Rainforest proves popular gift

WLT Success continues in 2004

After a bumper Christmas, with more people than ever giving 'gift acres', the New Year has continued to bring more and more visitors to the WLT website. And right now, we are deluged with requests for 'Valentine Acres'. But we are not complaining. It shows that the public is keen on using the land purchase of WLT to solve its gift problems, and at the same time do something really positive to help save wildlife.



While most people want to save rainforests -- and quite right too, since there is so much species diversity in the rainforests, a significant number of our supporters also back our efforst in the steppes of Patagonia -- where there is still an on-going need. Our Elephant Corridor Project is innovative, and we have just made the first transfer of funds, allowing our partners, the Wildlife Trust of India, to make a start.



Other recent news:

A consignment of wool products -- woven from the Merino wool of the sheep on Estancia La Esperanza -- arrived in the UK, and a local shop in Halesworth Focus Organics is putting on a display in their window, in order to gauge interest. Later, we hope to assist the local community in marketting their knitware and weaving. This is all part of our programme to demonstrate that wildlife and sheep can be compatible, and that it is possible for the local community to make a living without destroying wildlife -- even predators such as pumas.



Post grad's for Belize

Two Master's degree students from University of East Anglia are now completing their plans to go to Belize, where they will carry out research in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, under the auspices of Programme for Belize. With financial support from Jaguar cars, this project is part of the WLT's ongoing programme of training and research being developed with UEA (Norwich University). The WLT's intern programme has received widespread acclaim, and we are hoping that in the near future it will attract sponsorship. By training the conservationists of the future, the WLT is making best use of the years of experience of its staff, Trustees and associates.