A unique national scheme to help sustain an area of rainforest the size of Wales has now raised £1 million to reach its half way target.
Size of Wales also aims to raise awareness of the importance of rainforest protection, as part of our national response to climate change.
The world’s rainforests absorb almost a fifth of the world’s man-made carbon dioxide emissions and the project aims to help save an area of rainforest equivalent to Wales, and in turn, inspire other countries to do the same.
Together, the people of Wales and beyond have raised and pledged £1 million towards the final target of £2 million. With £1 helping protect one hectare – or more simply, one rugby pitch, this means the charity has now helped conserve and plant an area of tropical forest half the size of Wales. New partners include: Christian Aid Cymru; Specsavers Cardiff and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Organisers are urging everyone, whether individuals, employers, schools, colleges or community groups to get involved by raising money.
Project Director, Hannah Scrase said “Our partners and supporting charities have done some great work to help us reach our half way milestone and it is really brilliant to see what a positive impact the donations have already made for forest communities living in some of the world’s poorest countries.
There have been some fantastic fundraising initiatives across Wales from car booters and half marathon events, rugby raffles and comedy gigs. All money raised has also been doubled by our match fund”
Daniel Madge, Aneurin Bevan Healthcare Board said: “We are really pleased to be involved with a project that will showcaseWales’ contribution to help protect and promote the importance of tropical forests in relation to climate change. Just this weekend three members of our staff ran the Wales Half Marathon to raise money for the fruit tree project in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.”
Frank Moloney of Specsavers Cardiff said:
“Specsavers Cardiff are delighted to bring new blood onto the field of this exciting environmental project. We are really looking forward to working with existing partners to help drive this project towards the final goal of helping save 2 million hectares of rainforest. The same as 2 million rugby pitches, so I am told!”
The money raised for Size of Wales will be spent on a range of actions that will help protect the forests – from buying tree seedlings to funding rangers and supporting local people to lobbying for land ownership and management rights. Supporters and partners of the project are currently linked directly to communities and projects in Africa and South America.
The Size of Wales project hopes the whole nation will Go Green for one day on 19 October 2012 to help raise funds towards the £2 million target.
To find out how you and your workplace can get involved visit www.sizeofwales.org.uk
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