<p><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: medium;">Tropical rainforests cover around 7% of the earth&rsquo;s land, yet are home to over half of all known species. They are vitally important ecosystems &ndash; our planet&rsquo;s lungs, rainmakers and global climate engines. Over four billion people rely on tropical forests for their daily water.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: medium;"> <p class="western"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="western"><span>Tropical rainforests in Sumatra have been decimated by years of clear felling and burning. 16 million hectares of lowland forest has dwindled to a mere 500,000 hectares. BirdLife and it&rsquo;s partners have stepped in by taking out a private management licence on a block of commercially valuable lowland forests in a central Sumatra called Harapan &ndash; the Forest of Hope.</span></p> <p class="western"><span>This area is home to 267 species of forest dependant bird species, 20 rare Sumatran Tigers and many other mammals as well as various local indigenous tribes people. The project is succeeding in halting forest destruction, repairing the damage after years clear felling and burning by planting new seedling trees. Local communities are fully involved in this sustainable forest management. The area of the Harapan Forest now under licenced protection and management has been recently increased from 50,000 hectares to 100,000 hectares.</span></p> <p class="western"><span>The funds raised from the ASEAN Rickshaw Run will make a huge difference to this extraordinary project and help with the reforestation work and training of local people to become forest wardens. This will save many species from becoming extinct and make the world a better place for us all to live in. We're absolutely delighted to be involved in such an excellent project and it is taking us one large step closer to Saving the World.</span></p> <p class="western"><span>To find out more about this superb project please see their&nbsp;<a href="https://owa.iqpc.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://account.theadventurists.com/index.php?mode=listclick%26delivery=1197724%26email=simon.benns@iqpc.co.uk%26click=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iaXJkbGlmZS5vcmcvZm9yZXN0cy9pbmRleC5odG1s">website here.</a></span></p> <p class="western"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Remember that&nbsp;<strong>you all breathe oxygen</strong>&nbsp;and by sponsoring&nbsp;<strong>you are only helping yourselves!!!!!</strong></span></em></span></p> </span></p>