The African Rainforest Conservancy teaches Tanzanian locals the importance of conservation
by Robyn Cohen
For mob boss Tony Soprano, an interest in all things green would likely refer to proceeds from his illegal ventures, but for James Gandolfini, this interest lies in the lush African Rainforest. Gandolfini had the honor of naming a flower recently discovered in Tanzania, at a benefit to raise money for the African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC) in New York City in April.
ARC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the preservation of Africa’s rainforest, home to some of the world’s rarest species, by empowering the people who call it home. Inside the bio-diverse rainforest, naturalists have discovered a new species of frog, an entire genus of plants, a coffee species, and numerous trees. ARC has earned the respect of many celebrities who are often willing to lend their fame to attract attention to the cause, such as Gandolfini and Harrison Ford. At last year’s event Ford named a new species of butterfly after his daughter Georgia.
ARC’s supporters declare that “the fate of the environment lies in the hands of those who inhabit it.” It is this belief that provides the foundation for the partnerships that it forms with local forest-adjacent villages. Through these partnerships, ARC has affected lives in 65 communities in the Eastern Arc of Tanzania since 1991 when Carter Coleman, the organization’s President, joined forces with the African based Tanzania Forest Conservationist Group. The goal of the organization is to “raise the quality of life in the villages through sustainable methods that the communities will be able to maintain on their own,” says Jeff Hobbs, ARC Executive Director.
Native Tanzanians serve as project managers and coordinators working with the locals to find creative means to fulfill their basic needs without harming the lush green rainforest or the gems that exist within. For example, Hobbs describes one village that learned to cultivate a native species of butterfly, and then sell the butterflies to viewing exhibitions in other parts of the world. This economic opportunity provides money for the community that can be used to acquire resources that were previously available to them through means that threatened the rainforest. Through initiatives such as this one, the villages gain respect for the precious environment inside the rainforest and realize the importance of preserving it.
ARC is funded mostly through ticket sales for their annual benefit, Artists for the African Rainforest, and silent auction proceeds from the event. The silent auction typically features photos taken by such artists as fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier and Steve McCurry, whose pictures often appear in National Geographic. “The photographs mostly reflect the African landscape, portraits of locals, as well as abstract images that inspired the artist,” says Hobbs. Last year the organization was able to raise $100,000. Other sources of funding include grants from foundations such as Newmans Own. For more information please visit ARC’s website.
www.africanrainforest.org.
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