Climate Action Sri Lanka Project #13087

Protect Last Viable Sri Lanka Rainforest With Jobs

by Rainforest Rescue

Project Report | Aug 1, 2013
Funding Rainforest Restoration in Sri Lanka

By Erryn Stephens | Fundraising & Communications Manager

Dear Friends & Supporters

Thank you for your generous donation in support of our Sri Lanka Plant a Rainforest Project.

Rainforest Rescue has been working in partnership with Rainforest Rescue International based in Galle, Sri Lanka, since 2008 to combat the effects of deforestation by employing local people to plant trees to create a rainforest corridor between the two largest remaining rainforest areas in south-west Sri Lanka; the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the nearby Kanneliya Forest.

The Sinharaja Reserve is regarded as one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hot spots with very high levels of endemism. Sadly it is also one of the last remaining forest patches and one of the most threatened ecosystems in Southeast Asia.

Funding provided by generous Rainforest Rescue supporters over the past five years has contributed to

The creation of a rainforest corridor between the two largest remaining rainforests in Sri Lanka, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the Kanneliya Forest;
The purchase of rainforest and buffer zone lands at risk of clearing for agriculture;
Restoration of over 1,000 acres of degraded forest patches and riparian habitat which has seen nearly one million trees planted including many endemic and threatened rainforest trees;
The establishment of seven plant nurseries to supply seedlings for restoration projects;
Educating over 4,000 local children in environmental by conducting school education programs to support local forest stewardship;
The training of over 1,000 farmers in organic agriculture to assist them in developing sustainable livelihoods thereby removing pressures on the rainforest;
Supporting almost 8 percent of the population which relies on the rainforest for their livelihood.

Recently we undertook a review of our conservation projects and have decided to concentrate our conservation efforts within Australian and the Asia-Pacific Region. As such we will no longer be continuing with our Sri Lanka Plant a Rainforest Project.

Thank you so much for supporting this worthwhile project. For further information on our projects please visit our website at www.rainforestrescue.org.au.

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May 2, 2013
American Actress Joins as RR Ambassador

By Paul Medici | Head of US Operations

Thushari Jayasekera

Dear Friends,

American actress Thushari Jayasekera has been invited as an ambassador to Rainforest Rescue’s Sri Lanka Plant a Rainforest Project. Thushari will help create awareness about why it’s important to help protect the natural resources of the Sinharaja Rainforest located in the southwestern region of the island.

Thushari decided to take part because she cares about healing the environment as a whole. She has already written some paragraphs as to why she supports the long term preservation of this “hot spot” through Rainforest Rescue’s profile on Global Giving.

GlobalGiving provides a portal for individuals to donate to worthy causes throughout the world. “For Rainforest Rescue it provides us with an opportunity to offer our US-based supporters an easy way to donate to our projects and receive a tax-deduction” said Erryn Stephens, Fundraising & Communications Manager at Rainforest Rescue.

“We are very grateful to Thushari for raising the profile of our work within the Sinharaja Forest Reserve” says Ms Erryn Stephens.

About the Sinharaja Forest Reserve Project:

Rainforest Rescue’s Sri Lanka Plant a Rainforest Project is working in partnership with Rainforest Rescue International (RRI) to create a rainforest corridor between the two largest remaining rainforest areas in south-west Sri Lanka, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the nearby Kanneliya Forest. Sri Lanka’s rainforests are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet with a total cover of less than a few thousand hectares. Continual deforestation has lead to one of the highest rates of threatened and endangered species in the world.

About Thushari:

She is best known, among other things, for playing Pinky on NBC Outsourced, for narrating the audiobook Love Marriage, and being a Golden Raspberry Awards Presenter

Thank you for your support friends. If you have any questions on this project, please feel free to send me an email at medicipj2@yahoo.com .

Regards,

Paul Medici

Thushari in Sri Lanka

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Mar 11, 2013
Why I Support Rainforest Rescue's Project in Sri Lanka

By By American actress Thushari | Rainforest Rescue Sri Lanka Ambassador

Thushari, Academy Member, at the 2012 EMMYS

My name is Thushari Jayasekera and I care about healing the planet as a whole and have been interested in taking small steps that I can to help the environment. I ask questions like why can't the cattle raised for meat be grass fed instead of grain fed? Why do companies and governments clear rainforests for progress when we won't be able to enjoy the progress when the world reaches a point where we and they won't be able to survive? Not all of us are well versed in scientific aspects of how the world works and what affects us. I certainly am not even though I know some facts. Humans and other living beings need oxygen to breath. When most of us can take two steps to help, then how different the world will be...

Rainforests and the environment do not get destroyed by itself. Corporations can make all the profit they want and have all the success but what good is that when we won't have a place to live? Destroying the Rainforests that help keep us alive is not the answer. The answer is to keep them. And not do anything to them. We must take care of our natural resources.

Among all therainforests that need saving, the Sinharaja Rainforest is one that is important to Sri Lanka and the South Asian region. That is why I want to support the long-term survival of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. I think what Rainforest Rescue is doing is awesome and great. And it’s wonderful that they have partnered with GlobalGiving to raise funds for the project. How are they helping to protect the rainforest and what type of conservation is necessary? Find out more at: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/save-remaining-rainforest-patches-sri-lanka/

Actually, growing up in the USA, I did not know about the state of the Sinharaja Forest until I found out about it thru Rainforest Rescue which is a sad thing. News about threats to rainforests around the world are not everyday front page news or even low priority mainstream news. So like a lot of others do and will do, I, also, had to read up on this project. And I know that many in the USA do not know about Sri Lanka: an island in the Indian Ocean. We cannot be aware of all that is going on in the world, but we can definitely take steps to speak up when we find
out about situations. After I found out, I read more information about the reserve and saw photos. How beautiful and precious, I thought: A tropical rainforest with a variety of unusual species. If you look at photos of the
place, you will see the lush and varied green life & foliage. A link:http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/ourprojects/plant-a-rainforest-sri-lanka.html

Something simple that we all may forget is that rainforests are important to have rain. Some things die out or become extinct naturally but when dying out happens unnaturally (usually due to man made progress) then steps must be taken to protect and preserve. In general, when corporations and governments act without looking at
all sides, and only look at what is profitable or clearing land, they are taking what is essential away from the people. It is all of our responsibility to keep a balance. We can be industrial without harming the forests around us.
Aren't humans supposed to be resourceful? Then we can achieve our goals by not destroying what we need to survive. Therefore Sinharaja Forest Reserve is important to all living things in that region and should be protected. And to do that financial support is necessary.

Anyone can go to wikipedia online or Rainforest Rescue site to find out more about the Sinharaja Rainforest and learn about how to help to sustain life so people can continue life there. The Sinharaja Reserve
is regarded as one of the world’s 25 biodiversity ‘hot spots’, thus Long-term survival of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and surrounding rainforest patches in Sri Lanka is essential. It would be wonderful if you read up on the project and
support any way you can to help Rainforest Rescue take care of Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka.

Thank you.

Thushari Jayasekera
-American Actress of South Asian origin
aka Sri Lankan-American Actress

Thushari on her last trip to Sri Lanka

Lush Sri Lankan Vegetation

Thushari, 2013

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