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EAZA Rainforest Campaign
2001-2002
EAZA's second campaign focused on the conservation of one of the world's threatened biodiversity hot-spots: the Atlantic Rainforest. Three goals were set to be achieved during the campaign, which ran from September 2001 until September 2002:
- to raise awareness about conservation needs and conservation projects in the Atlantic rainforest;
- to raise awareness about European breeding programmes (EEPs/ESBs) for endangered species from the Atlantic rainforest; and
- to raise funds for the Lion Tamarins of Brazil Fund (LTBF).
When thinking of South American rainforests, the Amazon rainforest comes straight to mind, although other rainforests distinct from the Amazon are also under great pressure, not least the Atlantic Forest. At the time of the campaign launch only 7.5% of the Atlantic Forest's former range remained. Significant problems included habitat destruction and fragmentation, hunting and trade of wildlife, and collection of flora.
Key Achievements
The main achievements of the Rainforest Campaign can be summarised as follows:
- 90 institutions from 20 different countries participated;
- almost €250,000 were raised to support conservation projects in the Atlantic rainforest within the year of the campaign; and
- since the closure of the campaign a further €500,000 have been raised to support the Lion Tamarin of Brazil Fund (LTBF).
EAZA's support for the Lion Tamarin of Brazil Fund was very welcome as the raised funds exceeded the total amounts collected by the fund over the ten years it had existed by then. The campaign also received the full support of IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources), the mission of which is to carry out national policies aiming to conserve and restore environmental quality for present and future generations.
The campaign succeeded in raising awareness among EAZA members of conservation concerns in the Atlantic Forest to the extent that strong partnerships have since been formed between zoos and in situ conservation projects. This continuous funding is now the driving force behind the Lion Tamarin Conservation Action Plan, with EAZA having become a key player in planned conservation activities.
Projects Supported
A complete list of the projects supported by the Rainforest Campaign and through funds raised subsequently by the LTBF is available in the document LTBF Grants Update.
A summary is also available in the Rainforest Campaign Fact Sheet.
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