Southeast Asia 955,749,293 mT of CO 2 Equivalents
Bezos Earth Fund
With the generous support of the Bezos Earth Fund , Rainforest Trust has made a multi-year commitment to invest in the expansion of protected areas throughout the Amazon and the Congo Basin . Jeff Bezos launched the $ 10 billion Earth Fund in 2020 to combat the effects of climate change , and to preserve and protect the natural world .
Congo Basin
The CO 2 equivalent of 197,086,413 passenger vehicles driven for one year stored here
The second-largest rainforest on Earth , the Congo Basin in Central Africa spans six countries — Cameroon , Central African Republic , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Republic of the Congo , Equatorial Guinea and Gabon . It is the least protected and most vulnerable of the world ' s three great rainforests due to lack of resources and political instability . With our partner , Strong Roots , we are working to protect 769,543 acres in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo . Protecting this area will safely store more than 166 million metric tons of CO 2 equivalents . This dense tropical forest is home to Critically Endangered species like Grauer ’ s Gorilla , the newly recognized African Forest Elephant , and Chimpanzee ( EN ).
Another project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with our local partner , Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo , protected 117 , 412 acres in the first phase . We are currently working to protect an additional 80,000 acres of carbon-rich swamp forest for the Congo ’ s most iconic and threatened Endangered Bonobo . When completed , this reserve will lock up more than 76.3 million metric tons of CO 2 equivalents .
Southeast Asia
The CO 2 equivalent of 205,934,567 passenger vehicles driven for one year stored here
The rainforests of Southeast Asia , the third-largest in the world , total nearly 15 % of Earth ’ s tropical forests . More than 2,600 endemic species across Southeast Asia are at risk of losing their homes — and lives — due to habitat loss . Rainforest Trust currently has 20 projects underway in Cambodia , Laos , Malaysia , Myanmar , Indonesia , Thailand , Vietnam and the Philippines . In Malaysia , we completed a project with our partner , RIMBA , to secure 74,130 acres of unprotected forest connected to the Taman Negara National Park , an important Tiger Conservation Landscape .
We Must Act Now
Rainforest Trust has been protecting rainforests around the world for 30 years . Safeguarding these forests not only protects species and habitats — it is our best defense in our fight against climate change .
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