Dear Friend,

Every time a tropical forest is burned and cleared, it affects every one of us and pollutes the air that we breathe.

And if the earth can't breathe, none of us can. The burning and clearing of tropical forests pours at least 20 percent of climate changing greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. That's more than all the world’s cars, trucks, and airplanes combined.

Tropical forests are critical to the health of our planet.

Not only are these pristine forests home to more than half the species on earth, their existence also combats climate change by removing globe-warming CO2 from the atmosphere and safely storing it away inside their lush plants and trees.

Every four hours an irreplaceable, earth-saving jungle the size of Manhattan disappears.

Already we see the earliest evidence of climate change in melting ice caps, increased storms, floods, fires and drought, and dying coral reefs.

For centuries the earth kept our climate in balance naturally. But the Industrial Revolution and skyrocketing demand changed that, causing much of the climate change we feel today.

Fortunately, stopping the destruction of the Earth’s remaining tropical forests is an immediate, cost-effective way to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Help us spread the word that protecting forests is a fast, efficient solution to climate change by forwarding this email or simply letting others know the facts. Forward to a friend.

2. Consider protecting 10 acres right now for just $15 per acre. You can act alone, as a group, a corporation or a community. The important thing is that you act now.

Sincerely,

Russ Mittermeier
Conservation International

P.S. It may be a cliché, but it’s also a profound truth all life on earth is connected. This email is the first of a series devoted to the connections that link tropical forests to your and my everyday lives. Please share them with a friend or two.