Fact Sheet
What can be done to save the Rainforests?
Something that can be and is being done is the creation of reserves in the tropics. However this requires considerable capital which most developing countries can't afford to spend for this purpose. Some money is being donated by western governments, but the balance is being raised by international conservation groups including Children's Tropical Forests U.K.
Consumer action is another way
to save the rainforests. For example, in 1988 the Rain Forest Action Network Inc.
and other groups in the USA threatened to boycott a major American forest products
company if they proceeded with plans to clear 800,000 hectares for a eucalyptus
plantation in New Guinea. The company cancelled its plans to do this action.
Many countries where tropical forests exist are burdened with tremendous foreign debt. Unless creditors and governments of western nations forgive large portions of these debts developing countries must increase the logging, mining and cultivation of forest land to produce exports that will pay off their debts. Debt-for-nature swaps are one good alternative to this. Through these swap programs countries are forgiven some of their debt in exchange for investing in conservation at home.