TORONTO – Once landless people uprooted by change will learn how to grow their own food and reforest two regions in southern Brazil as a step toward self-sufficiency, announced Richard G. Edwards, Director, Planeterra Foundation.
Brazil Community Reforestation Program, one of Planeterra’s over 30 global community outreach projects, is providing people with the skills to grow their own food and reforest the communities of Parana and Sao Paolo. This program, resulting in 450,000 trees planted by the end of 2009, will also provide the communities of Marilia and Londrina with access to training workshops and seedlings, thus enabling them to increase food production, create natural barriers on their lands and provide shade and fodder for livestock and other animals.
Edwards underscored the importance of the reforestation work, noting that some of the deforestation of Brazil’s tropical rain forest, in essence the ‘lungs’ of the planet that absorb carbon dioxide, “can be reversed by expanding protected areas and developing methods of sustainable forestry.”
“It’s critical that local peoples have ownership of the restoration because they will benefit economically while helping to maintain the natural ecosystems,”
Planeterra is working with Trees for the Future (TFTF) to support local community groups in taking back their lands and in creating a sustainable relationship with their environment.
Headquartered in Washington DC, TFTF has been committed to reforesting areas and planting indigenous species since 1989. Through seed distribution, agro forestry training and country programs, TFTF empowers rural groups to restore tree cover to their lands.
Edwards said that travelers can contribute to the development of new programs in other communities around the world. Additional funding and donations received will be used to develop new programs in Africa and Asia.
For details on Planeterra’s global reach and the opportunities it offers travelers to roll up their sleeves and assist communities at the grass roots, please see www.planeterra.org/
Planeterra Foundation is a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. It was founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures, the largest independent adventure travel company in the world. Edwards is also a member of Gap’s executive management team, where he helps oversee the company’s rapid growth. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with Gap Adventures and other partners to arrange voluntour travel programs, and support local community projects.
For information on Planeterra’s year-round voluntour programs please go to www.planeterra.org or call 416-260-0999.
