In 2016 an anonymous benefactor of Rainforest Trust recognized that the scale and speed of our efforts to save habitat and species were insufficient to stem the twin catastrophes of our time , biodiversity loss and climate change . They offered $ 50 million over 5 years , but only if we could raise a matching $ 50 million and invest the $ 100 million in new projects . Together we called this the SAVES Challenge — Saving Areas Vital to Endangered Species .

This was a heavy lift for an organization which had previously been raising and allocating only a few million dollars a year to several projects . But thanks to the extraordinary support of all of our donors and the hard work of staff , board , and partners , we completed this task in September 2020 . The result was more than $ 107 million invested in projects that will ultimately protect 30.3 million acres under SAVES , and will have an extraordinary impact on species .

The world will forever owe a debt of gratitude to this extraordinarily far-sighted and generous individual , and indeed to all our donors and partners . We salute and thank you !