Jose is a farmer in Panama who earns up to £10 a month for him and his family of 5. He knows nothing of farming methods other than cutting and burning rainforest to plant maize and cassava. The soil, he knows, will only last one year and he will soon have to open up another patch of forest to plant more food. But the forest is running out and this year he has no-where to go. CREA, a UK environmental charity, trains poor farmers like Jose to use better farming methodology that produces more and avoids the need for deforestation. These are the real issues that are causing the burning of thousands of sq. miles of rainforest each year, contributing to global warming, biodiversity loss and poverty. If you would like more information on the work of CREA or to adopt an acre of rainforest visit their website.
Recent goings on at CREA
CREA farmers have started a regular vegetable box service to customers in Panama City. This is the first time ever that the community is receiving income from their crops.
- The farmers have also secured a contract with a local supermarket chain to supply it with a herb known as Culantro.
- 5 acres of cattle pasture is under reforestation
- Tapirs and ocelots have returned to the CREA Cocobolo Nature Reserve
"Over the years, JLA’s financial support has continually allowed us to provide seeds and basic farming equipment, such as hoes and spades, for farmers joining the CREA programme. Although relatively inexpensive to buy, these items have the power to transform people’s lives when coupled with the training provided by CREA. With knowledge and basic start-up material, local farmers begin the all-important journey towards self-sufficiency and the protection of their natural resources".
How you can become involved
Become a CREA Rainforest Guardian! This is the most effective way to become directly involved. Our website will show you how to do this easily. As a guardian you make it possible for CREA to preserve and manage important tracts of threatened rainforest. The reserve, which is now seeing the return of large mammals such as ocelots and tapirs, provides essential ecosystem services for local communities such as keeping the rivers clean and plentiful and providing a home for birds and insects which pollinate the crops the local people depend on for their survival.
Click here to become a CREA Rainforest Guardian.