Why?
Only 7 percent of the forest’s original area, which was size of the U.S. eastern seaboard from Maine to South Carolina, still remains. The Atlantic Forest is one of the most endangered tropical forests in the world due to the effects of illegal logging, exotic plantations, ranching, urban expansion, and coastal development.
Why are tropical forests so important? They are the “lungs” of Earth. They store huge amounts of carbon dioxide and release oxygen in a never ending cycle, helping to regulate the atmosphere and stabilize the global climate.
The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is also home to many species of animals and plants that are not found anywhere else on the planet.
That is why the Nature Conservancy is working to restore 2.5 million acres of land over the next 7 years by planting a billion trees.
But they need help to do it. A one dollar donation will plant one tree.
The trees being plants are:
- Capororoca Tree (animals feast on their fruit)
- Ice Cream Bean Tree (the pulp from its pod is sweet and resembles vanilla ice cream and the tree itself controls weeds and erosion)
- Golden Trumpet Tree (its wood has the same fire rating as concrete and is denser than water. The tree’s popularity has led to a lot of illegal logging of it)
- Guapuruvu Tree (it is an indigenous plant of the Atlantic Forest and is not found anywhere else on Earth; plus the tree has one of the fastest growing rates of native species of the forest).
At the time of this writing 307, 229 trees had been planted which is a lot but is a long way from the 1 billion goal. Please help if you can.
To learn more, visit the plant a billion website.
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