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The Tropical Forest Foundation has launched a 60-day effort to raise $100,000 to help save the forests of Peru.
The South American nation is increasingly becoming an important exporter of tropical timber and the principal exporter of mahogany, though the country's tropical forests are being lost to slash-and-burn agriculture, mining, and poor and illegal logging, TFF says.
With the $100,000 in seed money the group hopes to raise immediately, TFF plans to establish a Sustainable Forest Management training center in Peru. The Peru facility will require $4 million in cash for operations over five years and $.5 million in in-kind equipment and services.
When opened, the Peru facility will be the first one of the TFF training centers to teach in the Spanish language. TFF’s training programs will focus on the companies and communities that work in the Peruvian Amazon, the Peruvian and regional government officials, and university faculty and students.
“When I visited Peru to discuss establishing a sustainable forestry training center, I was received warmly and enthusiastically by the government, conservation NGOs, industry and international agencies,” said Bob Johnston, executive director of TFF. “They believe that this will help their local communities that depend on the resources of the forests see the benefits to the environment and economy, and also see how government would improve with more knowledge. People in Peru are ready for TFF to begin training as soon as possible.”
To help save the Peruvian Amazon from deforestation and contribute to the Peru Campaign, become a member or contributor online at http://tropicalforestfoundation.org/become-a-contributor, or mail a check to: Tropical Forest Foundation, 2121 Eisenhower Ave., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314.