Restore Australia’s Forest after the Wildfires

Dear Mates,

This Project Update will be short and to the point.  We need your help today.  If history teaches us anything, it is that time is of the essence right after a major catastrophe.  Although Cyclone Yasi had mercy on the bigger metropolitan cities of Far North Queensland, it showed no such restraint on wildlife habitat.  The Cassowary Coast took a direct hit and many parts of the Daintree rainforest were damaged as well.  There is a lot we can't do, but there is an awful lot that we can do.  But we need your help and we need your financial support.

Fruit trees are a major source of food for wildlife and most of these trees have been defoliated--stripped clean.  Major food operations are underway including setting up food stations near known heavy wildlife traffic, aerial food drops in the denser jungle regions and a massive restoration and revegetation program to extend the rainforest and protect the old-growth/mature rainforest.  Below are key reasons why we need to act now and get the job done:     

Dear Donors,

The Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF) is headquartered in Cairns, Queensland, part of Tropical North Queensland.  Our GlobalGiving project, Protect Vital Rainforest in Australia for Climate, is located where Cyclone Yasi hit.  Our main work is located here and our tropical rainforest reserves are here.  Please visit project #1842 and see why we would love to earn your support today.  The Project Update that follows is the update we provided for Protect Vital Rainforest in Australia for Climate donors.  Thank you!           

Cyclone Yasi Update--3 the /2/2011 at 14:30 hours.

Hi Mates!

The summer heat is fast approaching in Southern Victoria and many, many seedlings have been planted.  The seedlings are rainforest canopy trees from a local nursery.  Some of the trees include the following: Blackwoods and Mountain Ash, Myrtle Beach and Southern Sassafras and also some Mountain Grey Gums.  These trees are helping put up a natural defense to possible future bushfires since they are far less flammable than Eucalyptus trees.  These trees will also help provide more forest canopy which is a major habitat for many species.  We are creating a home and helping the environment all in one!    

The Australian Rainforest Foundation is very pleased with the work we have been engaged with in Victoria and we will soon be determining our next project site since a good deal of the planting in the project area has already been completed.  There are major conservation issues in this part of the country that are so important to the environment and the Australian Rainforest Foundation wants to work and do the most good in areas where our resources, staff, agents and volunteers can be the most effective. 

Thank you very much for your continued generosity.  We appreciate it greatly and please know your support helps the foundation with the on-the-ground efforts as well as in getting these important conservation messages across.  I don't know if Man and Nature can ever be in complete harmony.  Organizations like the Australian Rainforest Foundation are trying to right a few wrongs and bolster nature up as much as possible.  Of course, much of the reason for this work is Man itself, and nothing can ever be 100% replicated.  But we'll keep doing our best and try and learn some new lessons along the way.

Also GlobalGiving donors, please read the following from Alison McQuade at GlobalGiving:

"GlobalGiving is a finalist for a Classy Award in Most Innovative Use of Social Media, and we NEED YOUR VOTE! We're in SECOND place with only TWO days left to vote. It's fast and free to vote, so we'd really appreciate it if you took a minute to vote GlobalGiving for Most Innovative Use of Social Media in the DC Classy Awards. And please share this link with friends, family and your Facebook and/or Twitter networks. Thank you!"  

Link is http://www.stayclassy.org/classy-awards?city_id=19  Thank you donors.  I hope you will join me and help support GlobalGiving by voting for them.  Voting ends Friday!!  GlobalGiving's Social Media Team is a big reason why this Project is succeeding and your vote for GlobalGiving can help raise invaluable awareness and support for causes such as Climate Change, Animals, Poverty and Education here in the states and around the world.

Cheers,

Paul Medici