is that indigenous peoples face huge challenges claiming their rights as citizens including the right to education, healthcare and of course rights to land.
Our birthday wish list contains a number of items that we can use to give indigenous forest peoples their own voice and the knowledge and confidence to protect their forest, their home and their livelihood.
I am writing to you today to ask if you can make a very special birthday gift that could help unlock the future of rainforests and forest peoples.
In many cases it is a lack of paperwork that prevents indigenous forest peoples from claiming their basic human rights. A gift today of just £20 could make a huge difference to communities that without your help simply do not ‘exist' in the eyes of the law and government.
In the next 20 years we aim to protect 1,000,000 more square kilometres of forest by securing land rights for indigenous forest peoples.
We have an ambitious future and an ambitious target for this appeal but with enough people behind us I am confident that we can get there.
Our work is as urgent as it was 20 years ago, but with your help the next 20 years will be our last!
Simon Counsell
Director
Birthday Wish List
Access to health care or freedom to vote isn't possible without formal identification papers £20 could pay for ID documentation for one individual.
Education gives children the confidence and communication skills to stand up for their home £50 could pay for one child's school fees and uniform.
£100 could support the official recognition of a 'Pygmy' Chief, a community representative who can meet with government officials.
"Obtaining identity cards and having our Bagyeli Chief officially installed has made such a big difference for us, we were suffering a lot of abuse but then the divisional officer came and installed our chief. We now suffer less abuse. Now we work with Rainforest Foundation partners to prevent the rubber company from taking away our forest."
Ngwa, Joseph
"I go to primary school now, this year I have finished my final year there. I love school, and I want to go to secondary school next."
Ndebo, Yvette
