Friday, April 20, 2012

Earth Day 2012: Help Us Plant One Thousand Trees

The Pacific slope of Nicaragua – home to threatened mangroves, endangered sea turtles, and yellow-naped Amazon parrots – is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. As in many impoverished places, the pervasiveness of rural poverty can generate tension between locals and conservationists.

Since 2005, Paso Pacífico has worked to mitigate climate change, restore migratory corridors, and increase prosperity from ridge to reef. Our science-based and community-driven methods have produced great results in terms of ecological understanding and environmental restoration across the Paso del Istmo biological corridor where we work.

We are extremely pleased with the progress we have made in changing hearts and minds to respect a culture of conservation, but there is still work to be done.

After rangers explained that hunting was restricted in our reserves, last week hunters set fire to the forest in retaliation. This incident, though isolated and rare, highlights the need for continued environmental education, as well as the importance of our longstanding commitment to economic development and conflict resolution.

We will continue our integrative programs, but our most pressing need now is to restore the connectivity of wildlife habitat crucial for endangered spider monkeys and nearly extinct jaguars. Help us replace the trees destroyed in the fire.

  • Plant Native Trees – $10 will plant 10 native saplings, providing clean air and water and wildlife habitat.
  • Sponsor a Junior Ranger – $50 will help a young person become a leader as we develop the next generation of biodiversity stewards in coastal Nicaragua. 
  • Launch an Enviropreneur – $250 will provide specialized training and small business loans for small enterprise in the fields of sustainable farming, geotourism, and ecosystem services.
Help us promote biodiversity, entrepreneurship, and conservation. Please visit our website to learn more, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Pinterest, or donate today to help us plant a seed of change.

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