The Atlantic Forest

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SALVEASERRA are an NGO in Brazil working to restore degraded areasof the Atlantic Forest by promoting sustainable land useand agro-reforestation techniques through their 'Trees & Education Project' with GlobalGiving.

Since1995 they have planted over 80,000 trees in the Atlantic Forest. Theymaintain a seed bank of local forest species to ensure thatreforestation respects the original genetic profile of the forest.

SALVEASERRA also take groups of school children through the forest to help build awareness of its importance.

Inaddition to this they offer training courses tailored to the needs oflocal rural communities, farmers and others interested inorganic,ecologically sound farming and agro-forestry practices. In 2007250 students took part in these courses.

They also work directlyto alleviate poverty in the area by training local communities on how touse forest resources to make handicrafts to help provide employment andincrease local incomes.And they run a course teaching eco-friendly waysto produce organic food at home to supplement family diets and increaseincome from surplus production.They also prepare and donate vegetablegardens to local communities.

In 1500, when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, the Atlantic Foreststretched the entire 2,000 milelength of Brazilâ??s eastern seaboard,covering an area twice the size ofTexas. It was once the worldâ??srichest biological reserve; it has moreplant and tree diversity in 2.5acres than the entire eastern seaboardof the United States.

Today, a huge 93% of the Atlantic Forest has been destroyed, largely in the last 50 years.

The Atlantic Forest and Amazon Rainforest really are the 'Lungs of the World'. Even with 93% of the Atlantic Forestdestroyed the Atlantic and Amazon Rainforests produce 20% of theworld's oxygen!

Scientists estimate 50-60 percent of plant andanimal species found in the Atlantic Forest are only found in thatregion alone. Its an amazing treasure trove of biological diversity.