Photo: Martin St-AmantSky and WWF have launched a three-year campaign to help save one billion trees in the Amazon. The campaign, Sky Rainforest Rescue, aims to protect rainforest covering over three million hectares in the state of Acre, Brazil to help combat climate change and preserve the unique habitat and species of the Amazon.The world’s rainforests are a crucial resource needed to avoid dangerous climate change, as well as a vital ecosystem supporting rich biodiversity. But today in the Amazon alone an area the size of three football pitches is destroyed every minute.
Deforestation is causing more greenhouse gas emissions than all the planes, trains, ships and cars in the world put together. Loss of tropical forests is also threatening the habitat of over 50 per cent of the world’s species and the welfare of some of the world’s poorest populations.
Sky and WWF want to work with the British public to help stop the destruction. They are calling for donations at www.sky.com/rainforestrescue, with every 10 pound helping to save 500 trees. To kick start the project, Sky will match donations pound for pound, up to a joint target of 4 million pound. WWF and Sky are also in discussions with funding bodies with the aim of securing further financial support for the project.
Working with the State Government of Acre, Sky and WWF aim to create economic incentives for the local communities that help make the trees worth more alive than dead. The project will enhance Acre’s monitoring capabilities against threats including illegal logging and forest clearance; help local producers to secure fair prices and find new market opportunities for sustainable goods; and establish payments for environmental services, including support for community enterprises. The initial phase will comprise research and consultation with local groups, before a pilot project is launched in early 2010, which will then be grown to scale.
To support Sky Rainforest Rescue, Sky1 documentary maker Ross Kemp will visit the Amazon rainforest to investigate the reality of deforestation for two documentaries to be broadcast on Sky1 HD in Spring 2010.
This is an example of the wide range of rainforest-focused programming that Sky and its channel partners will be broadcasting across the duration of the campaign. The first programmes to hit the air include ‘Children of the Amazon’ (on Sky 1 and Sky Anytime) and ‘Rivers and Life’ (on Nat Geo Wild HD and Sky Anytime), part of Sky’s ‘Rainforest Week’, which starts on Monday 26 October 2009.
Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said: “Rainforests are crucial to the fight against dangerous climate change. Yet, an area the size of three football pitches is being destroyed every minute in the Amazon alone. We’re asking everyone to join us to help stop this destruction by donating to Sky Rainforest Rescue. To kick start the project we’re committing to match your donation pound for pound until we reach our target of £4 million.”
David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF-UK, added: “Deforestation is not only threatening the survival of species and habitats but is also exacerbating the devastating effects of climate change. WWF and Sky together with the help of the public, can take real steps to halt rainforest destruction, benefit communities and provide a blueprint for future forest management.”
Binho Marques, State Governor of Acre, said: “With 88 per cent of Acre covered by rainforest, we are the stewards of a precious global resource. Our aim is to ensure we develop a sustainable model for protection which works with the needs of our 2,000 isolated rural forest local communities. Sky Rainforest Rescue is critical to our ability to do that.”
