Help us prevent deforestation
Rampant deforestation for logging, mining and agriculture has destroyed tropical forest cover worldwide. Only one-third of the world’s original rainforests remain intact, and deforestation rates are on the rise, with 95% of global forest loss occurring in the tropics.
In 2024, for the first time in decades, wildfires caused more tropical forest loss than agriculture. Fires set to clear land are burning out of control, fueled by high temperatures, degraded landscapes, and record-breaking droughts.
Deforestation takes a heavy toll on our planet’s rainforests:
-
- Species lose habitat and biodiversity suffers. By preserving intact landscapes and key wildlife corridors, we can protect wildlife and help species stay resilient to climate change impacts.
- Deforestation displaces Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The rainforest provides homes and livelihoods for millions of Indigenous Peoples, and it is the source of cultural identities.
- Forest loss accelerates climate change. Carbon stored in leaves, trees, and soil transfers to the atmosphere when forests are destroyed. Scientists estimate that deforestation is responsible for up to 20% of annual global CO2 emissions.
For nearly four decades, we have worked with local partners to preserve the world’s most threatened, important, and intact rainforests. Our projects sponsor the creation of protected areas through land purchase, government designation, or securing Indigenous land tenure.
