You are on page 1of 3

Conservation of Congo Rainforest Project

Theo Symonds & Kara Titus

Background Information:
!
Due to deforestation, the Congo Rainforest is one of the worlds most threatened
ecosystems. It has the highest deforestation rate of any area on the globe. Currently there is no
hope for the rate of deforestation to decrease in this ecosystem. This is a very serious situation.
This deforestation not only affects the ecosystem, wildlife, and local people, but it also affects
the entire globe. Just like humans, the globe has two lungs: the Amazon and Congo
Rainforests. They are both homes for life, but most of all they are two major suppliers of the
worlds oxygen. Losing just one of these lungs would cause disasterous consequences. We
need to save the rainforests in order to preserve endangererd species, ecosystems, and very
importantly, air.
Possible Solution:
!
One way to stop deforestation is to buy land in the rainforest. If rainforest land is
privately owned, deforestation could not occur on that land. Therefore, purchasing land here will
allow us to preserve large areas of the rainforest.
Project:
!
To carry out the solution, an intricate fundraising project is needed. The Conservation of
Congo Rainforest Project (CCRP) will get a corporation to set up a preservation fund. For every
$100 that the sponsoring corporation makes, in profit, 0.06% of that $100 will be transfered into
the fund. The corporation will grant us access to the money in this fund so that CCRP can buy
rainforest land in the Congo (in accordance to the World Bank legal process). The process
goes as follows:

Step 1: Sale agreement $20


Step 2: Evaluation of land $150 + 6 (per m)
Step 3: Notaries $40

x = m

Cost of land = $0.06x + $210


!
This project is very intricate, it requires international law practice, and a corporation to
donate 0.06% of their profits. Do not look at these reasons and think negatively of them:
-Saying that it is intricate means that people are going to have to care enough to carry out this
preservation project with a little extra effort.
-Since international law is required, the whole world will be aware of the deforestion problems,
thus promoting the cause.
-Corporations are always looking for things to sponsor for the simple reason of good advertising.
If they dont want to pay 0.06% of their profits, they can just simply raise the price of some of
their products by 0.06% people will pay a little more to help the environment.
The CCRP will generate a lot of money, therefore a lot of rainforest land will be bought, resulting
in less land that can potentially be deforested.

Theo Symonds Reflection:


By doing extensive research on this subject, I feel that I have been educated in a way
that I couldnt have been educated by notes. This experience has led me to become
more aware of deforestation problems in Africa. Not only has the research helped me,
but creating a project to protect forests has given me a chance to be connected with
another part of the world. I feel fortunate to be able to help out Africa in every way that I
can.

Deforestation info:
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/congo/deforestation.html
Land prices:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/apr/27/international-land-dealsdatabase-africa
World Bank Process:
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/congo-rep/#registering-property

You might also like