What does the Rainforest Alliance do?

It protects forests. Forests around the world are being cut down – this is called deforestation. The Rainforest Alliance is working hard to stop the trees from being cut down.

It protects wildlife – forests are home to two-thirds of the world’s plants and animals. As the forests are cut down the animals that depend on them become threatened with extinction. By protecting the forests, Rainforest Alliance is helping to protect endangered species such as mountain gorillas and jaguars.

It is helping people who live in poverty – Many people around the world earn very little money – less than £1 a day. They end up cutting down trees to grow crops or feed cattle or they cut down trees for firewood. On Rainforest Alliance Certified farms the people who work there receive good wages, housing and healthcare and their children can go to school.

It is helping to reduce climate change – rising sea levels and severe flooding are the result of changes in the Earth’s temperature. These natural disasters are thought to be related to human activities, in particular the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

So the Rainforest Alliance is protecting forests and wildlife and is improving the quality of life for some of the world’s poorest people and is also helping to reduce the effects of climate change.

I am really glad to have raised money to help Rainforest Alliance to carry out their important work to help save our planet.

Words by Ben Rook, St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School, Newcastle upon Tyne

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